Shade 12. FogPlus
From ShadeCamp
FogPlus
FogPlus
FogPlus is a plug-in used for adding advanced fog effects to rendered images. FogPlus can be used as an effector during rendering or as a separate post effects process. A special FogPlus Controller joint allows FogPlus parameters to be animated. FogPlus is included with Shade professional.
FogPlus Features
•The FogPlus effect can be previewed, making it possible to see the effect of settings modifications without the need to re-render the image after every adjustment. •When FogPlus is used as a post effect, if the Shade scene is saved before adding the FogPlus effect, the FogPlus effect can be viewed with different settings applied by re-opening the original image each time. This avoids re-rendering the scene each time you wish to re-apply FogPlus. •Because the Z axis is used as the basis for rendering it is not necessary to choose a rendering method. •In addition to the standard fog effect, which gets denser with greater distance from the camera, the Vertical Fog effect creates a fog effect along the Y axis. Each FogPlus type can be used independently or in conjunction. •The FogPlus parameters can be animated using a special FogPlus controller joint. Note: The FogPlus example used in this chapter, “SM_8505_FogPlus.shd” can be found on the Documentation - Sample tab in ShadeExplorer, in the Supplemental Manual section.
FogPlus Types
There are two types of FogPlus effects: Standard Fog and Vertical Fog.
Standard Fog
Standard Fog creates a fog effect that gets denser with greater distance from the camera.
The Standard Fog effect is described by two values: the Start Point and the Saturation Point. Each distance is measured from the camera eye point in meters. The Start Point is the point at which the FogPlus effect begins. The Saturation Point is the distance at which the FogPlus effect reachest its maximum density (specified by the Max Density textbox and slider value).
Vertical Fog
Vertical Fog gives an effect of a fog layer sitting on the ground or hanging in the air, expressed through volume rendering.
Vertical Fog is described by two values: Top and Bottom. Top is the maximum height along the Y axis to which the FogPlus effect reaches, and Bottom is the minimum height along the Y axis at which it starts. Vertical Fog can be set to either the Ground or Ceiling of the image. If the Location is set to Ground the FogPlus effect will get denser moving from the Top value to the Bottom value. If set to Ceiling, the reverse is true.
Vertical Fog with the Location set to Ceiling
Vertical Fog with the Location set to Ground
Using FogPlus
The are several ways to use FogPlus. Mastering them will help you add fog effects to images quickly and effectively.
Using FogPlus as an Effector
FogPlus can be selected in the Effector pull-down menu on the Effects tab in the Rendering Settings. As with other effectors, the FogPlus effect will be applied to the image after rendering finishes based on the settings applied before rendering. 1. First set up the scene to which you wish to add FogPlus as an effector. 2. Open the Rendering Settings from the Image Window or choose Rendering Settings from the Rendering menu. 3. Select FogPlus from the Effector pull-down menu on the Effects tab.
4. Click the Set button to the right of the pull-down menu to open the FogPlus Settings dialog. Note: For more information on the FogPlus Settings dialog, see FogPlus Reference later in this chapter.
If a rendered image is saved in the scene it will be shown in the preview window on the left side of the dialog and FogPlus settings can be applied. If no rendered image has been saved, first render the scene once without the FogPlus effector (set the Effector pull-down menu to None) and then return to step 4.
5. Click the OK button after adjusting the settings in the FogPlus Settings dialog. 6. Click the render button in the Image window to begin rendering. Once the rendering finishes the FogPlus effector is applied to the image.
This method automatically adds the FogPlus effect to each frame in an animation after it is rendered, making it especially convenient for animations.
Using FogPlus as a Post Effect
The second method of using FogPlus is as a post effect, applying it to a previously rendered image. To use FogPlus as a post effect, render an image with the Keep Z setting checked and then open the FogPlus Settings dialog from the contextual menu by right-clicking (Win) or Option-clicking (Mac) on the Image window. FogPlus can be previewed and then applied to the orginal image. If the Shade scene is saved before adding the FogPlus effect, the FogPlus effect can be viewed with different settings applied by re-opening the original image each time. This avoids re-rendering the scene each time you wish to re-apply FogPlus. 1. First set up the scene to which you wish to add FogPlus. 2. Open the Rendering Settings from the Rendering menu. 3. On the Misc tab, check the Keep Z checkbox.
4. Render the scene.
5. Right-click (Win) or Option-click (Mac) on the image in the Image window to display the contextual menu. Select FogPlus.
The FogPlus Settings dialog appears. Note: ‘’For more information on the FogPlus Settings dialog, see FogPlus Reference later in this chapter.’’
6. Click the OK button after adjusting the settings in the FogPlus Settings dialog. FogPlus is applied to the image with the specified settings.
This method is mainly used for still images because it is easy to apply separately after an image is rendered.
Animating FogPlus
Settings with a Use Joint checkbox can be animated using the FogPlus Controller, a joint specially used for FogPlus effects. A FogPlus Controller can be created by selecting it from the Part menu in the Toolbox. 1. First set up the scene to which you wish to add FogPlus. 2. Open the Browser by choosing it from the View menu if it is not already displayed. 3. Select FogPlus Controller from the Part menu in the Toolbox. A FogPlus Controller is added to the Browser.
The six FogPlus parameters that can be animated are Start Point(m) FP, Saturation Point(m) FP and Max Density FP of Standard FogPlus and Top(m) FP, Bottom(m) FP and Max Density FP of Vertical FogPlus. 4. Open the Motion window by choosing it from the View menu. The FogPlus Controller joints are displayed in the lower left corner of the window along with normal joints.
5. Apply animation to each of the FogPlus Controller joints as desired. ‘’For more information on the Motion window and animation, see the User Guide or Reference.’’ 6. Select Rendering Settings from the Render menu. 7. Choose FogPlus from the Effector pull-down menu on the Effects tab. 8. Click the Set button to the right of the pull-down menu to display the FogPlus Settings dialog. Check the Use Joint checkboxes for the animated joints and click OK. ‘’For more information on the FogPlus Settings dialog, see FogPlus Reference later in this chapter.’’ 9. Choose Create Animation from the Rendering menu to start animation rendering. ‘’For more information on animation rendering, see the User Guide or Reference.’’
FogPlus Reference
This section describes each of the FogPlus settings.
Image Size
The size of the image saved in the Image window.
Preview Image
Displays a preview of the image using the preview type specified in the below pull-down menu.
Preview Type Pull-down Menu
The type of preview image displayed in the FogPlus Settings dialog. After Process: Displays a preview of the image after FogPlus has been applied. Before Process: Displays a preview of the image before FogPlus has been applied. Alpha Channel: Displays a preview of the alpha channel of the image. Z Buffer: Displays the image’s Z value.
Update Button
Updates the preview image with FogPlus applied, and sets the Preview pull-down menu to After.
Auto Update Checkbox
Updates the preview image with FogPlus applied whenever a FogPlus setting changes.
Cursor Target Pull-down Menu
The Standard Fog and Vertical Fog values can be set by choosing the appropriate value from the Cursor Target menu and clicking on the desired position in the preview image. The image must be rendered with the Keep Z checkbox checked.
Apply Button
Applies FogPlus to the image when used as a post effect.
OK Button
Applies the FogPlus settings to the FogPlus effector on the image.
Cancel Button
Cancels the modified FogPlus settings.
Save Settings
Save the settings without applying FogPlus to the image, when used as a post effect.
General Tab
Choose the Fog Type and the Fog Color on the General tab.
Fog Type Pull-down Menu
Standard Fog, Vertical Fog, or Blend Both can be selected for the fog type. Blend will apply both the Standard Fog settings and the Vertical Fog settings simultaneously.
Standard Fog
Vertical Fog
Blended Fog
Fog Color
Select the color of fog to apply from the Colorbox.
Standard Tab
Boundary Settings
Start Point
The Start Point is the point at which the FogPlus effect begins, measured from the camera eye point (in meters).
Saturation Point
The Saturation Point is the point of saturation, where the FogPlus effect is strongest (measured in meters from the camera eye point).
Set Button
Click the Set button and then click on the preview image to set the value to the clicked position. The image must be rendered with Keep Z checked.
Use Joint Checkbox
The FogPlus Controller joints will be used, with any applied animation settings, if this is checked.
Density Settings
Max Density Textbox and Slider
The level of the strongest FogPlus effect, reached at the Saturation point. 100% is completely opaque fog.
Use Joint Checkbox
The FogPlus Controller joints will be used, with any applied animation settings, if this is checked.
Curve Textbox and Slider
The FogPlus Curve value determines how fast the fog effect gets stronger. The default value is 0.5, which describes a linear relationship between distance from the camera eye point and FogPlus strength. A value smaller than 0.5 describes a relationship in which the FogPlus effect becomes dense quickly and then continues to grow in intensity more slowly until the Saturation point. A value larger than 0.5 describes a relationship in which the FogPlus effect becomes dense slowly and then sharply increases in intensity close to the Saturation point.
The FogPlus Curve value is set to 0.5, 0.1, and 0.9 from top to bottom, with all other settings the same.
Vertical Tab
Boundary Settings
Location Pull-down Menu The location at which the Vertical Fog effect begins. Ground: Ground Fog gets more dense moving down the Y axis (towards the ground, or Bottom value). Ceiling: Ceiling Fog gets more dense moving up the Y axis (towards the ceiling, or Top value). Top Textbox The Top value along the Y axis for Vertical Fog. This is the point at which Ceiling Fog is strongest. If Ceiling is selected in the Location pull-down menu and the camera eye point is above the Top value, no fog will be drawn. Bottom The Bottom value along the Y axis for Vertical Fog. This is the point at which Ground Fog is strongest. If Ground is selected in the Location pull-down menu and the camera eye point is below the Bottom value, no fog will be drawn. Use Joint Checkbox The FogPlus Controller joints will be used, with any applied animation settings, if this is checked.
Density Settings
Max Density Textbox and Slider The level of the strongest FogPlus effect, reached at the Saturation point. 100% is completely opaque fog. Use Joint Checkbox The FogPlus Controller joints will be used, with any applied animation settings, if this is checked.
Amount Textbox and Slider
The overall strength of Vertical Fog. Fog will not grow any stronger past the Saturation point. This value is not an absolute value; it is relative to the FogPlus effect range determined by the Start Point and Saturation Point.
The FogPlus Amount is set to 200, 250 and 300 from top to bottom, using the same FogPlus range values.
Options Tab
Color Correction
Enable Checkbox Adjust the brightness and chroma settings for the fog. Not supported by Connect with Renderer (see below). Brightness Textbox and Slider The brightness of the image within the FogPlus range. Enabled when the Use checkbox is checked. Chroma Textbox and Slider The chroma of the image within the FogPlus range. Enabled when the Use checkbox is checked. Reset Button Resets the Brightness and Chroma values to 0.
Option
Connect with Renderer When checked, the FogPlus effect will be calculated during rendering for reflective and translucent objects, processes that cannot be done as post-rendering effects. Please keep in mind the following limitations: •Only Ray tracing or Path tracing Rendering Methods are supported. •A perfect preview is not available. •Vertical Fog is not supported. •Color correction is not supported. •ShadeGrid Server is not supported.
