Shade 9 ToonRenderer

ToonRenderer

This chapter covers the functionality and interface of the ToonRenderer, a plug-in that provides additional options for rendering in a cartoon-like or sketch style.

ToonRenderer Overview

The ToonRenderer renders the objects in cartoonlike shading tones and draws an outline around the edges of the rendered objects. The ToonRenderer is the perfect tool for creating sketch or cel animation style images.

A cel animation style image done with the ToonRenderer

A sketch style image done with the ToonRenderer

Using ToonRenderer

Here we will explain the steps involved in using the ToonRenderer.

1. In the Figure window or Browser, select the object you wish to render with the ToonRenderer. If you want to render the entire scene with the ToonRenderer, select the root part.

2. Choose View > ToonRenderer. The ToonRenderer window appears.

The preview color will differ according to your scene and selected object(s).

3. Check the Toon Info checkbox in the top right corner of the window. The ToonRenderer settings become available. The current settings are shown in the preview image in the left side of the ToonRenderer window. Modifications done in the ToonRenderer window are reflected immediately in the preview image. By default, the preview window shows how a sample object would look with the current ToonRenderer settings.

4. Notice the three tabs, “Outline,” “Shading,” and “Shadow” on the right side of the window.

In the Outline tab you can change the settings for the object’s outline.

In the Shading tab you can change the shading settings.

In the Shadow tab you can change the shadow settings.

5. To see the entire scene with the current ToonRenderer settings applied, click the pull-down menu below the preview window and choose “Scene.” Then click the Preview button to see how your scene will look with the current settings. If there are many objects in your scene or there is a high total polygon count, it may take some time for the preview to finish rendering.

6. After adjusting the ToonRenderer settings to your liking, click the Apply button. In the Browser, “(ToonRenderer)” is appended to the name of the selected object.

If you are done making changes to the ToonRenderer settings, you can close the window using the title bar.

7. Choose Rendering > Rendering Settings. The Image window will open with the rendering settings displayed.

8. Select “ToonRenderer” from the Method pulldown menu and click the Set button.

The Toon Rendering dialog appears, allowing you to set the final rendering settings.

10. Click the OK button. The Toon Rendering dialog closes.

11. Click the Render button in the Image window. Rendering begins, and the image with the ToonRenderer settings applied appears in the Image window.

To turn off Toon rendering, open the ToonRenderer window from the View menu and uncheck the Toon info checkbox. Then click the Apply button. “(ToonRenderer)” is removed from the object’s name in the Browser.

ToonRenderer Advanced Settings

The settings and options in the ToonRenderer window and Toon Rendering dialog are explained in detail here.

The ToonRenderer Window

Target

The object selected in the Browser determines the target of the current ToonRenderer settings. Different ToonRenderer settings can be specified for each object in the scene if desired. To set ToonRenderer settings for the entire scene, select the Root part in the Browser.

Toon Info Checkbox

When this checkbox is checked, the ToonRenderer settings are enabled.

Preview Image

This window displays a small preview of the current ToonRenderer settings.

Preview Image Pull-down Menu

The pull-down menu below the preview image gives you the option of previewing either a sample sphere or a rough preview render of your scene with the ToonRenderer settings applied. It takes a few seconds to display the preview image of the scene.

The sample image shows a sphere on a flat plane with a light placed above and to the left.

Preview Button

After switching between “Sample” and “Scene” in the Preview Image pull-down menu, or making any modifications to the ToonRenderer settings or the objects in your scene, click the Preview button to refresh the preview image.

Background Color

Click on the color box to select the background color of the preview image. This color has no effect on the actual scene.

Apply Button

Applies the current ToonRenderer settings to the selected Target.

Reload Button

Click this button to load the last ToonRenderer settings applied with the Apply button.

Outline Tab

You can change the outline settings on this tab.

Outline Checkbox

If this checkbox is checked, an outline will be rendered around the object.

Width Slider

Use this slider to set the width of the outline. Alternately, you may enter a numerical value by clicking on the text box. The units are in pixels.

Color Box

Select the color of the outline by clicking on this color box.

Distance Effect Checkbox

By checking this box, the width of the outline will be adjusted according to the object’s distance from the camera eye point. As the distance away from the camera increases, the outline will appear thinner.

Shading Tab

You can change the shading settings on this tab.

Shading Checkbox

Check this box to add shading to the object.

Diffuse / Specular Shading Gradation Checkboxes

When these checkboxes are checked, Shade will apply diffuse or specular shading gradation.

Gradation Text Box / Sliders

By entering a number from 1 to 8 in the text box or by moving the slider, you can change the number of gradation levels used for diffuse or specular shading.

Gradation Bars

The Gradation bar below the slider is divided into a number of sections equal to the number of gradation levels you specified. Increasing the number of gradation levels by one will divide the rightmost section of the Gradation bar into two. Each section of the Gradation bar shows the shading intensity for the corresponding gradation level.

Intensity Sliders

The Intensity sliders for both the Diffuse and Specular Shading located under the Gradation bar sections are used to adjust the intensity (brightness) of each level of gradation. First click the section of the Gradation bar you want to adjust (a green box shows you the current selection) and then move the Intensity slider or enter a numerical value in the text box. Possible values range between 0.00 (darkest) and 1.00 (brightest).

Shadow Tab

You can change the shadow settings on this tab.

Drop Shadow Checkbox

If this checkbox is checked, the target object will drop a shadow.

Drop Self Shadow Checkbox

If this checkbox is checked, the target object will drop a shadow on itself.

Receive Shadow Checkbox

If this checkbox is checked, shadows from other objects will be visible on the target object.

Color Box

Click on this color box to set the color of the shadow the target object receives from other objects.

Intensity Slider

When the color of the received shadow is a color other than black, use this slider to set its intensity.

Toon Rendering Dialog

Open the Toon Rendering dialog from the Image window by choosing “ToonRenderer” from the Rendering Method pull-down menu, and clicking the Set button. Here you can make adjustments to the ToonRenderer rendering options.

Oversampling

Select either “None”, “2 x 2”, “4 x 4”, “6 x 6”, or “8 x 8” for the oversampling size. Increasing the oversampling size will result in a higher quality of anti-aliasing but will also increase rendering time.

Surface Subdivision

Select the desired level of surface subdivision for curved surfaces or rounded polygon meshes from this pull-down menu. Higher subdivision results in smoother surfaces but takes longer to render.

Shadow Checkbox

Shadows will be rendered if this checkbox is checked.

Maximum Raytraces Textbox

This textbox allows you to set the number of rays used to render the scene. If several transparent objects overlap, or a similar situation occurs in which the scene contains many rays, this number will limit the number of rays calculated during rendering. Empty areas resulting from this limit will be filled with the background image. Increasing this number will increase rendering time, so it is best to keep the maximum number of Raytraces low if there are no transparent objects in your scene.

Light Sampling Textbox

Here you can specify the number of times light is sampled during rendering. Increasing this number will reduce the amount of noise in the image but will increase rendering time. This value is only used for area and linear lights.

Enable Outline Checkbox

When this checkbox is checked, the Outline setting in the ToonRenderer window is enabled and will be used during rendering.

Enable Diffuse Gradation

When this checkbox is checked, the Diffuse Gradation setting in the ToonRenderer window is enabled and will be used during rendering.

Enable Specular Gradation

When this checkbox is checked, the Specular Gradation setting in the ToonRenderer window is enabled and will be used during rendering.

ToonRenderer Limitations

Lights

ToonRenderer supports all light types, but uses sampling only for area and linear lights.

Rendering

ToonRenderer does not support Specular 2, Reflection, Roughness, Anisotropic, Fresnel, Metallic, Soft glow, or Back light parameters in the Surface window. Image mapping is the only compatible bump mapping. Shadow mapping and Boolean rendering are not supported. |