Difference between revisions of "Lake"

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[[Image:drex_module_197_image_0.png|485pxpx|Lake]]
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[[Image:drex_module_197_image_0.png|467pxpx|Lake]]
  
 
'''Node Description and Purpose'''<br />
 
'''Node Description and Purpose'''<br />

Revision as of 22:08, 6 September 2018

Lake

Node Description and Purpose
The Lake object is the main water object in Terragen. It creates a disc with a Water shader attached. The disc curves to match the planet.

The Lake object is not the only way to represent water. The Water Shader is what gives the Lake the appearance of water and you can apply the Water shader to other objects to give them a water-like appearance. The Lake object is a convenient way to add an area of water, though.

Node Type: Water

Settings:

  • Handle in preview: If this is checked, the bounding box and object handle for the Lake object is shown in the 3D Preview, allowing you to manipulate it by clicking and dragging in the the 3D Preview.
  • Render: TBC
  • Visible to other rays: TBC
  • Cast shadows: Makes the water disc cast shadows onto the terrain (seldom used).
  • Render method: TBC
  • Sorting bias: TBC


Transform tab

  • Water level: This sets the level of the lake above the surface of the planet it's attached to.
  • Centre: The position of the centre of the lake. The Y coordinate is tied to the Water level setting.
  • Max radius: This is the radius of the lake disc. A lake object is always round.
  • Import chan file: Click this button to import a chan file to animate the position of the Lake.


Additional tabs for Lake[edit]

A shader is a program or set of instructions used in 3D computer graphics to determine the final surface properties of an object or image. This can include arbitrarily complex descriptions of light absorption and diffusion, texture mapping, reflection and refraction, shadowing, surface displacement and post-processing effects. In Terragen 2 shaders are used to construct and modify almost every element of a scene.

The bounding box is a box which surrounds (or bounds) an object or shader. This box shows the maximum extents of the item inside it. Sometimes abbreviated as "b-box".