Main Window User Interface Elements - Revision history

BFlasher at 20:17, 22 October 2018

2018-10-22T20:17:12Z

BFlasher at 20:02, 22 October 2018

2018-10-22T20:02:38Z

BFlasher at 19:56, 22 October 2018

2018-10-22T19:56:30Z

BFlasher at 01:14, 19 October 2018

2018-10-19T01:14:26Z

BFlasher: Created page with "The Terragen user interface (UI) is based around multiple “layouts,” tabs that are accessed through buttons in the top toolbar. Each layout consists of tools and functiona..."

2018-10-19T01:08:21Z

Created page with "The Terragen user interface (UI) is based around multiple “layouts,” tabs that are accessed through buttons in the top toolbar. Each layout consists of tools and functiona..."

New page

The Terragen user interface (UI) is based around multiple “layouts,” tabs that are accessed through buttons in the top toolbar. Each layout consists of tools and functionality specific to particular aspects of the scene.

[[File:UI-TopToolbar.jpg|border|900px|The top toolbar and layout buttons]]
<br><br>

At the very top of the interface is a standard menu bar which includes options for 'File' operations ('Save', etc.), 'Edit' ('Copy'/'Paste' and 'Undo'), 'View' (opening of various windows of specific information), 'Project' (various project-related settings and information), 'Window' (window management), and 'Help'
(documentation, key reference, etc.). To the left of the 'Layout Tabs' on the 'Top Toolbar' are standard
'New', 'Open', and 'Save' project buttons, as well as a button to open the 'Render View' and the '3D Preview'. Below the tabs on the left is the 'Node List' which displays items (nodes) which are relevant to the current layout in a hierarchical list format.

The Node List
Just to the right of the 'Node List' is a small 'Shader Preview' window, which generates a realtime preview of the currently selected node, when applicable (not all nodes can be previewed).

The Shader Preview
Below the 'Node List' and the 'Shader Preview' is the 'Parameter/Settings Pane', which will display the settings of the node currently selected in the 'Node List'.

The Parameter/Settings Pane
In the top-right is the '3D preview', which shows a progressively rendered “realtime” display of the current scene, including all scene elements, terrain, lighting, atmosphere effects, shaders, etc.

The 3D Preview
Below the '3D preview' is the 'Node Network' view, which is contextual when viewing any of the specific layouts such as 'Terrain', focusing on the nodes in the default Group corresponding to the current layout (there is also a separate 'Node Network' view which gives you a larger view of the entire 'Node Network' without the '3D Preview').

The Node Network
At the very bottom of the user interface is a toolbar that includes the 'Animation Timeline' and controls.

The Animation Timeline (red) & Errors and Warnings Notifications (green)
At the far right of the 'Bottom Toolbar' is the 'Errors and Warnings Display' which, when clicked, brings up a window with details on any errors and warnings triggered so far. Next let's explore each section in more detail.
Several of the windows in the UI can be resized by placing the mouse cursor between windows where a double-ended arrow appears, and then clicking and dragging. The '3D Preview' and 'Node Network' windows can also be expanded or closed completely with the buttons in the upper-right corners of these windows, which are similar to standard operating system window controls. If you close one of these windows and wish to display it again, use the 'Preview' and 'Node Network' options in the 'View' menu.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 In the upper-right is the 3D preview, which shows a progressively rendered real-time display of the current scene. The elements of the scene that are shown will vary depending on the selected layout.
 [[File:UI-3DPreview.jpg|border|900px|The 3D preview]]
 <br><br>

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 Below the node list is the Node Properties pane. This displays the settings of the node currently selected in the Node List.
 [[File:UI-NodePropertiesPane.jpg|border|450px|The Node Properties pane]]
 <br><br>
@@ Line 23: / Line 24: @@
 Below the 3D preview is the Node Network pane. This displays the network of all nodes in the scenes. When you select a layout, the view in this pane will focus on the group of nodes relevant to the current layout. (There is also a Node Network layout which gives you a larger view of the entire node network without the 3D Preview pane).
 [[File:UI-NodeNetworkPane.jpg|border|900px|The Node Network pane]]
 <br><br>
 At the very bottom of the user interface is a toolbar that includes the animation timeline and controls.
-[[File:UI-NodeNetworkPane.jpg|border|900px|The animation timeline, animation controls, and error and warnings display]]
 <br><br>

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 <br><br>
-Below the tabs on the left is the Node List. This displays nodes which are relevant to the current layout in a hierarchical list format.
+Below the tabs on the left is the Node List. This displays the node in the scene that are relevant to the current layout. The nodes are displayed in a hierarchical list.
-−
-The Node List
+[[File:UI-NodeList.jpg|border|450px|The Node List]]
-Just to the right of the 'Node List' is a small 'Shader Preview' window, which generates a realtime preview of the currently selected node, when applicable (not all nodes can be previewed).
+<br><br>
-−
-The Shader Preview
+Just to the right of the Node List is a small shader preview window. This generates a realtime preview of the currently selected node, when applicable (not all nodes can be previewed).
-Below the 'Node List' and the 'Shader Preview' is the 'Parameter/Settings Pane', which will display the settings of the node currently selected in the 'Node List'.
+[[File:UI-ShaderPreview.jpg|border|450px|The shader preview]]
-The Parameter/Settings Pane
+<br><br>
-In the top-right is the '3D preview', which shows a progressively rendered “realtime” display of the current scene, including all scene elements, terrain, lighting, atmosphere effects, shaders, etc.
+Below the node list is the Node Properties pane. This displays the settings of the node currently selected in the Node List.
-The 3D Preview
+[[File:UI-NodePropertiesPane.jpg|border|450px|The Node Properties pane]]
-Below the '3D preview' is the 'Node Network' view, which is contextual when viewing any of the specific layouts such as 'Terrain', focusing on the nodes in the default Group corresponding to the current layout (there is also a separate 'Node Network' view which gives you a larger view of the entire 'Node Network' without the '3D Preview').
+<br><br>
-−
-The Node Network
+In the upper-right is the 3D preview, which shows a progressively rendered real-time display of the current scene. The elements of the scene that are shown will vary depending on the selected layout.
-At the very bottom of the user interface is a toolbar that includes the 'Animation Timeline' and controls.
+[[File:UI-3DPreview.jpg|border|900px|The 3D preview]]
+<br><br>
-The Animation Timeline (red) & Errors and Warnings Notifications (green)
-At the far right of the 'Bottom Toolbar' is the 'Errors and Warnings Display' which, when clicked, brings up a window with details on any errors and warnings triggered so far. Next let's explore each section in more detail.
+Below the 3D preview is the Node Network pane. This displays the network of all nodes in the scenes. When you select a layout, the view in this pane will focus on the group of nodes relevant to the current layout. (There is also a Node Network layout which gives you a larger view of the entire node network without the 3D Preview pane).
-Several of the windows in the UI can be resized by placing the mouse cursor between windows where a double-ended arrow appears, and then clicking and dragging. The '3D Preview' and 'Node Network' windows can also be expanded or closed completely with the buttons in the upper-right corners of these windows, which are similar to standard operating system window controls. If you close one of these windows and wish to display it again, use the 'Preview' and 'Node Network' options in the 'View' menu.
+[[File:UI-NodeNetworkPane.jpg|border|900px|The Node Network pane]]