The 3D Preview - Revision history

JavaJones: /* Select different cameras or viewpoints */

2019-03-25T22:40:36Z

‎Select different cameras or viewpoints

BFlasher: /* The 3D Preview Bottom Toolbar */

2019-02-28T05:49:34Z

‎The 3D Preview Bottom Toolbar

BFlasher: /* The 3D Preview Bottom Toolbar */

2019-02-28T05:40:57Z

‎The 3D Preview Bottom Toolbar

BFlasher: /* The 3D Preview Bottom Toolbar */

2019-02-28T05:28:30Z

‎The 3D Preview Bottom Toolbar

BFlasher at 05:05, 28 February 2019

2019-02-28T05:05:15Z

BFlasher at 05:59, 27 February 2019

2019-02-27T05:59:16Z

BFlasher at 05:13, 27 February 2019

2019-02-27T05:13:44Z

BFlasher: /* Rendering Status */

2019-02-27T04:35:45Z

‎Rendering Status

BFlasher: /* The Painted Shader and Measurement Tool */

2019-02-25T03:49:09Z

‎The Painted Shader and Measurement Tool

BFlasher: /* The 3D Preview Toolbar */

2019-02-25T02:21:22Z

‎The 3D Preview Toolbar

@@ Line 166: / Line 166: @@
 ==== Select different cameras or viewpoints  ====
-The 3D preview provides access to a standard set of cameras which are not linked to any camera node. Click this button to open a list of these views. The views are "Perspective view", "Top view", "Bottom view", "Front view", "Back view", "Left view" and "Right view". You can access each of these views by clicking the 'Select Camera' button second from the right on the toolbar at the bottom of the '3D Preview'.
+The 3D preview provides access to a standard set of cameras which are not linked to any camera node. Click this button to open a list of these views. The views are "Perspective view", "Top view", "Bottom view", "Front view", "Back view", "Left view" and "Right view". You can access each of these views by clicking the 'Select Camera' button second from the left on the toolbar at the bottom of the '3D Preview'.
 ==== Reset view camera position ====

@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 * Reset view camera position
 * Set the camera's "look at" point
-* The point the camera orbits about is set when you click in the view
+* Set the camera's "orbit" point
 * Enable or disable "Free Orbit Mode" when orbiting
@@ Line 174: / Line 174: @@
 ==== Set the camera's "look at point" ====
-This button specifies the preview's “look at point”. This is a point in the scene toward which the camera will be oriented. Click the button then point and click on any part of the scene. You will see the polygon under your cursor highlight in yellow to indicate which polygon will be selected as the “look at point.” When you click, your camera will re-orient toward the selected point. This point is maintained throughout a session and you can use the command on the "Reset view camera position" button menu to recall your view to this point at any time.
+This button specifies the preview's “look at point”. This is a point in the scene toward which the camera will be oriented. Click the button then point and click on any part of the scene. You will see the polygon under your cursor highlight in yellow to indicate which polygon will be selected as the “look at" point. When you click, your camera will re-orient toward the selected point. This point is maintained throughout a session and you can use the command on the "Reset view camera position" button menu to recall your view to this point at any time.
-The last two buttons on the 'Bottom Toolbar' are both related to the camera “orbit” mode. The first allows you to select the “orbit point” in much the same way as the “look at point” function described above. The orbit point defines the point which the camera will reference when orbiting. The next and final button simply activates “Free Orbit Mode,” which allows the camera to roll freely during orbit movements, rather than being fixed to the original roll orientation. This is particularly useful when navigating with the camera at points far from the coordinate origin, for example on the other side of a planet, where the original roll value will not be parallel to the planet's surface.
+==== Set the camera's "orbit" point ====
-For further information on all functions and settings for the '3D Preview' please see the User Interface Reference.

@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 * Select different cameras or viewpoints
 * Reset view camera position
-* The camera's 'look at' point is set when you click in the view
+* Set the camera's "look at" point
 * The point the camera orbits about is set when you click in the view
 * Enable or disable "Free Orbit Mode" when orbiting
 ==== Copy this view to the current render camera ====
 The render camera doesn't automatically update when you're navigating in the 3D preview. This allows you to move about freely and survey the scene without worrying about changing your render camera. When you want to update the render camera to what you see in the 3D preview (the "Perspective view" camera), click this button. This will sync the render camera and perspective view camera to the same view.
 ==== Select different cameras or viewpoints  ====
 The 3D preview provides access to a standard set of cameras which are not linked to any camera node. Click this button to open a list of these views. The views are "Perspective view", "Top view", "Bottom view", "Front view", "Back view", "Left view" and "Right view". You can access each of these views by clicking the 'Select Camera' button second from the right on the toolbar at the bottom of the '3D Preview'.
 ==== Reset view camera position ====
 The last two buttons on the 'Bottom Toolbar' are both related to the camera “orbit” mode. The first allows you to select the “orbit point” in much the same way as the “look at point” function described above. The orbit point defines the point which the camera will reference when orbiting. The next and final button simply activates “Free Orbit Mode,” which allows the camera to roll freely during orbit movements, rather than being fixed to the original roll orientation. This is particularly useful when navigating with the camera at points far from the coordinate origin, for example on the other side of a planet, where the original roll value will not be parallel to the planet's surface.
 For further information on all functions and settings for the '3D Preview' please see the User Interface Reference.

@@ Line 143: / Line 143: @@
 [[File:UI-BottomToolbar.jpg|border|The 3D preview bottom toolbar]]
 <br><br>
 === Camera Control Buttons ===
@@ Line 148: / Line 154: @@
 From left to right, the camera control buttons on this toolbar are:
 * Copy this view to the current render camera
-* Select different camera or viewpoints
+* Select different cameras or viewpoints
 * Reset view camera position
 * The camera's 'look at' point is set when you click in the view
 * The point the camera orbits about is set when you click in the view
 * Enable or disable "Free Orbit Mode" when orbiting
 ==== Copy this view to the current render camera ====
-This
+The render camera doesn't automatically update when you're navigating in the 3D preview. This allows you to move about freely and survey the scene without worrying about changing your render camera. When you want to update the render camera to what you see in the 3D preview (the "Perspective view" camera), click this button. This will sync the render camera and perspective view camera to the same view.
 In addition to the 'Copy to current render camera' and 'Select Camera' buttons, the bottom toolbar includes several other useful functions. Next to 'Select Camera' is the 'Reset Camera' button, which provides several options for resetting the view shown by the '3D Preview'. You can 'Reset to current render camera', 'Centre on focus point' (the focus point is set with the next button on the toolbar), 'Centre on object or shader', or 'Centre on origin' (the coordinate origin: 0,0).  Remember that, like any change in the view shown in the preview window, you must press 'Copy to current render camera' to save your view in the current camera in order to use it in rendering.
 Next is the 'Look at point' button, which specifies the preview's “look at point,” a point in the scene toward which the camera will be oriented. Click the button then point and click on any part of the scene. You will see the polygon under your cursor highlight in yellow to indicate which polygon will be selected as the “look at point.” When you click, your camera will re-orient toward the selected point. This point is maintained throughout a session and you can use the command on the 'Reset Camera' button menu to recall your view to this point at any time.
 The last two buttons on the 'Bottom Toolbar' are both related to the camera “orbit” mode. The first allows you to select the “orbit point” in much the same way as the “look at point” function described above. The orbit point defines the point which the camera will reference when orbiting. The next and final button simply activates “Free Orbit Mode,” which allows the camera to roll freely during orbit movements, rather than being fixed to the original roll orientation. This is particularly useful when navigating with the camera at points far from the coordinate origin, for example on the other side of a planet, where the original roll value will not be parallel to the planet's surface.
 For further information on all functions and settings for the '3D Preview' please see the User Interface Reference.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:05, 28 February 2019
Line 145:		Line 145:

	=== Camera Control Buttons ===		=== Camera Control Buttons ===
		+
		+	From left to right, the camera control buttons on this toolbar are:
		+	* Copy this view to the current render camera
		+	* Select different camera or viewpoints
		+	* Reset view camera position
		+	* The camera's 'look at' point is set when you click in the view
		+	* The point the camera orbits about is set when you click in the view
		+	* Enable or disable "Free Orbit Mode" when orbiting
		+
		+	==== Copy this view to the current render camera ====
		+
		+	This

	It is important to be aware that changing the current view with either of these methods will not change the current camera position and orientation, as defined in the current Camera node in your scene. Instead it affects the 'Perspective view', one of a set of standard cameras provided by the '3D Preview' which are not linked to any camera node. These views are 'Perspective view', 'Top view', 'Bottom view', 'Front view', 'Back view', 'Left view' and 'Right view'. You can access each of these views by clicking the 'Select Camera' button second from the right on the toolbar at the bottom of the '3D Preview'. Clicking this button will open a list of available views, including 'Current render camera'.		It is important to be aware that changing the current view with either of these methods will not change the current camera position and orientation, as defined in the current Camera node in your scene. Instead it affects the 'Perspective view', one of a set of standard cameras provided by the '3D Preview' which are not linked to any camera node. These views are 'Perspective view', 'Top view', 'Bottom view', 'Front view', 'Back view', 'Left view' and 'Right view'. You can access each of these views by clicking the 'Select Camera' button second from the right on the toolbar at the bottom of the '3D Preview'. Clicking this button will open a list of available views, including 'Current render camera'.

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 <br>
 == The 3D Preview Top Toolbar ==
@@ Line 142: / Line 144: @@
 <br><br>
 It is important to be aware that changing the current view with either of these methods will not change the current camera position and orientation, as defined in the current Camera node in your scene. Instead it affects the 'Perspective view', one of a set of standard cameras provided by the '3D Preview' which are not linked to any camera node. These views are 'Perspective view', 'Top view', 'Bottom view', 'Front view', 'Back view', 'Left view' and 'Right view'. You can access each of these views by clicking the 'Select Camera' button second from the right on the toolbar at the bottom of the '3D Preview'. Clicking this button will open a list of available views, including 'Current render camera'.
 In order to set the render camera view to that which you have specified in the '3D Preview', you must use the 'Copy to current camera' button at the far left of the bottom toolbar in the '3D Preview'. This button will highlight whenever changes are made to the current view which are not reflected in the current camera. Pressing this button will sync the perspective camera with the current render camera. If you do not copy your current view to the render camera before you begin a render, your render will use the existing camera position and may not match your preview perspective.

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 <br>
-== The 3D Preview Toolbar ==
+== The 3D Preview Top Toolbar ==
-[[File:UI-PreviewPane-toolbar.jpg|border|The 3D preview toolbar]]
+[[File:UI-PreviewPane-toolbar.jpg|border|The 3D preview top toolbar]]
 <br><br>
-The 3D preview toolbar has a number of controls that allow you to change what you see in the 3D preview, as well as tools for interacting with your scene.
+The 3D preview top toolbar has a number of controls that allow you to change what you see in the 3D preview, as well as tools for interacting with your scene.
 === Turning Shaders, Atmosphere, and Lighting On and Off ===
@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 === The Painted Shader and Measurement Tool ===
-On the far right of the 3D preview toolbar are the Painted Shader and Measurement Tool buttons. These are signified by a paintbrush and ruler, respectively.
+On the far right of the 3D preview top toolbar are the Painted Shader and Measurement Tool buttons. These are signified by a paintbrush and ruler, respectively.
 [[File:UI-PreviewPane-RulerAndPaintedShader.jpg|border|The Painted Shader and Measurement Tool buttons]]
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 == Rendering Status ==
-The rightmost item on the 3D preview toolbar is a display of the current status of the 3D preview rendering.
+The rightmost item on the 3D preview top toolbar is a display of the current status of the 3D preview rendering.
 [[File:UI-PreviewPane-RenderStatus.jpg|border|The rendering status]]
@@ Line 117: / Line 117: @@
 == Mini Compass ==
-Below the top toolbar in the upper-left is a mini-compass which shows both your current camera orientation (the top of the compass icon) and the position of any lights in the scene (represented by small yellow circles). Below that is a button to access the exposure slider, which allows you to adjust the exposure value of the current camera. In the upper-right is a button which accesses a navigation panel. Finally, at the bottom is a toolbar which contains the camera selection button and other controls, as well as a display of numerical coordinate data about the scene.
+In the upper-left corner of the 3D preview pane is a mini compass.
 The '3D Preview' is the primary way you will move the camera(s) in your Terragen 2 scenes. You can easily move the current view with the appropriate hotkeys, or use the navigation panel in the upperright. Refer to the 'Help Menu' under 'Mouse and Key Settings' for a list of hotkeys for your platform. With the Windows defaults, most movement actions are accomplished by holding down Alt, then clicking and dragging with one of the mouse buttons in the 3D view. Alt+Left mouse button controls Rotation ("Orbit"), the Middle mouse button controls Forward and Backward motion (like Zooming), and the Right button moves you Up and Down and Side-to-side (a bit like “panning” or "translation"). You can also move forward and backward with finer control by using the mouse wheel.
 In the upper-right of the '3D Preview' is a small circle with 4 arrows at the sides. When clicked, this pops open the 'Navigation Panel', a set of visual navigation controls which allow you to manipulate your camera's view with more precision, control, and options. Mouse over each control for a tooltip that will tell you how it affects the camera's position (note: you may need to turn on 'Show Special Tooltips' in the 'General' section of the 'Preferences', accessed from the 'Edit menu'). You can also refer to the User Interface Reference for complete details on the 'Navigation Panel'. You can open the 'Navigation Panel' in a separate floating window with the 'Navigation Window' option on the 'View' menu.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 [[File:UI-PreviewPane-RulerAndPaintedShader.jpg|border|The Painted Shader and Measurement Tool buttons]]
 <br><br>
 We'll cover the Measurement Tool first, because it is simpler. The Measurement Tool enables measurement mode, which allows you to measure the distance between two points in the 3D preview by clicking on them. In measurement mode, a measurement window will pop up with a display of the distance between the currently selected points, as well as some additional controls. Click in the 3D preview to define the first point of your measurement, then move to your destination point and click again. You will see a yellow line extend between the two points, and the distance will be displayed in the Measure window. The Measure window also allows you to restrict the measurement axis to x, y, or z, and clear the current measurement points (note that you may need to reset the preview window to remove the display of the current measurement). You can use the normal camera navigation controls in measurement mode, so if you wish to measure something outside of the current view, you can move the camera to accommodate that. To exit measurement mode, either close the pop-up Measure window, or click the Measurement Tool button again.
@@ Line 91: / Line 93: @@
 [[File:UI-PreviewPane-MeasureToolInUse.jpg|border|800px|The Measurement Tool in use]]
 <br><br>
 The Painted Shader tool and the associated "Painted shader" node are among the most powerful systems in Terragen. The Painted shader allows you to control virtually any aspect of your scene by painting in the preview window. You can create terrain shapes, control texture distribution, and even create customized cloud shapes. The painting system relies on two elements: the paint strokes created with Painted Shader tool, and the "Painted shader" node.
-Once in a painting session the 'Painted Shader' button displays different options. You can switch between 'Paint mode' and 'Erase mode', where paint mode applies the current brush settings (specified in the Painted shader itself), and erase mode uses the same brush settings, but applies an inverse effect to your paint strokes, removing existing painted areas where you apply the erase effect. You can also use the 'Stop painting shader' button to stop your painting session.
+Clicking the '''Painted Shader''' button brings up a menu of options. In its non-active state, the only option is '''Start painting shader''', which has a sub-menu allowing you to either select an existing Painted shader to paint into, or create a new one and begin painting. Your existing Painted shaders will be listed at the top of this menu, above the "Create and paint new shader" option. To begin a painting session, select either an existing Painted shader, or create a new one with the menu option.
-After paint mode is enabled, the settings window for the selected Painted shader will be opened, allowing you to adjust settings like 'Brush size', 'Brush falloff', 'Flow', and 'Colour'. Please refer to the Node Reference for complete information on all Painted shader settings. In the '3D Preview' a yellow dashed circle is displayed denoting the maximum area of your paint brush. The actual size of the painted stroke will be affected by the 'Falloff' setting in the Painted shader. As you move the cursor around the preview window you will also see terrain polygons highlighting under the cursor position. This denotes the rough center of the painted shader, and thus the center of the area at which the stroke would begin. To start painting, click the Left Mouse Button and drag. You can make as many strokes as you want, however note that 'Undo' does not undo specific strokes. Rather it will simply revert the scene to a state prior to beginning your 'Painted Shader' session. You can use the 'Eraser mode' to remove strokes created in error. More on use of the Painted shader is covered in the Node Reference and Shaders In-depth section later in this guide.
-Finally, to the right of the 'Painted Shader' and “Measurement Tool' buttons is a display of the current update status of the '3D Preview'. Since the preview is rendered progressively, it is helpful to know what detail level the preview is currently displaying. The detail level will be displayed numerically, beginnign with 'Rendering... detail 5', then doubling to 10, 20, 40, and finally 80. To save time and CPU resources, the preview has a set limit on the maximum detail, so once 80 is completed it will stop updating until another change is made. When rendering has completed, the update status will show 'Finished rendering'.
+Once in a painting session, the Painted Shader button displays different options. You can switch between "Paint mode" and "Erase mode". Paint mode applies the current brush settings (specified in the Painted shader itself), and Erase mode uses the same brush settings, but applies an inverse effect to your paint strokes, removing existing painted areas. You can also use the "Stop painting shader" button to stop your painting session.
-A helpful technique when using the 'Painted Shader' tool is to allow the preview to fully compute to maximum detail, then press the 'Pause' button and begin painting. This allows for maximum detail in viewing your painted strokes, and also prevents the preview from updating while you're painting which can make painting consistent strokes more difficult.
 Below the top toolbar in the upper-left is a mini-compass which shows both your current camera orientation (the top of the compass icon) and the position of any lights in the scene (represented by small yellow circles). Below that is a button to access the exposure slider, which allows you to adjust the exposure value of the current camera. In the upper-right is a button which accesses a navigation panel. Finally, at the bottom is a toolbar which contains the camera selection button and other controls, as well as a display of numerical coordinate data about the scene.
 The '3D Preview' is the primary way you will move the camera(s) in your Terragen 2 scenes. You can easily move the current view with the appropriate hotkeys, or use the navigation panel in the upperright. Refer to the 'Help Menu' under 'Mouse and Key Settings' for a list of hotkeys for your platform. With the Windows defaults, most movement actions are accomplished by holding down Alt, then clicking and dragging with one of the mouse buttons in the 3D view. Alt+Left mouse button controls Rotation ("Orbit"), the Middle mouse button controls Forward and Backward motion (like Zooming), and the Right button moves you Up and Down and Side-to-side (a bit like “panning” or "translation"). You can also move forward and backward with finer control by using the mouse wheel.