LWO Reader

From Terragen Documentation from Planetside Software
Revision as of 08:54, 16 May 2012 by Jo (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
LWO Reader

Node Description and Purpose:
The LWO Reader node loads objects from LightWave LWO files.

Node Type: Object


Settings:

  • Population mode: This popup has two options:
    • Individual Object: This is the default for objects created individually, not part of a population. If you choose this option for objects that are part of a population the population instances will still render but the object itself will also show up at its original position.
    • Member of a Population: This is the default for objects created as part of creating a population. It means the objects only render as part of a population. If you choose this option for an individual object it won't render.

    If you create an object as part of a population and then decide to use it on its own you may need to change the popup to Individual Object to get it to render.

  • Preview mode: This popup lets you choose how the object should be displayed in the 3D Preview. This popup sets the most detailed mode that the object can be displayed in. The Object Display Mode button in the 3D Preview controls the mode for the preview as a whole. For example if you set the Preview mode of the object to Wireframe but the 3D Preview object display mode is set to Show as bounding boxes then the object will only be drawn as a bounding box.

  • Visible to camera: If this is checked the object is visible to cameras such as the render camera. In other words it will show up in renders. If this is unchecked the object won't show up in renders. However if, for example, the Cast shadows checkbox is checked then the shadows cast by the object will still be visible.

  • Visible to other rays: When this is checked the object is visible to various rays which are traced during rendering, such as reflection, transparency and GI rays. As an example, if this was unchecked the object would not show up in reflections.

  • Cast shadows: This should be checked if you want the object to cast shadows.

  • Double-sided surface: If this is checked object surfaces are double sided. A single sided surface is only visible from the "front", which is the direction the surface normal is pointing. If you look at it from the other direction the surface isn't visible. Double sided surfaces are visible from all directions.

  • Use smooth normals: If this is checked the object normals are interpolated to make the surface appear smooth. If it's unchecked the surface will look faceted.

  • Flip normals: Check this to flip or reverse the object normals. You might want to use this on an imported object if it has gaps or strange dark patches when rendered.

  • Filename: This parameter shows the path to the file used by the object. You can use the file button at right to load a different file but this isn't recommended as the materials for the new file won't be loaded.


Transform tab

  • Translate: This sets the position of the object.
  • Rotate: This rotates the object about its origin. The order of the values is heading, pitch then bank.

  • Scale: You can use this parameter to scale the object in the X, Y and Z directions.

  • Import chan file: Clicking this button allows you to import a .chan file for animating the object position and rotation.

Additional tabs for LWO Reader[edit]

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".

A parameter is an individual setting in a node parameter view which controls some aspect of the node.