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Illumination Properties

The options on the Illumination tab affect the active document only.

To set Illumination options:

  1. Click Options (PhotoWorks toolbar) or PhotoWorks, Options.

  2. On the Illumination tab, select from the following options, then click Apply.

Indirect Illumination

Enable indirect illumination. Select to allow indirect illumination of the model. Indirect illumination occurs when an illuminated model reflects rays to other entities of the model or the scene. For example, if you illuminate a bright red model, the other entities in the scene will have a pink tinge to them.

You can use pre-set values or define settings for indirect illumination

Pre-Set

Indirect illumination quality. Select from a range that includes pre-set values: Draft (default), Low, Medium, High, Photographic, High Quality Photographic.  Or you can select User Defined.

As you select each setting, average rendering speeds are displayed using the Draft (default) setting as a baseline.

Lights, appearances, and the options you set all affect rendering speed. Consequently, comparisons to the Draft (default) setting are relative indications.

User Defined

Adjust the following ranges:

  • Details. Controls the density of light gathering points and determines how clearly you see rapid changes between light and dark values. High settings sharpen contrast, but increase the rendering time. Increasing the value for Details requires increasing the value for Precision.

    Details (and Precision): Low value
    results in a minimal number of
    light gathering points.

    Details (and Precision): High value
    increases the number of
    light gathering points.

     

     

  • Averaging. Controls the size of the area over which different sections in a rendering are blurred together. Low values display harder transitions between bright spots and less illuminated spots. Rendering time is marginally affected.

  • Precision. Modifies the distance between successive calculations at light gathering points. Increasing the proximity between the points requires more calculations. This heightens the photo-realistic effect, but increases the rendering time.

Precision and Details set to high. Details are clear,
despite low light level.

  • Bounces. Determines how many times light is transferred from one surface to another. Increasing the value distributes more light; setting values too high makes colors bleed.

Bounces set to 2. Low value distributes light sparingly.

Rendering with indirect illumination active can be time consuming. Use the smallest amount of indirect illumination necessary for your images.

Caustics

Enable caustic. Select this check box to allow caustic effects on the model. Caustic effects are the result of indirect illumination. Light is emitted from a light source, goes through one or more specular reflections or transmissions, hits a diffuse object, and reflects to the viewer. For caustic effects to appear, you must additionally set options for appearances and lights. See Caustics.

Use default caustic radius. Select to allow PhotoWorks to determine an optimal radius based on the size of the scene. The radius is calculated at each point in the scene. Only the caustic photons within the radius of each point are rendered.

Custom caustic radius. When Use default caustic radius is cleared, type a value for the radius.

Caustic accuracy. Determines the maximum number of photons used for calculating caustics.

If the number of photons within the caustic radius exceeds the maximum number allowed by the caustic accuracy, then the excess photons are not considered in the final image.

All appearances cast and receive caustics by default. Select to force all appearances to cast and receive caustics. This overwrites the settings for individual appearances.

Global Illumination

What is the difference between Indirect Illumination and Global Illumination?

Enable global illumination. Select to allow global illumination effects on the model. Global illumination includes all forms of indirect illumination other than that caused by caustic effects. Global illumination typically affects most objects in the scene. For global illumination effects to appear, you must additionally set options for appearances and lights. See Global Illumination.

Use default radius. Select to allow PhotoWorks to determine an optimal radius based on the size of the scene. The radius is calculated at each point in the scene. Only the global illumination photons within the radius of each point are rendered.

Custom global illumination radius. When Use default radius is cleared, type a value for the radius.

Accuracy. Determines the maximum number of photons used for calculating global illumination.

All appearances cast and receive global illumination by default. Select to force all appearances to cast and receive global illumination. This overwrites the settings for individual appearances.



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