VisualizationwithLuxology

ModuleOverview
Visualizationrequireslighting,cameras,materialsandgoodrenderer.
MicroStationV8iprovidesallofthese.

ModulePrerequisites

BasicunderstandingofMicroStationor3Dmodelingsoftware

HelpfulifyouhavedoneanyVisualizationbefore

UnderstandingofMicroStation3DViewsandViewControls

SomePhotographicexperience

ModuleObjectives
Aftercompletingthismodule,youwillbeableto:

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ChangeViewPerspective

CameraSetupandNavigation

Renderaview

UseLuxologyManager

ApplyMaterials

PlaceLighting

Outputto3DPDF

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Introduction

Introduction
Whenthinkingaboutrenderingconsiderthefollowing:

NearandFarviews(DepthofField)

Horizontalvs.Vertical

MotionorStatic

Lightvs.Dark

Compositionisakeyelementingettingstarted,essentiallyframingtheshot.A
goodwaytogetstartedistopickupyourcameraandtakepictures.Thinkabout
howyouarecomposingthesepicturesinsteadofjustpointingandshooting.For
example,goodphotosusuallyhavestronghorizontalandverticalelementswhich
leadstoabalancedpicture.ForLightandDarkconsiderreviewingtheworkof
goodblackandwhitephotographers,likeAnselAdams.
Renderingistheprocessofdepictinga3Dmodelthroughthedisplayofshaded
surfaces.MicroStationV8iprovidessophisticatedphotorealisticrenderingwith
theLuxologyrenderingengine.Itcanproduceextremelyhighqualityimagesand

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Introduction

animationsfromhugedatasetsthattypicallyincludevastnumbersof
parametricallyreplicatedgeometricelements.

Curtainswithasubsurfacescatteringeffect

Featuresofthistechnologythatcontributetoitshighqualityrenderingsinclude
globalilluminationandphysicallybasedshadingmodels.Theseprovideadvanced
opticalphenomenasuchasanisotropicblurryreflections,indirectcaustics,and
subsurfacescattering.Inaddition,realisticcameramodelsincludelensdistortion,
motionblur,anddepthoffield.Physicalskyandphysicalsunrenderingprovides
accuratesunlightatanylocation.Aswell,thereissupportforphotometric
lightingthroughtheIESstandard.

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Display Styles

Howyouapproachrenderingwilldependlargelyonwhatyourequireasthe
finishedresult.Rendersetupsletyouquicklychangefromquickdraftleveloutput
throughtothefinishedphotorealisticimage.

Aluminumcanswithanisotropicreflections

ThismoduleistoteachthebasicsofRenderingandisnotathoroughexamination
oftherenderingtechnologyinMicroStation.Foramorecomprehensivecourse
pleasetakeourMicroStationV8iforRenderingcourse.

DisplayStyles
ADisplayStyleconsistsofashadingmodeplusothersettingsandoverrides
(color,transparency,etc)thatyoucanspecify.Displaystylesarecreatedand
managedintheDisplayStylesdialog.Theyaretypicallysavedassharedresources
inDGNlibraries,butcanbestoredintheactivefile.
ThepointofusingDisplayStylesistohaveapermanentlyshaded(untilyou
changeitbacktowireframe)view.Youcanzoom,panandrotatedinshaded
modewithDisplayStylesturnedon.

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Visualization Task

Displaystylesapplytosavedanddynamicviews,aswellasnormalviews.Thelist
ofstylesissubdividedbyDisplaymode.Wireframedisplaystylesarefollowedby
hiddenline,filledhiddenline,andshadeddisplaystyles.

Reviewthemoduleon3DViewControlsformoreinformationonDisplayStyles.

VisualizationTask
TheVisualizationtaskisonlyavailablein3Dmodels.
Visualizationtasksaresixseparatetasksthatcanbeaccessedfromthe
VisualizationtoolboxortheVisualizationtasks.

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Visualization Task

RenderTask

Thistasksprovidethe:

Rendertool

RenderImagetoFile

RenderMultipleImagestoFiles

RenderPanorama

RenderSettingsdialog

LightsTask

Providesabilitytoaccess:

LightManager

PlaceLight

CamerasTask

Usedto:

SetupCamera

DefineCamera

PhotoMatch

CameraLens

FocalDistance

MaterialsTask

TheMaterialsTaskisusedto:

DefineMaterials

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Camera Setup and Navigation

Apply/AttachMaterials

Manipulate/AdjustMaterials

QueryMaterials

EnvironmentMaps

MaterialProjections

Thesetoolsareusedto:

AttachProjection

EditProjection

MatchProjection

CreateProjectiongroups

RemoveMaterialProjection

RPCTools

Abilityto:

PlaceRPCcells

EditRPCcells

CameraSetupandNavigation
SetupCamera
TheSetupCameratoolisdesignedspecificallytosetupviewsforrendering.
Whenusingthistool,acameraviewisselectedandyouhavetheoptionof
displayingitsviewingconeinallotherviewsthatdisplaythesamevolumeofthe
designfile.Whenthistoolisselectedyouarepromptedtoselectanactiveview.
InthisexampleView2theRightIsometricviewisselected.Younowhavethe
optionofselectingthecamerapositionandtargetusinganyoftheotheropen

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Camera Setup and Navigation

views.YoucanworkinoneviewanduseAccuDrawtomanipulatethecamera
andtargetposition.
Afteranactiveviewisselectedyoucanthenselectthetypeoflensavailablefrom
theoptionslistandenableCameraHeight,TargetHeightorselectthesepositions
usingAccuDrawandAccuSnapontheviewgeometry.

Findingthetool
ThereareseveralwaystofindtheCameratool,fromtheVisualizationTask,the
ViewControltoolbarorakeyin.WhensettinguporusingaCameraitisusefulto
havemultipleviewsopen.

Exercise:FindingtheCameraTool
1

OpenRender_exercise.dgnandopentheModel01_Camera.
Views1through4shouldbeopen.

IntheViewControltoolbar,rightclickonanytoolandfromthemenu
selectSetupCamera.

ThetoolsisnowavailableinyourViewControltoolbar.

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Camera Setup and Navigation

Exercise:SettinguptheCamera
1

SelectSetupCamera(E+1)andenteradatapointinView2(theIsometric
view).

ThenleftclickintheTopViewtosetthecameraposition.

OnemoreleftclickintheTopviewtoasshown,tosetthecameratarget.

View2nowshowsthegeometrythroughthecameralens.

Youcanuseothertoolstomanipulatethecameraasneeded.Themostcommon
methodistochoosetheNavigateViewtool(youmightneedtorightclickand
turnthistoolonlikeyoudidwiththeCameraSetuptool)intheViewControltool
bar.

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Luxology Dialog

Youcannowmanipulateoneofthethreedotsorhandles.

InadditionyoucanusetheDefineCameratooltomanipulatethepositionofthe
cameraorwhatitispointingat,plusmanyothersettings.

LuxologyDialog
TheLuxologydialogallowsyoutocontrolRendering,MaterialsandLighting.You
canopenLuxologyfromUtilities>Render>Luxology,orclickontheRendericon
intheViewcontroltoolbarorVisualizationtask.

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Luxology Dialog

OnceagainyoucanturnthistoolonbyrightclickingontheViewControltoolbar
andselectingRenderfromthemenu.
LuxologyEnvironments

Render
Render Lighting
Preferences

RenderOptions
Materials

ViewtoRender

RenderSettings
Presets

SetBackground

AdjustImage

LeftclickontheRendericontoseetherenderedimage.Thetimetorenderis
dependentonseveralvariableslike:complexityofmodel,lighting,materials,
operatingsystemandhardware.
Note:ToremovethepointsselectRenderSettingsandturnonIgnoreOpenElements

andText.
ForthemostpartyoucanselectaRenderingSettingPresetandclicktheRender
button.
Note:WhiletheLuxologyrenderingisrunningyoucandootherthingsin

MicroStation,soLuxologyisnonmodal.

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Exercise:UsingtheLuxologyRenderer
1

ContinueinRender_exercise.dgnandopenthemodel02_Render.

IntheVisualizationtask,selectRender(Q+1).

IntheLuxologydialog,setyourViewtoView2.

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Luxology Environments

FromLuxologyRenderSettingsselectDraft.

IntheLuxologydialog,presstheRenderbutton.
Dependingonyoursystemthismaytakeafewminutes.

LuxologyEnvironments
Luxologyenvironmentscannowbesavedandrecalledatrendertime.The
environmentsaresimilartorendersettingsinthattheytoocanbestoredina
DGNlibraryfile(DGNLIB).Ifyouwanttohaveenvironmentsetupsthatcanbe
usedbyanyinstanceofMicroStation,youcanedittheLuxology_render.dgnlib
deliveredinyourworkspacebydefaultorcreateanewlibraryfileandplaceitina
dgnlibsearchpathwithyourcustomenvironments.Theenvironmenttypesare
Sky,LightProbe,Image,ImageCubeandGradient.Allenvironmentsproduce
indirectlightontothesceneandarecontrolledbyabrightnessslider.Youcan
illuminateamodelorscenesolelybytheenabledenvironmentbychoosing
OverrideExistingLights.

Lighting
LightingistheKEYtophotorealism!
Spendmoretimewithlightingandyouwillhavebetterresults.

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Lighting

Whereyourgoalistoproducerealisticimagesofyourmodels,youcanusethe
Luxologyrenderingengine.Thistakesintoaccountbothdirectandindirect
lighting,suchasreflectionoflightandrefraction.Additionally,itcancalculate
diffusereflectionsandcaustics(suchasreflectedlight,andrefraction).Forthese
twofeatures,inparticular,thefollowingpointsshouldbekeptinmind:
Youshoulduserealworldworkingunitsforyourmodel,andlightingvaluesare
inputaslumens.
IESlightingfilesshouldbeusedtocorrectlydisplaythelightingcharacteristicsof
differentlamps,suchashalogenlamps,incandescentlamps,orfluorescenttubes.
Carehastobetakenwhendefiningmaterials,toensurethatrealisticvaluesare
defined.Youshouldsetthedisplaygammavalueforyouroutput.

DefaultLighting
DefaultLightingconsistsofashadowcastinglightovertheviewersshoulder,
plussomeambientandaflash.Thislightingisidealformodelingin3D,asit
alwaysprovidesverygoodilluminationofamodelrelativetotheobserver.
BecauseDefaultLightingisaviewattribute,youmustenabledittobeusedto
illuminateyourmodel.

TouseDefaultLighting,youmustenableitforanyview(s)whereyouwantuseit.
ThisisdonebyclickingtheAdjustViewBrightnesstoolontheviewborderand
turningontheDefaultLightingtoggle.WhentheBrightnesstoolisclicked,you
willseeabrightnesssliderandatoggleforenablingDefaultLighting;checkingthe
optionturnsontheDefaultLightingfortheview.TheiconontheAdjustView
Brightnesstoolchangestoreflectthecurrentstate.
WhentheDisplayModeofaDisplayStyleisShaded,thatis,anythingotherthan
wireframeandhiddenline,thenthehardwarerendererusesDefaultLightingor
theuserdefinedlights(SceneLighting),dependingontheDefaultLightingview
attribute.

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Lighting

IfaLightSetupotherthanFromViewischosen,theRendertooloverridesthis
viewattributeandusesscenelighting.
WhenusingtheRendertool,toseetheeffectsofDefaultLighting,turnonDefault
Lightingfortheviewyouarerendering;makesurethatLightSetup:FromViewis
chosen.Torenderaviewusingscenelighting,youcanchoseanylightsetupother
thanFromView,orrenderaviewwithDefaultLightingoff.IfyouchooseLight
Setup:FromViewandenteradatapoint,thecurrentstateoftheviewattribute
DefaultLightingforthatviewdetermineswhichlightingisused.
Therearetwobasictypesoflightingthatyoucancontrol:GlobalLightingand
SourceLighting.ToopentheLightManager,selecttheLighticonintheLuxology
Manager.

GlobalLighting
Globallightingaffectsallelementsinamodel.

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Lighting

Brightness
Therearenewsettingsforcontroltheoverallbrightnessofanimage.The
Brightnesscontrolaresplitintotwosections:DisplayBrightnessandGlobal
IlluminationBrightness.Bothofthesehavetwooptions:
BrightnessMultiplier
Scalesallpixelsbyaspecifiedfactor.Inthefield,setthescalefactortobeapplied
tothebrightnessofthepixelsforthenextrendering.
AdapttoBrightness
Setsthebrightnessforthemiddleoftherange.Inthefield,settheintensity(in
lumens)thatshouldbeusedasthemiddleofthedisplayrangeforthenext
rendering.

Ambient
Ambientlightingaffectseveryelementinthemodel.Itaddslightingequallytoall
elements.AsyouincreasethevalueofAmbientlighting,theamountofcontrast
diminishes.Ambientlightingisusefulforilluminatingsurfacesthatwouldnot
otherwisereceivelight.NoshadowsarecastbyAmbientlight.Settingsforthis
lightsourceletyouadjustitsLux,Color,andTemperature(inKelvinorK).Onelux
isequaltoonelumenpersquaremeter.Essentially,onelumenistheminimum
amountoflightthehumaneyecansee.Forafulldefinitionpleaserefertothe
glossary.

Flashbulb
Likeaflashbulbonacamera,thislightsourceilluminatesallelementsthatare
facingtheviewingpositionorcamera.Usefulforcheckingmodelsduring
construction,youalsocanuseittoaddlighttoafinalimage.Noshadowsarecast
bythislightsource.SettingsintheGlobalLightingdialog,letyouadjusttheLux,
ColorandtemperatureoftheFlashbulb.

Solar
UsedtosimulatelightingfromtheSun,Solarlightinghassettingsthatletyouset
anyofthefollowing:

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Latitude,longitude,timeanddateoftherendering.

SolarDirectionVectorsofthesunlight.

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Lighting

AzimuthAngleandAltitudeAngleoftheSun.

Youcaninputthisdatamanuallyintheappropriatefields,oryoucanusedialogs
toselectacityfromalistorpickalocationfromamapoftheworld.These
dialogsareopenedbyclickingoneofthefollowingoptionsintheLocationsection
oftheGlobalLightingdialog:
CitiesopenstheLocationByCitydialogfromwhichyoucanselectacity
fromthelist.
GetLong./Lat.fromGoogleEarthopensGoogleEarth.InGoogleEarthyou
canenableView>GridtodisplaylongitudeandlatitudeandView>Sun,
whichwillshowtimeautomatically.Withthismethod,youmuststillenterthe
GMTOffsetmanuallyinMicroStation.
GetLong./Lat.fromKMLfileAllowsyoutoselectaKMLfiletofillinLong./
Lat.fromwhatisstoredinthatKMLfile.AgainyoumustfillintheGMTOffset
manuallyinMicroStation.
ZonesOpenstheGMTOffsetByTimeZonedialogfromwhichyoucan
selectatimezone.
Optionally,youcanturnonSolarShadowstoviewtheeffectofshadows
generatedbytheSolarlighting(sunlight)whenrenderingwiththePhongorRay
Traceoptions.AswithotherGloballightsources,youcanspecifytheLux,Color
andtemperatureofthesimulatedsunlight.

Leftimagelightparameterssetfor9:00AM,middle12:00noonandrightimage5:00PMinPhiladelphia,USA

SkyDome
TheSkyDomeprovidesdirectilluminationandmimicsskylighting.
UsingSkyDomewithShadowsenabledcanincreasetherendertimesignificantly.
TheShadowsettingofSoftCoarse(32samples)isrecommendedforfaster
rendering.
Lux
Displaysthevaluefortheskylightingwiththecurrentsettings.IftheSunwould
bebelowthehorizon,thenNoSundisplays.

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Lighting

Colortype
Optionmenuthatletsyouselectthetypeofcolorused.

UserDefinedLetsyousetthecoloroftheskylighting,viatheColorsetting,
orautomaticallyviatheTemperaturesetting.

PhysicallyBasedSkycoloriscomputedbasedonfactorssuchastheSun
position,airquality,andcloudiness.

Whenilluminatedonlybysky,differentpartsoftheskymayhavedifferent
colors.Thiscanresultindifferentsidesofabuildinghavingdifferentlighting.

Color
Setsthecoloroftheskylighting.Clickingonthecolorswatchopensacolor
selectordialog,whichissimilartotheTrueColortabandColorBooktabofthe
ActiveColordialog.
Temperature
Optionmenuthatletsyouassignacolortemperaturetoskylighting.Whena
colorischosenmanually,withtheColorsetting,TemperatureissettoCustom.
Shadow
Ifon,shadowsaregeneratedfortheaddedskylighting.Sharpnessofthe
shadowsiscontrolledbytheoptionmenu.

Exercise:UsingGlobalLightingtools
1

ContinueinRender_exercise.dgnandopenthemodel06_GlobalLighting.
Severalsettingshavebeensetforyou,letsreviewthem.

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OpentheLuxologydialog(Q+1).

ClickontheLuxologyEnvironmentSettings.

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Lighting

SelecttheGlobalLightingEnvironmentSetup.

NotethatSkyhasbeenselectedwithaSunSizeof4.
5

OpentheLightManager(W+1).
YoucanalsoopenthisdialogfrominsidetheLuxologydialog.

IntheLightManager,selectSolar.

InthetoolbaracrossthetopselectHighlight.

HighlightandElementSectionselected.

Warning:YoumustselecttheHighlightoptioninordertoseetheSuninthe

finalrender.

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Lighting

ChangeTemperatureto3200KSunrise/Sunset.

Changetothecurrentdate.

Clickonthecurrentdatetosetthecurrentdate.

10 SetTimeto7:00am
11 SelectPositionbyCityandchoosePhoenix.

YoucanalsochooseaCitybygettingaLatitudeandLongitudefrom
GoogleEarthoraKMLfile.
12 Leaveallothervaluesatdefault.
13 IntheLuxologydialog,selectviewtorenderasView2andpressRender.

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Lighting

14 ChangelocationtoaMelbourne,Australiaandrerender.Notechangesto

shadowsandintensity.

15 UsetheDefineCameratoolandtrymovingthecameratootherpositions

andrerender.

PhotographicToneMapping
Ifenabled,photographictonemappingisappliedtotheimage.Thissettingcan
produceanimagethatismorelikethatwhichyoureyeswouldsee.Thisapplies
particularlytoimageswithasmalldynamicrange(wherethelightestpixelisonly
about100timesbrighterthanthedarkest).Wheretheimagehasahighdynamic
range,thenormalimagemaybebetter.
Essentially,tonemappingismappingthevaluesofthepixelsfromlux(lumensper
squaremeter)intothe0255rangeforgraphicsdisplays.Nomatterwhat,some
tonemappingoperatorisalwaysrequired.Comparingthetwomethods:

PhotographicToneMappingtriestoapproximatethehumanvisualsystem.

NonPhotographicToneMappingtriestospreadthebrightnessesacrossthe
rangeofthedisplay.

Ingeneral,NonPhotographicToneMappingwillalwaysgiveyouareasonable
image,butPhotographicToneMappingshouldgiveyouamorerealisticimage.

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Source Lighting

SourceLighting
UnlikeGlobalIllumination,whichiscontrolledsolelyfromadialog,Source
lightingconsistsoflightsourcesintheformofspecialcellsthatyouplaceinthe
design.ThisisdonewiththeDefineLighttool,whichyouwilllookatshortly.First,
abriefdescriptionofsourcelighting.
Sourcelightingcellsarestoredinthecelllibrarylighting.cel,whichisaccessed
automaticallybythePlaceLighttool.Youdonothavetoattachthiscelllibrary
beforeplacinglightsources.ThePlaceLighttoolhasvarioussettingsforeach
lightsourcetype,whichyouenterpriortoplacingthelightsource.Thesametool
letsyoumodifythem,ifnecessary,atalaterdate.Thecellsconsistof
constructionclasselementsandareplacedbydefaultonlevelDefault.

PlaceLighttool
Sourcelightingprovidesachoiceof5lightingtypes;Point,Spot,Area,Directional
andSkyOpening.Theselightsourcesprovidelightingasfollows.

Point
Similartoalightglobe,pointlightsourcesradiatelightinalldirections,froma
pointlightsource.ShadowscanbegeneratedbythislightsourceinRayTrace
renderingonly;theyarenotsupportedbyPhongrendering.

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Source Lighting

Spot
Directionallightsourcethatbehavessimilartoaflashlight.SpotLightshavea
conicalbeam.Thiscanbedefinedtotaperofftozeroattheedgeofthebeam.
YoucandefinetheConeAngleforthebeamandaDeltaAnglethroughwhichthe
beamreducesfromfullintensitytozero.Shadowscanbegeneratedbythislight
sourceforPhongandRayTracerendering.

Area
Createdfromexistingpolygonsinthedesign,theselightsourcesareusefulfor
simulatingfluorescentlighting,forexample.

Directional
Directionallightsourcethatproducesparallellightraysthroughoutthedesign,
similartosunlight.Itdoesnotmatterwhereinthemodelthatyouplaceoneof

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Source Lighting

theselightsources,allsurfacesthatfacethedirectionofaDistantlightsourceare
illuminatedbyit.ShadowscanbegeneratedbythislightsourceforPhongand
RayTracerendering.

SkyOpening
SkyOpeninggeneratesmoreefficientsolutionsforindoorsceneslitwithSolar
Lighting,SkyLight,orDistantLightsources,throughanopeninginawallor
ceiling.Ratherthanconsidertheentireskyforcalculatingthelightingeffect,
onlythelightingthatisvisiblethroughtheopeningisconsidered.
Eachsourcelightingcellthatyouplaceinadesigncanhavedifferentsettingsfor
suchthingsasIntensityandColor.Youcanspecifywhetherornottheycast
shadowsforthesupportedrenderingmodes.

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Source Lighting

PlaceLighttoolsettings
YouusethePlaceLighttooltocreateandmodifylightsourcesinyourdesign.
ToolsettingsforthePlaceLighttoolareasfollows.
Tool Setting

Effect

Preset

Optionmenuthatletsyouselectfromalistofpredefinedlights.
PresetsavailableforPoint,SpotandArealights.

Name

Textfieldthatletsyoudefineanameforthelightsourcethatyouarecreating.
Givinglightsourcesuniquenameshelpsyouidentifythemifyouwanttomodifythem
insomeway,ordeletethem.Wherenonameisinput,thelightisgivenadefaultname
thatidentifiesthetypeoflightsource.Wherethereareotherlightsourcespresentof
thesametype,withthesamename,thenthenameisincremented.Forexample,Spot
Light,SpotLight(1),SpotLight(2),andsoon,forSpotLightsources.

Color

Opensthecolordialog,whichisusedtospecifyacolorforthelightsource.

Temperature

Optionmenuthatletsyouassignacolortemperaturetothelightsource.

Intensity

Setstheintensityofthelightsource(defaultis1.0)forstandardrendering(upto
Phong).Forradiosity,particletracing,andraytracing,thatuserealworldlighting,acts
asamultipliertotheLumenssetting.

Lumens

Setsthelightsourcebrightness,forusewithraytracing,radiositysolving,andparticle
tracing.Actsasamultiplierofthelightsource'sColorandIntensityvaluestosimulate
realworldlightingvalues.Thisvalue,whenmultipliedbytheIntensityofthelight,
specifiestheoverallbrightness,inLumens.

Bulbs

Letsyouassignmultiplebulbs,withthedefinedsettings,tothelightsource.

CellSize

(Distant,Point,andSpotLightsonly)Setsthesizeofthelightcell,inmasterunits.

BulbSize

(PointLightsandSpotLightsonly)Setsthesizeofthelightsource.
Forsoftshadowscalculations,theraytracingprocessassumesadefaultsizeof12
inchesforallpointandspotlights.Thiscancauseunnaturallightinginsituationswhere
lightsourcesareplacedwithinfixtures,wherethefixturesareexpectedtocast
shadows.Forthesesituations,youcanchangethedefaultsizewiththissetting.

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Source Lighting

Tool Setting
Shadow

Effect
Ifon,thelightsourcecancastshadowsinaPhong,orRayTraced,renderedimage,as
wellaswithaRadiositysolution,oraParticleTracedimage.
InPhongrenderedimages,onlyDistant,Area,andSpotlightscancastshadows.
InRayTraced,ParticleTraced,orRadiosityrenderedimages,alllightsourcetypescan
castshadows.
ForRayTracing,sharpnessoftheshadowsiscontrolledbytheShadowssettingonthe
RenderModetaboftheRenderSettingsdialogwhenmodeissettoRayTrace.If,
however,ShadowsissettoPerLight,thenthesharpnessoftheshadowsiscontrolled
bytheindividuallightsource'sShadowoptionmenusetting.Thisdeterminesthe
numberofsamplesusedtocalculatetheshadows.

SharpNumberofsamples1
SoftCoarseNumberofsamples16
SoftMediumNumberofsamples64
SoftFineNumberofsamples160
SoftVeryFineNumberofsamples256
CustomAppearswhenanexistinglightsourcehasanumberofsamplesthatdiffers
fromthoselistedabove.

IESData

Ifon,andanIESfilehasbeenselected,thenIESdataisusedinthecalculationofthe
lightfromthelightsource.

Rotation

LetsyouenteravaluetorotatethephotometriccharacteristicsfortheIESlightsource.

ConeAngle

(SpotLightonly)Setstheangleofthebeamconeofaspotlightsource.Usedtofocus
thebeam.

DeltaAngle

(SpotLightonly)Setstheangle,attheedgeofthebeamcone,throughwhichaSpot
Lightbeamfallsfromfullintensitytozero.

VolumeEffects

Seebelow

VolumeEffects
ContainscontrolsforlightingVolumeEffects.Availablesettingsvary,depending
onthetypeoflightsourceselected.
ScatterColor
Setsthescattercolorvalue.Clickingthecoloriconopensapopupdialogtoset
thecolor.
ScatterColorcanbethoughtofasthecolorofthedustparticlesmakingupthe
volumethroughwhichthelightispassing.

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Source Lighting

ScatterColorRGBvaluessetto94,94,94(left)and40,50,156(right)
Samples
Controlstheaccuracyofthevolumetriceffectunderneathshadowingobjects.
Increasingthesamplesvalueimprovestheaccuracy.
Samplessetto40(left)and200(right)
Height
(AppliestoSpotLights,Directional,andSolarlightsonly)Setstheheightin
workingunits,ofthescatteringeffectinthevolumeassociatedwiththelight.
Heightsetto2meters(left)and0.5meters(right)
Radius
(AppliestoPoint,Directional,andSolarlightsonly)
ForSolarandDirectionallights,Radiusdefinesacylinderradius.This,combined
withtheheight,createsthevolumethroughwhichscatteringoccurs.
Forpointlights,Radiusdefinestheradiusofthesphereforthescatteringvolume.
Base
(AppliestoSpotlightsonly)Definestheoffsetfromthespotlightatwhichthe
scatteringcanoccur.
Basesetto0meters(left)and0.2meters(right)
Scattering
Controlstheamountoflightscatteringwhichoccursinsidethevolume.Higher
valuesresultinmorescattering.
Scatteringsetto10%(left)and80%(right)
Density
Setsthedensityforthevolumetriceffect.Highervalueswillmakethevolume
thickerandmoreopaque.

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Source Lighting

Densitysetto10%(left)and80%(right)
Attenuation
Controlstheamountofattenuationoftheeffect.Avalueof0%givesanaturalfall
offandasthevalueincreasesthefalloffbecomesgreater.
Attenuationsetto0%(left)and50%(right).

Exercise:PlaceanArealightsourceasafluorescentceilinglight
1

ContinuinginRender_exercise.dgn,openthemodel07_SourceLighting.
View2isacameraviewthathasbeensetupforrendering.Views1,3and
4havebeensetuptosimplifyaddingthelightsources.

FromtheViewBorderorViewAttributesmakeView2sDisplayStyleset
toSmoothwithShadows.
Currently,theLightManagerhasAmbientandFlashbulbenabledfor
illuminatingthescene.

FromtheVisualizationtaskselectLightManager(W+1).

EnabletheSolarlightintheLightManagerdialogwiththefollowing
settings:
Intensity:15
Shadow:Sharp
Date:CurrentDate
Time:09:30AM
City:Phoenix

Note:YoucanchangetheTimeandwatchthelightcominginfromthe

windowmoveinVIew2.
5

SelectPlaceLight(W+2)withthefollowingtoolsettings:
Name:Halogen1
Preset:halogen250WBulb
Bulbs:2
Shadow:SoftFine

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Source Lighting

InView4,identifytheblockelementinsidetheoverheadfluorescent
light,andindicatethedownwarddirection.Youcanconfirmthedirection
intheFrontview.

BlocktoConvert
toAreaLight

Repeatstep5forthesecondoverheadlightandnameitHalogen2.

Note:LightDirectioncanbechangedatanytimebyselectingthelightsourceusing

theElementselectiontoolandadjustingthelighttargethandleorbyenabling
theHighlighttoolintheLightManagerandselectingthelightsourcename.
8

SelecttheRendertool(Q+1).

FromLuxologyEnvironmentSettingsselectRender_exercise.

10 WithDraftLuxologyRenderSettingsandrenderView2.

11 UsetheAdjustImagesSettingstooltoadjustBrightness.
12 Tryvariouslightsettings.Disablealllights,changecolors,Presets,Date,

andcustomLumensettings.

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Materials

Whenyouplacedthelightsource,yougaveitaname.Ifnonamewasgiventhen
thesystemwouldgenerateadefaultname,AreaLight.Anyadditionalpointlights
woulddefaulttoAreaLight(1),AreaLight(2),andsoon.
Naminglightcellscanhelpyoulaterifyouwanttoeditthem.UsingthePlace
Lighttool,youdontneedtohavelightsourcecellsdisplayedinaview,youcan
simplyselectthemfromthelist.
Pointlightsourcesradiatelightinalldirections,youdonothavetoconsider
direction.WithSpotLightlighting,adirectionallightingsource,youmustdefine
thedirectioninwhichthelightisshining.

FencesandRendering
Usingafenceletsyoutrynumerousiterationsoflightsettingswithoutwaitingfor
entirescenetorender.Afteryouaresatisfiedwithyoursettingsthenrenderthe
entirescene.

Materials
Materialsallowyoutoaddrealisticimagerytosurfaces,likewood,marble,glass,
etc.Luxologyallowsformanytypesofformats,likeJPGorTIForspecialized
LuxologymaterialstoaddFur,DisplacementMapsor3Dmaterials.
Bydefault,Luxologyrenderingassumesthateachdesignfilesurfaceismadeofa
materialwithasmoothshinysurface,suchasplastic.Materialdefinitionsletyou
specifythatanelementiswaterorwoodorbrickwork.Whenrendered,instead
ofseeingtheplasticelement,youseethespecifiedmaterial.Eachmaterial
definitioncanincludeapatternmapand/orabumpmap,aswellasothersettings
determiningthefinishandtransparency/translucencyofthematerialplusmuch
more.Patternmapsandbumpmapsareimagefilesthatareappliedtosurfaces
duringtherenderingprocess.
Materialdefinitionsandassignmentscanbeseparatedintotwodistinct
categorieslocalandexternal.Bydefault,materialsarelocalandsavedin
paletteswiththeDGNfile,whileexternalmaterialsrequireexternalmaterial
assignmenttable(.mat)andmaterialpalette(.pal)filestobepresentduring
rendering.OptionsintheMaterialEditordialog'sTablemenuletyouconvertor
exportlocalmaterialstoexternalfiles.

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Materials

Whererequired,youcanaccesslocalpalettesandtheirmaterialsthatarestored
inotherDGNfiles.
Materialdefinitionsattributesrelatedtocolor,texture,opacity(transparency),
andfinisharecreatedandstoredinmaterialpalettes.Forexternalmaterials,
thesearepalette(.pal)filesandalwaysmustbepresentwhenapplyingmaterials,
orrendering.Forlocalmaterials,theexternalpalettefileisrequiredonlythefirst
timethatyouaccessamaterial.Bydefault,itisthenstoredintheDGNfile.
ManysamplematerialdefinitionsaresuppliedwithMicroStation.Ifyoudonot
plantocreateyourownmaterialdefinitions,butwanttoapplyexistingmaterial
definitionstoelements,seetheApplyMaterialtool.

Patternmaps
Apatternmapisanimagefilethatisappliedtoanelement.Youcanthinkofthis
intermsofwallpaperingawall.Whenyourenderanelementthathasapattern
mapappliedtoit,insteadofseeingtheelement(wall)youseethepatternmap
(wallpaper).MicroStationprovidesalargerangeofimagefiles,inJPGandTIF
format,thatcanbeusedforpatternmaps.Thesearestoredinthe
\Workspace\system\materials\patternfolder.Additionally,youcanuseyour
ownimagefilesaspatternmaps.

Bumpmaps
Likepatternmaps,abumpmapisanimagefilethatisappliedtoanelement.
Whereitdiffersfromapatternmapisthatabumpmapappliesroughnessor
texturetoarenderedsurface.Whileitisnotmandatoryforbumpmapimagesto
begreyscale,quiteoftentheyare.MicroStationusesthecontrastinthebump
mapimagetocalculatetexture,orbumps,intherenderedimage.Aspartofthe
materialdefinition,youcanvarytheheightofthesebumps.Thisletsyouusethe
samebumpmapimagefile,forexample,tocreatecastmetalfromveryrough
castthroughtonearlysmooth.

MaterialsstoredinDGN
Bydefault,allpalettesandtheirmaterialsnowarestoredlocallyintheDGN.
Whererequired,youstillcanconvertorexportthematerialsandpalettesto
externalfiles.

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Materials

MaterialpalettescanbeusedfromanyDGNorDGNLibrary.Youcanreview:
C:\DocumentsandSettings\AllUsers\Application
Data\Bentley\MicroStation\WorkSpace\System\dgnlib
formoreinformationonhowtodothis.
YoucanaccessmaterialpalettesfromanyDGNorDGNLibraryfile.Whenyou
selectPalette>OpenfromtheMaterialEditor,youcanselectaDGNfileto
displaythepalettescontainedwithinit.

Materialtables
Whenyouassignmaterialsfromapalettefiletoanelementinadesign,the
assignmentisstoredinamaterialtable.Bydefault,materialtablesaregiventhe
samenameasthedesignfilebuthavea.matsuffix.Also,bydefault,material
tablesaresavedinthesamefolderasthedesignfile.Youcansavethemwith
anothernameandinanotherfolder,ifyouwish.
MaterialTablescanbestoredintheDGNfileitselfsonoexternalfileisneeded.
Hint:UsingElementSelectionisaquickwaytofindandchangematerialassignments

andattachments.

AdditionalMapTypes
ClearCoatTheclearcoatmapchangestheperceivedthicknessoftheclearcoat
lacquereffect.

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Materials

DiffuseAdiffusemapcanbeusedinconjunctionwithapatternmaptogive
morecontrasttothediffusereflection.

GlowThepixelsinaglowmapspecifythefractionofglowemittedbythe
surfaceatthatpointupto100%.

OpacityMapsforOpacityvarythetransparencyacrossthematerialwiththe
darkerpartsofthemapbeingmoretransparent.
SpecularColorIfasurfaceisreflective,thenthespecularcolormapisalsoused
asthereflectcolor.

Left:SpecularColorMap,Right:Reflective

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Materials

TransparentColorAtransparentcolormapcanbeusedtovarythetransparent
colorofasurface.

TranslucentColorAtranslucencycolormapcanbeusedtovarythetranslucent
colorofasurface.

DisplacementWhenusingdisplacementmapsthedisplacementprocedure
createsadditionalgeometryinthesceneatrendertime.Thismeansthatthisnew
geometrywillbeaddedtothecalculationoflight,materialsandvisibility.
Displacinggeometryinascenecanincreasetherendertimesignificantly
especiallyifitsinhighquantity.

Displacementmaponasmoothsphere

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Materials

MaterialsUpdateforV8i
EnhancementstotheMaterialstoolsincludechangestothedefaultmethodof
storingmaterialsandmultilayermaterialcapability.

Bydefault,allpalettesandtheirmaterialsnowarestoredlocallyintheDGN.
Whererequired,youstillcanconvertorexportthematerialsandpalettesto
externalfiles.

YoucanaccessmaterialpalettesfromanyDGNorDGNLibraryfile.Whenyou
selectPalette>OpenfromtheMaterialEditor,youcanselectaDGNfileto
displaythepalettescontainedwithinit.

Newmappingoptions,letyouapplyanimage,gradient,procedure,or
Operation(TintorGamma)totheColor,Translucency,Specular,Reflect,
Finish,Opacity,andBumpchannels.Aswell,eachchannelcanbemulti
layered.TheMaterialEditorletsyouaccessthemappingoptionviaiconsfor
eachchannel.

YoucanusetheX,Y,(andZfor3Dprocedures)locksettingintheUnits
definitionforamaterialmaptolocktheimageintotheaspectratioofthe
originalimage.Whenthelockisenabled,anychangestotheX,Y,orZsettings
automaticallyisreflectedinchangestotheothersettingstomaintainthe
aspectratiooftheoriginalimageorproceduraltexture.

TheApplyMaterialTool
UsingtheApplyMaterialtool,youcan:

AssignmaterialdefinitionstoelementsinthedesignfileeitherbyColor/Level
orasanAttribute.

Checkthematerialthatisattachedtoanelement.

Removematerialdefinitionsfromelementsinthedesignfile.

Previewhowamaterialwilllookonanelement.

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Materials

WhenyouselecttheApplyMaterialtool,theApplyMaterialtoolsettingsopens.
Fromthisdialog,youcanloadpalettefiles,applymaterialsoropentheDefine
Materialsdialog.

Fromlefttoright,theiconsacrossthetopoftheApplyMaterialtoolsdialoglet
youselectfrom:

AssignbyLevel/Colortoattachamaterialtoelementsofaparticular
color(s)onaparticularlevel(s)inthemodel.

RemoveAssignmenttoremoveanexistinglevel/colormaterialassignment
fromelementsinthemodel.

Attachtophysicallyattachamaterialdefinitiontoanelement,oraface
ofasolid,inthemodel.Thissettingtakeprecedenceoverlevel/color
assignments.

RemoveAttachmentremoveamaterialattachmentfromanelementor
thefaceofasolidinthemodel.

Querytocheckforamaterialassignmenttoanelementinthemodel.With
AccuSnapactive,yousimplyhoverthepointerovertheelementbeing
queried,andatooltipdisplaystheassignmentorattachmentinformation.

WorkingwithMaterials
ToapplymaterialsyoucanAssignthemtoaLevelandColorcombinationor
Attachthemtoanindividualfaceofa3Dobject.

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Exercise:AssigningaMaterial
1

ContinueinRendering_exercise.dgn.

OpentheModel03_Materials.

IntheVisualizationtaskselectRender(Q+1).

ClickontheMaterialiconintheLuxologyManager.

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Materials

ThisopenstheMaterialEditor.

ClickonOpenPaletteorselectthemenuitemPalette>Open.

SelecttheLuxology_Presets.pal[Bentley_Materials.dgnlib].

Younowhaveaccesstoallmaterialsinthatpalette.

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Materials

RightclickonFabricVelvetandselectAssign.

Leftclickonceonthecushionofthechairandleftclickagainonnothing
(emptyspace).
ThesecondleftclickistoAccepttheassignmentofthematerial.

Fromthesamepaletteselectthematerial:Metal_Chromeandassigntoa
legofthechair.

10 FromtheMaterialEditordialog,selectPalette>Open.
11 Selectthecarpet&fabric.pal[Bentley_Materials.dgnlib]palette.
12 Selectthematerial:carpet_52
13 RightclickandAssigncarpet_52totheblockrepresentingthefloorplane.
14 SelecttheRendertool.
15 IntheLuxologydialog,selectLuxologyRenderSettingsandchooseDraft.

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Materials

16 RenderthemodelbyselectingRenderintheLuxologyManager.

17 Exploreothermaterials(forexample,BlackLeatherfromcarpets&fabric)

andtrythemout.YoucanRemoveAssignment,byusingtherightclick
menuonaspecificmaterial.

Exercise:Attachingadifferentmaterialtofacesofasolid
1

ContinuinginRender_exercise.dgn,openthemodel04_Materials2.

IntheVisualizationtaskselectApplyMaterial(A+1).

ClicktheAttachiconintheApplyMaterialtoolsettingiconbar.

ClicktheOpenpaletteiconinthetoolsettings.

Selectthepalette:blocks&bricks.pal[Bentley_Materials.dgnlib].

FromtheMaterialslist,selectbrickbackalley.

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Materials

InView2,identifythesolidandselecttheeachfaceofthetablebases.
Use(Ctrl+)formultiplefaces.

UseDisplayStyleSmoothinView4.

Openthepalettewood.pal[Bentley_Materials.dgnlib].

10 FromtheMaterialslist,selectWood37.

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Materials

11 InView2,identifythesolidandselectthetabletopandsidefaces.

12 UsetheRendertoolwithDraftLuxologyRenderSettingandrenderView

4.

MultiLayeredMaterials
Youcancreatematerialsthatconsistofmultiplelayersofpatternmaps,bump
maps,procedures,gradients,and/oroperations(tintorgammasetting).AN
examplemightbeshowingtiretracksonaroadorgraffitionawallordirtona
surface.
Newmappingoptionsletyouapplyanimage,gradient,procedure,orOperation
(TintorGamma)totheColor,Translucency,Specular,Reflect,Finish,Opacity,and
Bumpchannels.Aswell,eachchannelcanbemultilayered.TheMaterialEditor
letsyouaccessthemappingoptionviaiconsforeachchannel.

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Materials

Youcandefinethewaythatthepattern/bumpmapsareblendedandyoucan
assignavalueforopacity,toallowonemaptobeseenthroughanother.
Addinglayersofpatternmaps,letsyoucreatemorecomplexmaterials.For
example,youcancreateabrickwallthatincludes1ormoresigns,orhavea
materialwithpartialopacity.
Youcanaddlayerstoyourmaterialdefinitions,withvariousblendmodes.The
layerscanbetoggledasrequired.
Warning:MultilayeredmaterialsarenotbackwardcompatiblewithMicroStationV8XM
Editionv8.9.2andearlier.

Sep-09

Exercise:CreatingandusingMultiLayeredMaterials
1

ContinuinginRender_exercise.dgn,inthemodel04_Materials2,fromthe
VisualizationtaskopentheMaterialsEditor(A+1).

OpenthePaletteblocks&bricks.pal[Bentley_Materials.dgnlib].

Expandthenodeontheleftpaneandhighlightthematerialbrickback
alleyandclickthePatternMapicon.

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Materials

FromthetopleftclickNewLayerandselectvent01.jpg.

Setthefollowing:

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Projection modes for Pattern/Bump Maps

InView4zoominontherightsideoffronttableandRenderusingDraft
LuxologyRenderSettings.

SmoothDisplayStyleofView4

ProjectionmodesforPattern/BumpMaps
Projectionmodesareassignedtoelements,ratherthanthematerial.Thislets
youusethesamematerialwithvariousprojectionmodesdependingonthe
geometry.

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Projection modes for Pattern/Bump Maps

ControlprojectionmodesusingtheMaterialstask.

Projectionmodesformaterials
Severalprojectionmodesareavailable:

DirectionalDrapeMappingisappliedrelativetothedirectionspecifiedby
theOrientationsetting

CubicMappingisappliedinacubicfashionrelativetothegeometry.

SphericalMappingisappliedinasphericalfashionrelativetothegeometry.

CylindricalMappingisappliedinacylindricalfashionrelativetothe
geometry.

Warning:MaterialprojectionmodesarenotbackwardcompatiblewithMicroStationV8XM
Editionv8.9.2andearlier.

ToolsforcontrollingMaterialProjections
TheMaterialstaskadds5toolsforhandlingmaterialprojections.

Exercise:UsingMaterialProjections
1

ContinuinginRender_exercise.dgn,openthemodel05_Projections.

AssignthematerialBrickAgedtothesphere.

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Projection modes for Pattern/Bump Maps

Rendertoseetheresults.

SelectAttachProjection(S+1)withthefollowingtoolsetting:
Method:Spherical

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Enteradatapointonthesphere.

Rendertoseeresult.

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Projection modes for Pattern/Bump Maps

RepeatwiththecylinderandSlab.

SelecttheEditProjectiontool(S+2)withthefollowingsettings:
Select:ScaleProjection
AttachTo:Element
Mapping:Cubic

ClickontheArrowstoselectavarietyofscaledirections.

10 UstheRemoveProjectiontool(S+5)andremovetheprojectionfromthe

slab.
11 MakeaCopy(3+1)oftheslabandplaceitonthesideoftheoriginalslab.
12 Attachanewprojection(S+1)tobothoftheslabs.
13 EdittheProjectionscaleofoneoftheslabs.
14 SelecttheMatchProjectiontool(S+3)withthefollowingsettings:

Enable:ProjectionScale

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Projection modes for Pattern/Bump Maps

15 Selecttheslabthattheprojectionscalewasmodifiedthenselectthe

otherslabtomatchthisprojectonthisslab.

AmbientOcclusion
AnadditionalrenderingmethodisAmbientOcclusion,whichisfoundfrom
LuxologyRenderSettings.
Ambientocclusionisashadingmethodusedin3Dcomputergraphicswhichhelps
addrealismtolocalreflectionmodelsbytakingintoaccountattenuationoflight
duetoocclusion.Ambientocclusionattemptstoapproximatethewaylight
radiatesinreallife,especiallyoffwhatarenormallyconsiderednonreflective
surfaces.

RayTracing
RayTracingisstillavailablefromLuxologyRenderSettings.

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Output of Imagery

OutputofImagery
Therearemanywaystoshareyourcomputergraphicsimagery(CGI).Onewayis
tocreatea3DPDFofyourrenderedmodel(seenextmodule),anotheristoSave
animagetodisk.

SaveImage
Nowthatyoucansetupandcreaterenderedimagesofyourmodels,youmight
wanttosaveoneormoreofthemandimpressyourfriendsandclientsby
sendingthemafilecontainingtheimage.YoucanquicklysaveMicroStation
imagesusingtheSaveoptionintheUtilities>Imagemenu.
Youhavemanychoiceswhensavingyourimages,suchasfileformat,resolution
andtypeofshading.Aswellasbeingabletosaveyourimages,MicroStation
providesaviewingfacilityandawaytoperformlimitedmodifications.
Therearemanyvariablesthatyoucanadjustwhensavingimages,however,you
willfindthatmostremainconsistentonceyoubegintointegrateimagesinto
yourworkflow.
ThesetoolsarefoundontheUtilities>Imagemenu.Inadditiontothesebasics
youcanalsoconvertimages,capturethescreenasanimageandsaveanimage
usingmultiplecomputerstospeeduptheprocessingtime.

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Output of Imagery

TosaveanimagetodiskyoucanuseUtilities>Image>Save.

Hereyoucanchooseseveralthings,including:Format,DPIandRenderMode.For
aquicktestchooseLuxologyfromRenderMode.

Savingarenderedimage
Tosaveanimage,selectUtilities>Image>Save,whichopenstheSaveImage
dialog.

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Viewcontrolswhichviewwillberendered.

Formatcontrolsthetypeoffileformatinwhichtheimagefilewillbesaved.
MicroStationsupportsawidevarietyoffileformatsincludingJPG,TIF,TGA,
Postscript,PCXandothers.

Compressionselectsthetypeoffilecompressionforthoseformatsthatallow
it.Forexample,ifyouselectJPEGthenyouhavetheoptionofchoosingHigh
Loss(highcompression)throughtoMinimumLoss(highquality).

Modeletsyouselectthebitdepthoftheimageorgreyscale.

Shadingletsyouselectwhichtypeofshadingtouse.Forhighqualityimages
thatcastshadows,selectRayTraceshadingmode.

ShadingTypesletsyouselectbetweenNormal,AntialiasandStereo.

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Distributed Rendering

ActionissettoRayTrace,Radiosity,orParticleTraceonly.Setstherendering
actiontobeperformed.

Resolutioncontrolshowlargeanimageyouproduce,intermsofpixels.
Thoughtshouldbegiventodisplayingthesavedimage.Inordertodisplaythe
savedimage,youmusthaveenoughRAMonyourvideocardtoholdthe
image.Thisdependsalsoonwhatbitdepth(24bitor8bit)youselectin
Mode.
WhenoneoftheResolutionvalues(XorY)isadjustedtheotherupdatesto
maintaintheviewaspectratio.Usinghigherresolutionallowsyoutohave
morepixelstoworkwith,henceafinerqualityimage.

GammaCorrectioncontrolsthewhitecontentofanimage.Thevaluesrange
from0.10to3.00.Avalueof0.10isverydarkwhile3.00isverybright.

ImageSizeletsyoucontroltheoutputsizeoftheimageinpixels,orunitaswellas
howmanydotsperincharerecorded.
BandedRenderingallowsforanimagetobebrokenupintostripsorbandsfor
networkrendering.
DistributedRenderingletsyouprocessanimageusing2ormorePCsnetworked
together.
Afterspecifyingthesettingsforyourimage,youcansavetheimagewithaunique
filenameandplaceitonyourharddrive.Thedefaultlocationinwhich
MicroStationstoresimagefilesistheoutdirectory,suchas
\Workspace\projects\examples\General\out.

Viewingasavedimage
MicroStationhasaviewingutilitythatletsyouviewyoursavedrenderedimages
andperformanumberofeditingandmanipulationoperations.
Toviewarenderedimage,fromwithinMicroStation,selectUtilities>Image>
Display.

DistributedRendering
Youcanuseseveralmachinestodoonerenderingoranimationbyusing
DistributedRendering.DistributedRenderingnowisincludedanddoesnothave

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Distributed Rendering

tobedownloadedasaseparatepackage.Itsbasicrequirementisthatall
processorstakingpartintherenderinghaveaccesstoalltheDGN,texture,RPC,
andrasterfilestobeusedintherendering.Itisalsonecessarythatallprocessors
takingpartintherenderinghaveaccesstotheoutputpath.

SimplifiedsetupforDistributedRendering
SettingupthisnewversionofDistributedRenderingissimpleanditdoesnot
requireanyexternaldatabaseserveraswasrequiredpreviously.Touse
DistributedRendering,youmustfirstlaunchtheDistributedProcessingController
fromtheMicroStationstartmenu.

Thefirsttimethatyoustartthecontroller,youarepromptedtodefineyour
Shared(probablyserver)Directory.ThisdetermineswhereDistributedRendering
storestheinformationitneedstoconfigureyourcontrollerandpassdataback
andforthbetweenmultiplemachines.Allmachinesthatwillparticipateinthe
rendering

HowtosetupDistributedRendering

1.FromtheStartmenu,selectBentley>MicroStationV8i>ProcessControllerfor
DistributedRendering.
TheConfigurationSettingsdialogopens.
2.ToselectaShareddirectory,clickthebuttontotherightofthefield.
3.SelectasharedfolderandclickOK.
4.ClickOK.
5.WhenDistributedRenderingisavailable,theBentleyDistributedProcessing
SchedulericonappearsintheSystemtray.

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Visualization Glossary

DistributedRenderingRelateddialogs
TheSchedulerisaccessedbyrightclickingtheProcessControllertrayiconand
choosingOpenScheduler.TheJobMonitorisaccessedbyrightclickingthe
ProcessControllertrayiconandchoosingOpenJobMonitor.

Scheduler
TheSchedulerdialogisusedtoscheduletimesthatyoursystemisavailablefor
contributingtoprocessingimages.

JobMonitor
TheJobMonitordialogdisplaystheprogressofyourdistributedrenderingtasks.

VisualizationGlossary
ThisglossarydefinesvisualizationtermsusedwithMicroStation.
actor
Inananimationsequence,anelement(s)thatarescriptedtomoveorrotateina
controlledmanner.Createdasacell.
adaptivesubdivision
Processwithinradiositysolvingthatdynamicallysubdividesasurfaceelement
meshalongshadowboundaries,resultinginmoreaccurateanddetailedshading.
aliasing
Sourceofseveralcommoncomputergraphicsartifactssuchasjaggedlines,
missingobjects,andjerkymotioninanimation.Insignalprocessingterms,
aliasingiscausedbytheundersamplingofasignal,resultinginsomehigh
frequencycomponentsofthesignalassumingthealias(orfalseidentity)ofthe
lowfrequencycomponents,andmixingtogetherinsuchawaythattheycanno
longerbedistinguishedproperly.

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Visualization Glossary

ambientlight
Imaginarylightthatispresumedtostrikeeverypointonasurfacewithequal
intensity.Usedtoapproximatethelargescaleeffectsofdiffuseinterreflections,
aphenomenonnotusuallyaccountedforbymostlightingmethods.Ambient
lightshouldbeturnedoffwhenusingparticletracingorradiositysolving,bothof
whichtakeintoaccountthediffusereflectionoflightbetweensurfaces.
animationcamera
Actorthatisscriptedtodesignateaviewingposition,orientation,and
perspectiveforanimation.
animationsettingsfile
File(.asf)thatcontainsdesignandrenderingsettingswhilerecordingan
animationsequence.Particularlyusefulforcollaborativerecordingofanimation
scriptsonnetworkedsystemsorcontinuingdisruptedrecordings.
anisotropy
Isthepropertyofbeingdirectionallydependent,asopposedtoisotropy,which
meanshomogeneityinalldirections.Itcanbedefinedasadifferenceina
physicalproperty(absorbance,refractiveindex,density,etc.)forsomematerial
whenmeasuredalongdifferentaxes.
antialiasing
Specialrenderingprocessingtoremoveorlimittheappearanceofaliasing
artifactsinanimageorananimationsequence.Seealsosample.
arealightsource
Lightsourcecreatedfromashapeelement.Thistypeoflightsourcecastssofter,
morenaturalshadowsthanaPointlightsource.
camera
Imaginaryentitythatspecifiesascene'sviewingposition,orientation,and
perspective.Seealsoanimationcamera.

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Visualization Glossary

candela
Thecandelaistheunitofluminousintensity;thatis,poweremittedbyalight
sourceinaparticulardirection.Acommoncandleemitslightwithaluminous
intensityofroughlyonecandela.
caustics
Lightingeffectscausedbylightreflectedoffsurfaces,orrefractedthrough
transparentobjects.
colorbleeding
Shadingeffectobservableinparticletracedandradiositysolutionscausedby
diffuseinterreflectionsbetweensurfaces.Forexample,acoloredwalloften
reflectsasmallamountofitscolorontoanadjoiningwhitewall.
diffuseinterreflection
Aglobalprocessoflighttransportamongallthesurfacesinanenvironment,
basedonaseriesofdiffusereflectionsbetweensurfaces.
diffusereflection
Typeofreflectionthatsendslightinalldirectionswithequalenergy.Diffuse
reflectionissaidtobeviewindependent.Seealsospecularreflection.
displacementmaps
Displacementmapssimulatethegeometryusedtocreatetheminthefirstplace,
anddisplaythedisplacementmapgeometryinplaceoftheunderlyingelement.
dolly(camera)
Tomovetheviewconewhilekeepingthecameraandtargetpointsinthesame
positionsrelativetoeachotherthatis,withoutchangingitsorientation.
dolly(lightsource)
Tomoveadirectionallightsourceanditstargetpointsuchthattheyremainin
thesamepositionsrelativetoeachotherthatis,withoutchangingits
orientation.

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Visualization Glossary

elevate
Tomovetheviewcone,linearly,inaverticaldirection.
environmentcube
Imaginarycubesurroundingtheentiredesign,onwhichimagesareappliedas
environmentmaps.
environment
Imagefilerepresentingtheprojectionofa3Denvironmentontoa2Dsurface
fromaspecificpointofview.Amapsetofthesefilescanbeappliedtothesix
facesoftheenvironmentcubethatsurroundsadesign(orenvironment).An
environmentmapisnotdirectlyvisibleintheview,butisseenonlywhen
reflectedortransmittedbysurfacesinthemodeltowhichmaterial
characteristicsareapplied.
fieldrendering
Animationscriptrecordingtechniquethatresultsinframesthatconsistoftwo
fieldseach(onefortheevennumberedscanlinesandonefortheoddnumbered
scanlines).UsedtoimproveplaybackonNTSCandPALvideodisplaysystemsthat
employinterlaceddisplay.
focalpoint
Thepointatwhichinitiallycollimated(parallel)raysoflightmeetafterpassing
throughaconvexlens,orreflectingfromaconcavemirror.
frame
Singlerenderedimagethatispartofaseriesofrenderedimagesthatmakeupan
animationsequence.
framenumber
Identifiesaframe'srelativepositioninananimationsequence.Sincethespeedof
ananimationsequence(expressedinframespersecond)isconstantthroughout
theanimation,framenumberscanalsobethoughtofaspointsintime.
Therefore,fractionalframenumberscanbespecifiedinscriptentries.

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Visualization Glossary

Fresneleffects
Effectoftheangleofviewonthereflectivityandtransparencyofasurface.For
example,awindowappearsmorereflectivethantransparentwhenviewedata
sharpangle.
frustum
Geometricshapeusedtodescribetheviewingvolumeincomputergraphics,
wheretheviewingplanesitsatthetopofatruncatedpyramidthatextendsinto
the3Denvironment.
globallighting
Shadingofasurfacethattakesintoaccountbothdirectlightingandsomeindirect
lighting,suchasreflectionsandrefractions.
highdynamicrangeimages
Luxologyrenderstoa64bitHighDynamicRange(HDR)imageandtheseimages
mustbeToneMappedtodisplayonnonHDRmonitors.Wehaveimplemented
twodifferenttonemappingoptionsfromwhichtochoose.Theoptionsare
Photographictonemappingorahistogramliketonemappingthatworkswell
whenyouhavealimitedcolorpaletteormonochromaticimage.Thiswider
dynamicrangeallowsHDRimagestomoreaccuratelyrepresentthewiderange
ofintensitylevelsfoundinrealscenesrangingfromdirectsunlighttofaint
starlight.
highlight
Brightlylitareaonasurfacecausedbyaspecularreflection.
illumination
Specificationoflightingonasurface.
imagepoint
Inphotomatching,aknownpointonthephotographorrenderedimagethat
correlatestoamonumentpointinthecomputermodel.

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imagescript
Textfile(.scr)containingentriesthatdefinethenamesofdesignfiles,views,
outputfilenamesandformats,andrenderingoptionsforbatchrendering.
interpolation
Methodbywhichananimationparametersmoothlyvariesfromonestateto
another.Alsoreferstotheblendingofadjacentpixelsofatexturemapfor
smootherrenderedimages.
irradiancecaching
Theconceptbehindthistechniqueisthatbyleveragingasmallernumberofmore
accuratesamplesandblendingbetweenthem,youcanachieveanimageof
perceivedqualityinashorteramountoftime.
keyframe
Frameinwhichthelocationsandorientationsofparticularelementsareexplicitly
specified.
keyframing
Mostbasicmethodofanimation,inwhichkeyframesaredefined,andthesystem
automaticallycomputestheframesinbetween(aprocessknownastweening).
locallighting
Shadingofthesurfacethataccountsfordirectlightingonlythatis,lighting
directlyattributedtolightsources.
localmaterial
MaterialdefinitionforamodelstoredwithintheDGNfileratherthanexternally
inapalette(.pal)file.
lumen
Unitsinwhichthebrightnessoflightsourcesisexpressed.Lumensarethe
photometricequivalentofwatts,butonlyaccountforenergyinthevisiblepartof
theelectromagneticspectrum.Ifalightsource'sIntensitysettingis1.0,its
Lumenssettingcloselyapproximateslumens.

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luminanceversusilluminance
Illuminanceistheamountoflightcomingfromalightfixturethatlandsona
surface.ItismeasuredinLux.Atypicalofficehasanilluminanceofbetween300
to500luxondesktops.
Luminancedescribestheamountoflightleavingasurfaceinaparticular
direction,andcanbethoughtofasthemeasuredbrightnessofasurfaceasseen
bytheeye.LuminanceisexpressedinCandelaspersquarefoot,ormore
commonly,Candelaspersquaremeter(Cd/m).Atypicalcomputermonitorhasa
Luminanceofabout100Cd/m.

lux
TheluxistheSIunitofilluminanceandluminousemittance.Itisusedin
photometryasameasureoftheapparentintensityoflighthittingorpassing
throughasurface.Oneluxisequaltoonelumenpersquaremeter.
monumentpoint
Inphotomatching,aknownpointinthemodelwhosecorrespondingimagepoint
isvisible.
NTSC
NationalTelevisionStandardsCommittee.Videostandardfortelevisionsystems
intheUnitedStates,Canada,andJapan.
script
AnimationscriptwhoseentriesarelistedintheAnimationProducersettingsbox.
Theopenscriptcanbepreviewedandrecorded.
PAL
PhaseAlternatingLine.DominantvideostandardfortelevisionsystemsinEurope
andAustralia.

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pan
Tomanipulatetheviewconebyrevolvingeitherthecameraaboutthetarget
(horizontallyorvertically),orviceversa.
parametricmotioncontrol
Animationmethodinwhichthepositionandorientationofelementsare
mathematicallyspecifiedasafunctionoftime.
photomatching
Processofmatchingamodel'sviewingperspectivetothatofaphotographor
renderedbackgroundimage,whichisattachedtothemodelasareferenceraster
file.Theexpectedresultisacompositeimageinwhichthemodelis
superimposedonthebackgroundimagewithcorrectpositioningandorientation.
proceduralbumpmap
Specialtypeofbumpmapthatdynamicallycallsaproceduraltexturefunctionto
computeaperturbedsurfacenormalratherthanperformingalookupintoa
storedimage.
proceduralpatternmap
Specialtypeofpatternmapthatdynamicallycallsaproceduraltexturefunction
tocomputepixelcolorratherthanperformingalookupintoastoredimage.
proceduraltexture
Functionthattakeseithera2Dtexturecoordinateora3Dworldcoordinateas
input,andreturnsatexturevalue(eitheracolorforapatternmaporanormalfor
abumpmap).Thefunctioncanperformanythingfromasimplelookupintoa
standardtexturemaptoaverycomplexcalculation.Whenasolidtowhicha3D
proceduraltextureisappliedisrendered,thesolidappearstobesculptedfrom
thespecifiedpatternratherthanwrappedwiththepattern.
roll
RotatethecameraabouttheviewZaxis.

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sample
Inantialiasing,theprocessofexaminingpartofapixel.Samplesarecombined
intoafinalpixelvalue.Thenumberofsamplesandthethresholdatwhich
samplingstopsareadjustablesettings.
script
Textfile(.msa)thatcontainsanimationscriptentriesdirectionsconcerning
keyframes,views,parameterdefinitions,settings,actors,animationcameras,
andtargets.
specularreflection
Typeofreflectionthatsendslightprimarilyinasingleoutgoingdirectionrelated
toasingleincomingdirectionbytheprinciplesofgeometricoptics,resultingin
eitheramirrorlikereflectionoraglossyhighlight.Specularreflectionissaidtobe
viewdependent.
terminator
Lineseparatinglightanddarkoncurvedsurfaces,mostnoticeablewhenan
objectisilluminatedbyasinglelightsource.
texturemap
Storedimageusedfortexturemapping.
texturemapping
Processofapplyingdetailtoasurfacewithoutexplicitlymodelingitaspartofthe
geometryofthesurface.Thisprocesscanbeeitherastandardlookupintoan
imagetexturemaporafunctioncalltocomputeavaluealgorithmically.The
resultingvaluecanbeusedeitherasapixelcolorvalue(asinapatternmap)oras
aperturbedsurfacenormal(asinabumpmap).
tweening
Inkeyframing,theprocessinwhichthesystemautomaticallycomputesthe
framesinbetweenkeyframes.
uniformsampling
Regulardistributionofsamples,equallyspacedinalldimensions.

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velocity
Rateofchangeofananimationparameterasitvariesfromonestatetoanother.
viewcone
Dynamicallydisplayedindicationofviewextentsthatisusedtosetupthe
camera.
viewdependentlighting
Globallightingofa3Denvironmentthatvariesfromimagetoimageasthe
positionoftheviewischanged,primarilybecauseofspecularreflectionsor
refractionsofvisiblesurfaces.
viewindependentlighting
Globallightingofa3Denvironmentthatremainsconstantfromimagetoimage
asthepositionoftheviewischanged,therebyallowingforreuse,which
significantlyshortenstherenderingtimeofsubsequentimages.
viewingpyramid
Seeviewcone.

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