4. Dialog Window Functions
The dialog window is the tabbed menu which usualy appears on the right side of the screen. Each tabbed submenu on the dialog menu consists of a white box specifying the available things to manipulate, directly below this is a set of four editing buttons and a grey recessed area where exandable, buttoned option lists are shown just below these. If at any time the grey, recessed area extends options past your field of view, simply move the cursor (which will turn into a small open hand) onto part of the box where no option is listed, click and drag it up to scroll down. If you do not need to view an option and wish to retract it, simply click the downward arrow and it will turn into an arrow pointing to the right you can also click this arrow to expand any option that is retracted. On to the various sub-menus:
4a. Object
All folders and objects are displayed in the white hierarchy box with the currently selected item highlighted. To switch to another item simply click its name thereby highlighting it. Click and drag either a folder or object then drop it within the desired destination folder in the hierarchy. Click the plus sign next to a folder to expand its contents. Click the minus sign next to an expanded folder to collapse its contents. Once a name has been given to a folder or object, it can not be used again on an item regardless of type.
The Editing Buttons
The first 3 buttons allow you to create a new Patch Object or Folder, copy the current item, or delete the current item. The etc. button gives you the following options:
- Show Only Select Object - Shows only the currently selected patch in the view screens.
- Show All Objects - Shows all patches in the view screens.
- Enable Edit Only Select Object - Allows that only the currently selected patch can be edited with Multi Obj tools, although you may still select all patches, only the current one will be edited.
- Enable Edit All Objects - Allows for all patches to be edited with the Multi Obj tools.
- Export Only Select Object - Exports only the currently selected patch.
- Export All Objects - Exports all patches.
- Change Parent Object - Opens a dialog which lets you navigate through the current hierarchy. Choose the new destination group for the highlighted item or folder and click Ok to move the highlighted item. The same opertion can be completed by clicking and dragging the desired item and dropping it on the destination folder. The hierarchy box does not auto scroll. If you can not see your destination, use your mouse wheel while dragging or use the Change Parent Object option.
The Expanding Option Buttons
There are then 5 buttons in the recessed grey box below the above 4 buttons. Once again, click the arrows to expand or retract the lists.
Name + Color - Change the name of the current patch by clicking the ... button and typing in the new name. Click the colored box and select a new display color for the current patch as well.
Option - Turns on and off the following:
- show: whether or not the current patch is displayed in the view screens.
- export: Whether or not the current patch will be exported.
- no_shadow: Enable or disable shadows on the current object at export.
- disable edit: Turns on and off the ability to edit the current patch with the patch tools.
- smooth: Smooths object
- Enable 5Point Patch This must be checked before you can use the Permit 5point Patch function.
- Use See-through Makes the selected object transparent in a range from 0 - 100%. Use the slider, arrows, or type the desired value.
Mirror - Copies and pastes all points in the selected Patch Object. You must choose Freeze from the menu before you will see the effects.
- None - Default. Choosing Freeze yields no result.
- Separated Mirror - Pastes all points, mirroring them across the axis/axes specified by the checkboxes. Corresponding points remain unconnected.
- Connected Mirror - Pastes all points, mirroring them across the axis/axes specified by the checkboxes. Corresponding points are connected.
Convert Polygon - Click the check box to convert the current object to display as polygons instead of patches. The polygons can then be tweaked via sundivision counts and smoothing angles.
Material - First choose which patch you want to apply your material(s) to then click ... and choose which material you want to apply and check the "Use this material" box. If you wish to use layered materials, then choose the next layer (up to 5) and repeat the process. Do this for every patch, if you do not apply the material via the check box it will not be applied. Click Set Position button to bring up a dialog which allows you to numerically set the position, scale, and rotation of the current material on each axis.
POV-Ray Option - Enable or disable the following: double illuminate, no_image, no_reflection, hollow
Motion Blur - Turn on and off the use of motion blur and assign the reference object for it.
4b. Light
The Editing Buttons
Only the first 3 buttons are available for the Light menu.
New - creates a new light.
Copy - copies the currently selected light.
Delete - deletes the currently selected light.
The Expanding Option Buttons
You must create a new light before these options will appear.
Name + Color - Change the name of the current light by clicking the ... button and typing in the new name. Click the colored box and select a new display color for the current light as well.
Position - Type in the X Y Z position of the currently selected light.
Type - Choose the light type: Point, Spot, Cylinder, or Area light.
Option - Turn on or off light options: Shadowless, Media_Interaction, or Media_Attenuation.
Spot and Cylinder Option - Select the X Y Z look_at, the radius, the falloff and the tightness options of the light (of course you must have first chosen a spot or cylinder light to choose these).
Area Option - Change the U_steps, V_steps, U_vector, V_vector and the adaptive. Also turn on or off Jitter or Spot Light.
Fade - Turn on or off fade and set the Fade Distance and Power.
Option - Turn on or off Parallel, Circular, or Orient options and choose shadow_pigment.
For questions, comments, or additions to this documentation please contact: draven2561@hotmail.com.
Documentation by Jonathan Lee Jan. 18, 2005.
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