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:

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:

Mirror - Copies and pastes all points in the selected Patch Object. You must choose Freeze from the menu before you will see the effects. 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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