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Viz World User Guide

Version 17.0 | Published January 24, 2018 ©

Region to Texture

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The plugin can be found in the folder: Viz Artist 3: Built Ins -> Container Plugins -> Maps.

The plugin is used to simulate shadow effects for 3D regions. This is achieved by creating a texture of a region’s contour. The plugin works in two modes: by creating a single texture that applies to all regions in the scene or by creating multiple textures that applies to each individual region.

images/download/attachments/29301819/plugincontainer_region-to-texture-map-mode-single.png
In order to work with a single texture the plugin must be placed on the Region Holder container.

images/download/attachments/29301819/plugincontainer_region-to-texture-map-mode-multi.png
In order to work with multiple textures the plugin must be placed on a container above the 3D Region container.

This section contains information on the following topics:

Properties

images/download/attachments/29301819/plugincontainer_region-to-texture-editor.png

  • Dynamic Shift: Shifts shadow texture more when Navigator is farther away. This could be used to better see the shadow from farther distances.

  • Dynamic Shift Amount: Sets the extent of the Dynamic Shift.

  • Attach to Light: When enabled, light direction will be considered according to the positioning of the shadow texture. When disabled, Shift Direction allows you to manually set the direction of the shadow.

  • Light ID: Sets the ID of the light to be considered.

  • Texture Size: Sets the size of the shadow texture. The larger the texture, the better is the visible quality; however, it also requires more rendering time.

  • Blur Amount: The extent to which the texture will be blurred to resemble the appearance of a shadow.

  • Shift Direction: Sets the shift direction of the shadow manually and according to the region. This setting can only be used if the Attached To Light setting is disabled (Off).

  • Shift Amount: Sets the amount of shift.

Working with Region to Texture

To create a simple Region to Texture scene

images/download/attachments/29301819/plugincontainer_region-to-texture-map-builder.png

  1. Add the Map Builder Plugin plugin to the Scene Settings

  2. Save the scene

  3. Open the Map Builder Plugin editor and click Launch Wizard

    • This will open the Map Builder. Note that it may open behind Viz Artist.

  4. From the Choose Scene Type dialog box select Navigator

  5. Click the Base Map

    • This will open the Viz World Maps Editor

  6. Select a stylesheet for your map and click OK

  7. Click the map for Destination 01

    • This will open the Viz World Maps Editor

  8. Click the Browse Map button (see Map Tool Bar) and select two regions (e.g. Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardia in Italy) and click OK

  9. Click Build

  10. Save the map template file to your desired location (e.g. C:\Temp\Maps)

    • Once saved, the map scene will be generated

  11. For creating a single texture do the following:

    images/download/attachments/29301819/plugincontainer_region-to-texture-mode-single.png

    1. Navigate the scene tree to the Region-Holder container found under object -> MapAndHops -> GeoReferenceMap -> Holders ->

    2. Add the Region to Texture plugin to the Region-Holder container

  12. For creating multiple textures do the following:

    images/download/attachments/29301819/plugincontainer_region-to-texture-mode-multi.png

    1. Navigate the scene tree and split the Region__<name> container found under object -> MapAndHops -> GeoReferenceMap -> Holders -> Region-Holder -> Destination-n

    2. Add a new group as a sub-container of the Region__<name> container

    3. Add the Region to Texture plugin to the new group container

  13. Open the Publish To Design editor and click the Publish and Refresh button

  14. To adjust the textures, split the merged region containers and adjust the settings available in the Region to Texture editor