Page 1088 - Chief Architect Reference Manual

Chief Architect X10 Reference Manual

Rendering Tips

There are a variety of factors which affect the option can be unchecked if it slows
appearance and quality of rendered 3D performance in 3D views. See “Generic
views. You can use these tools and settings to Sunlight” on page 1091.
achieve renderings that meet your needs.
Shadows are enabled in Full and Floor
• Lighting camera views by default. You can, however,
• S h a d o w s check or uncheck Show Shadows and Ray
Casted Sun Shadows in the defaults dialog
• Reflections
for any camera tool or in the specification
• Material Definitions dialog for any camera view. In addition, you
• I m a g e s can select 3D> Camera View Options>
• Backdrops Toggle Shadows in any camera view.
See “Camera Panel” on page 1076.
• Edge Smoothing
Shadows are affected by the number of light
Lighting sources in a plan, as well as what Rendering
Technique is in use. In order for a light
Lighting is extremely important in most 3D source to cast shadows, it must be On in the
renderings, in ray tracing, and in VRML file current view and have Cast Shadows
export. Lighting controls the visibility of checked in its specification dialog. See
objects in a view, affects the appearance of “Light Data Panel” on page 661.
surfaces, and influences the appearances of
colors and textures on those surfaces. Even In addition to their appearance in camera
small changes to light intensity, direction and views, sun shadows can also display in floor
color can have a large impact on image plan view to represent the shadows created
quality. See “Lighting” on page 1090. by the sun at a particular date, time, and
location. See “Sun Shadows” on page 1100.
Shadows
Reflections
Like lighting, shadows have an
important effect on image quality. Reflections are another aspect of
Shadows can be generated in any type of lighting that can increase a 3D view’s
camera view using any Rendering Technique realism. When a flat surface is assigned a
aside from Glass House. See “Rendering Mirror material, it can display the reflections
Techniques” on page 1106. of other objects in the scene. A material can
be assigned the Mirror class in the Define
When shadows are enabled and the sun is Material dialog. See “Properties Panel” on
shining directly at a window, its light can page 1036.
shine through the window and into an
interior room. These shadows use Ray Note that a Mirror surface cannot display the
Casted Sun Shadows by default, but this reflection of another mirror. When one

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