RenderMan

Using Environment Lights to simulate reflections


Contributed by Tod Deppe (oialong@erinet.com)

This is a trick I often use to get reflections with R-man and Presenter. I have Showplace installed which installed an Environment Light shader. So I type this in the R-man Header space:

 
CoordinateSystem "worldspace"
          LightSource "sp_env" 2 "intensity" [0.5]"lightcolor" [1 1 1]  

As you know, you can adjust the intensity and color of the reflections. I find this works good for animations and reflections on texturemaps etc.

Obviously, this is simulated reflections but they often work as well or better than real reflections. I included a screen shot of the header and a sphere rendered with the light on and one with the light off.

A sample model, rendered without the environment light.

The same model, using the Environment Light for simulated reflections.

 

 






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