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The On/Off type is the boolean type for SLIDE. This useful for being able to turn on and off different types rendering options and structures. For example, every light path in the render statement can have an On/Off flag which acts as a light switch for that instance of the light. The possible values of the On/Off type are:
SLF_OFF |
Off or false | |
SLF_ON |
On or true |
The default value for an On/Off flag is normally
SLF_ON
.
The LOD type defines the quality of the rendering for a subtree.
As LOD flags are passed down the scene hierarchy, a node computes the
rendering LOD by taking the minimum of its locally defined LOD and the
value being passed down by its parent. If a node of the scene
hierarchy has an LOD that is less than SLF_FULL
then all
of its descendants will not be rendered at their full rendering
quality. And in the extreme, if a node has LOD SLF_OFF
then that entire subtree will not be rendered at all (and the renderer
does not need to compute any bounding box information for its descendants). The
possible values for the LOD type are:
SLF_OFF |
For rendering purposes, this subtree does not exist | |
SLF_BOUND |
Render only the bounding box of this subtree | |
SLF_EDGES |
Render this subtree in wireframe mode | |
SLF_FULL |
Fully render this subtree |
The default value for a LOD flag is SLF_FULL
.
LOD flags are most useful for turning on and off portions of the scene hierarchy. Dynamic LOD flags can be used to make objects appear and disappear from a scene. This functionality can be used to optimize the rendering of complicated objects. A group node can be set up with instances to multiple representations of an object with varying polygon complexities where only one of these instances will be rendered based on how far away the object is from the camera. When the object is further away from the camera less polygons need to be used to create the same pixel image. The use of less polygons means less work for the renderer and increased frame rate. The instances within the group can be controlled using dynamic LOD flags to create the equivalent of a C language switch statement.
tclupdate { set detail [FunctionOfDistanceToCamera] } group gSphere instance oSphere20Triangles lod { if { $detail == 1 } { expr $SLF_FULL } else { expr $SLF_OFF } } endinstance instance oSphere80Triangles lod { if { $detail == 2 } { expr $SLF_FULL } else { expr $SLF_OFF } } endinstance instance oSphere320Triangles lod { if { $detail == 3 } { expr $SLF_FULL } else { expr $SLF_OFF } } endinstance endgroup
The Shading type defines how the polygons of a node will be
shaded. A node in the scene hierarchy will pass down its local
shading value unless that is SLF_INHERIT
in which case it
will pass along its parent's shading value. The possible values for
the Shading type are:
SLF_INHERIT |
Shade this node in the same style as its parent | |
SLF_WIRE |
Render a wireframe | |
SLF_FLAT |
Render with flat shading (one color per polygon) | |
SLF_GOURAUD |
Render with Gouraud shading (interpolate vertex colors across each polygon) | |
SLF_PHONG |
Render with Phong shading (interpolate vertex normals across each polygon and recompute lighting at each pixel) |
The default value for a Shading flag is SLF_INHERIT
.
NOTE: Renders may not support all the shading types in
which case they will do the best job possible. The OpenGL SLIDE
render does not support Phong shading, so SLF_PHONG
gets
reduced to SLF_GOURAUD
.
The Solid type defines whether to apply back face culling to an
atomic node of the scene hierarchy. SLF_SOLID
should be
used for objects which are closed for rendering efficiency.
SLF_HOLLOW
should be used for objects which consist of
infinitely thin surface pieces which should be visible from both
sides. The possible values for the Solid type are:
SLF_SOLID |
Backface culling is ok | |
SLF_HOLLOW |
Disable backface culling |
The default value for a Solid flag is SLF_SOLID
.
The Mesh type defines whether to use triangles or quadrilaterals for the boundary mesh of an object. The possible values for the Mesh type are:
SLF_TRIANGLES |
Use triangles | |
SLF_QUADRILATERALS |
Use quadrilaterals |
The default value for a Mesh flag is SLF_TRIANGLES
.
The Delaunay type defines the algorithm which will be used to compute the Delaunay triangulation. The possible values for the Delaunay type are:
SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_INCREMENTAL |
Incremental algorithm which creates a bounding box and builds an external tree search structure | |
SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_INCREMENTAL_SLOW |
Incremental algorithm which creates a bounding box and uses the current triangulation only as a search structure | |
SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_INCREMENTAL_NO_BOUND |
Incremental algorithm which does not need to build a bounding box and uses the current triangulation only as a search structure | |
SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_DIVIDE_AND_CONQUER |
Divide and conquer algorithm which always splits in the vertical direction | |
SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_DIVIDE_AND_CONQUER_ALTERNATING |
Divide and conquer algorithm which alternatively splits in the vertical and horizontal directions | |
SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_CONVEX_HULL |
Algorithm which lifts the 2D sites into 3D on a parabolic lifting map, computes the 3D convex hull, removes upward facing facets, and reprojects the remaining facets back into the 2D plane |
The default value for a Delaunay flag is SLF_TERRAIN_DELAUNAY_DIVIDE_AND_CONQUER_ALTERNATING
.
The Voronoi type defines the algorithm which will be used to compute the Voronoi diagram. The possible values for the Voronoi type are:
SLF_VORONOI_OFF |
The Voronoi diagram is not computed | |
SLF_VORONOI_DELAUNAY |
The Voronoi diagram is computed by taking the dual of the Delaunay triangulation | |
SLF_VORONOI_DIVIDE_AND_CONQUER |
Divide and conquer algorithm which always splits in the vertical direction | |
SLF_VORONOI_DIVIDE_AND_CONQUER_ALTERNATING |
Divide and conquer algorithm which alternatively splits in the vertical and horizontal directions | |
SLF_VORONOI_CONES |
Raster based algorithm which renders the distance functions of the input sites and lets the Z-buffer resolve the booleans | |
SLF_VORONOI_PLANES |
Raster based algorithm which renders the tangent planes to the lifting map for each input site and lets the Z-buffer resolve the booleans |
The default value for a Voronoi flag is SLF_VORONOI_OFF
.
The accuracy type defines which technique to use to try to keep numerical accuracy. The possible values for the accuracy type are:
SLF_FLOAT_NAIVE |
Do all floating point operations naively | |
SLF_FLOAT |
Translate floating point calculations to the origin | |
SLF_EXACT |
Use an exact algebra library |
The default value for an accuracy flag is SLF_FLOAT
.
The subdivision type defines the subdivision algorithm. The possible values for the Subdivision type are:
SLF_SUBDIVISION_DOO_SABIN |
NURSS scheme which reduces to quadratic B-splines. The control mesh does not have to be a closed polyhedron. | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CATMULL_CLARK |
NURSS scheme which reduces to cubic B-splines. The control mesh does not have to be a closed polyhedron. | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_SHARP_CATMULL_CLARK |
DeRose scheme with sharp edge tags. The control mesh does not have to be a closed polyhedron. | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CATMULL_CLARK_TESSELATE |
Catmull-Clark scheme with simply increases the polygon density by subdividing the control polygons into sub-quadrilaterals | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CATMULL_CLARK_INTERPOLATE |
Kobbelt interpolatory scheme based on the four point rule | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_TRIANGLE_TESSELATE |
TRIANGLES ONLY: Subdivide each triangle into 4 subtriangles without changing the geometry | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_TRIANGLE_LOOP |
TRIANGLES ONLY: First subdivision splits any non-triangles into triangles by creating the centroid and fanning triangles out from it. Subdivide each triangle into 4 subtriangles approximating scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_TRIANGLE_LOOP_EDGE_RULE |
TRIANGLES ONLY: First subdivision splits any non-triangles into triangles by creating the centroid and fanning triangles out from it. New Loop scheme that bounds curvature changes | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_TRIANGLE_BUTTERFLY |
TRIANGLES ONLY: First subdivision splits any non-triangles into triangles by creating the centroid and fanning triangles out from it. Subdivide each triangle into 4 subtriangles simple interpolating scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_TRIANGLE_ZORIN |
TRIANGLES ONLY: First subdivision splits any non-triangles into triangles by creating the centroid and fanning triangles out from it. Subdivide each triangle into 4 subtriangles more complicated interpolating scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CORNER_CUTTING |
Simple corner cutting scheme (usually needs twice as many iterations as the other techniques) | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CORNER_ROUNDING_TESSELATE |
Similar to the triangle scheme, but it will work with all types of polygons. The number of non-triangles will remain constant throughout the subdivision. | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CORNER_ROUNDING_LOOP |
Approximating scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CORNER_ROUNDING_SHARP_LOOP |
Approximating scheme with sharp edge tags (DeRose, Hoppe) | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CORNER_ROUNDING_BUTTERFLY |
Butterfly interpolating scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_CORNER_ROUNDING_ZORIN |
Zorin's interpolating scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_SQRT_3 |
Kobbelt's Sqrt(3) scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_SQRT_4 |
Experimental quad scheme that is similar to Sqrt(3) | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_PROGRESSIVE |
Simplistic progressive mesh implementation | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_SQRT_3_SPHERE_* |
Experimental schemes attempting to average interpolating spheres | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_HETEROGENEOUS |
Experiment at mixing Loop with Catmull-Clark | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_GEOMETRIC |
Experimental biarc scheme | |
SLF_SUBDIVISION_PENTAGON |
Experimental scheme based on pentagons |
The default value for a Subdivision flag is SLF_SUBDIVISION_CATMULL_CLARK
.
The offset type defines the offset algorithm. The possible values for the offset type are:
SLF_OFFSET_ANGULAR |
This offsets the control mesh inward and outward. Each facet in the control mesh will map to two facets in the offset mesh. Each boundary edge will map to a quadrilateral. The control mesh does not have to be a closed polyhedron. | |
SLF_OFFSET_PERFORATED |
In this offsetting technique, the edges of the control mesh are viewed as infinitely thin wires which are then thickened in an angular way. The control mesh does not have to be a closed polyhedron. |
The default value for an offset flag is SLF_OFFSET_ANGULAR
.
The Projection type defines whether a camera performs a parallel or perspective projection. The possible values for the Projection type are:
SLF_PARALLEL |
Parallel projection (the viewer is infinitely far away) | |
SLF_PERSPECTIVE |
Perspective projection (the viewer is local to the scene) |
The default value for a Projection flag is SLF_PARALLEL
.
The Light type defines way a SLIDE light works. The possible values for the Light type are:
SLF_AMBIENT |
Ambient light which has been scatter to the point where it illuminates all surfaces equally regardless of geometry | |
SLF_DIRECTIONAL |
A directional light is located infinitely far away from a scene, so all its rays arrive parallel to a given direction and its energy does not attenuate with distance (e.g. the sun) | |
SLF_POINT |
A point light is located at a single finite point and radiates light equally in all directions. Its energy is attenuated with distance. | |
SLF_SPOT |
A spot light is located at a single finite point, but it radiates its light along a principle direction. Its energy is attenuated with distance and falls off with angle away from its priciple direction. |
The default value for a Light flag is SLF_AMBIENT
.
The Fog type defines how the fog effect is computed. The possible values for the Fog type are:
SLF_LINEAR |
Fog is compute based on a linear function of z (this is also known as depth cuing) | |
SLF_EXP |
Fog is compute based on an exponential linear function of the form e-az | |
SLF_EXP2 |
Fog is compute based on an exponential linear function of the form e-(az)2 |
The default value for a Fog flag is SLF_LINEAR
.
The Stencil type defines a stencil pattern to be used in the stencil buffer. This is useful for rendering stereo images by interlacing the left and right eye views in the even and odd horizontal scan lines. Some Head Mounted Displays (HMD's) take this format as stereo input. Also red and green images can be rendered interlaced and viewed with 1950's style 3D glasses to create a low cost stereo display. The possible values for the Stencil type are:
SLF_BOTH |
The stencil buffer is empty and disabled for performance | |
SLF_ODD |
The even horizontal lines of the stencil buffer are filled, so that the rendering will appear in the odd lines | |
SLF_EVEN |
The odd horizontal lines of the stencil buffer are filled, so that the rendering will appear in the even lines |
The default value for a Stencil flag is SLF_BOTH
.
The Ratio type defines whether the aspect ratio of a window will be preserved under resizing. The aspect ratio of a window is derived from its size field. The possible values of the Ratio type are:
SLF_FIXED |
The original aspect ratio will be preserved | |
SLF_ANY |
The original aspect ratio will not be preserved | |
SLF_FULL_SCREEN |
The window should be opened up full screen ignoring the size field. This is the only way to initialize a window to be the full screen dimensions of a non-square display. After the window is opened, it then acts the same as SLF_ANY . |
The default value for a Ratio flag is normally
SLF_FIXED
.
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