3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [284]
Using the various command-line flags, you can specify an image size and format, use Render Preset files to control the renderer settings, and even submit a job for network rendering.
Creating Panoramic Images
The Panorama Exporter tool (found in the Rendering menu and in the Utilities panel) can be used to create a panoramic scene consisting of images rendering in all six directions from the current camera and stitched together.
A camera needs to be added to the scene at the center of the panoramic view, and the camera needs to be selected. You can quickly create a camera using the Perspective view with the Views⇒Create Camera From View (Ctrl+C) command. Then click the Render button in the Panorama Exporter rollout. This opens a Render Scene dialog box where you can specify the size of the images and the rest of the Render parameters. Click the Render button to render the panoramic scene.
Once rendered, the panoramic scene is opened within a Viewer, as shown in Figure 23.12, where you can move about the scene using the mouse. Dragging with the left mouse button spins the scene about its center point. Dragging with the middle mouse button zooms in and out of the scene. Dragging with the right mouse button pans the scene. The Viewer interface includes a File menu that can be used to open or export the scene file. Export options include a Cylinder, Sphere, and QuickTime VR.
FIGURE 23.12
The Panoramic Viewer lets you zoom, pan, and spin the scene about its center location.
Getting Printer Help
Printing still images from Max has always been a problem because you never knew quite what you would get. To solve this problem, Max now includes a Print Size Assistant located in the Rendering menu. This menu command opens the Print Size Wizard, as shown in Figure 23.13. This wizard sizes the output of the rendered image to one of the many paper sizes.
Note
Although the Print Size Wizard can size the rendered image, it cannot print rendered images. •
FIGURE 23.13
The Print Size Wizard lets you set the image dimensions based on paper size and DPI (dots per inch) settings.
Using this Print Size Wizard, you can select a Paper Size and orientation, and a DPI setting and the Image dimensions are computed automatically. You can then click the Render Setup button to open the Render Scene dialog box with these dimensions. You also can select a filename using the Files button and click the Render button to render an image using the specified dimensions. The only available image format is TIFF.
Creating an Environment
Whether it's a beautiful landscape or just clouds drifting by, the environment behind the scene can do much to make the scene more believable. In this section, you learn to define an environment using the Rendering⇒Environment (8) menu command.
Environment maps are used as background for the scene and can also be used as images reflected off shiny objects. Environment maps are displayed only in the final rendering and not in the viewports, but you can add a background to any viewport and even set the environment map to be displayed as the viewport backdrop.
Cross-Reference
Chapter 2, “Controlling and Configuring the Viewports,” covers adding a background image to a viewport. •
But there is more to an environment than just a background. It also involves altering the global lighting, controlling exposure, and introducing atmosphere effects.
Defining the rendered environment
You create environments in the Environment and Effects dialog box, shown in Figure 23.14, which you can open by choosing Rendering⇒Environment (or by pressing the 8 key). Several settings make up an environment, including a background color or image, global lighting, exposure control, and atmospheric effects.
FIGURE 23.14
The Environment and Effects dialog box lets you select a background color or image, define global lighting, control exposure, and work with atmospheric effects.
Setting a background color
The first color swatch in the Environment panel lets you specify a background color. This color