Rendering Introduction Render an image in a 3D scene > What if...?

Introduction

Introduces AliasStudio rendering features.

Rendering is the process of generating a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene, somewhat like taking a photograph with a camera, or filming with a motion picture camera.

Like photography, rendering requires that you determine a number of factors before you actually render the image. You need to

Model the objects
Assign shaders and textures to objects
Optimize the scene
Light the scene
Set the size of the image to be produced

Rendering is an iterative and experimental process altering your environment to suit the needs of your rendering image.

Workflow for rendering

Learn an overview on how rendering is done.

Define the appearance of the surroundings for your scene using the environment and textures.

Define the surface appearance of objects in your scene using shaders and textures.

Illuminate the objects in your scene using lights.

You should become familiar with the Multi-lister, the Control Window, and the Color Editor. These are the tools you use to create and edit the environment, shaders, textures, and lights. You can also use these tools to help you create effects like smoke, fog, and halos around lights.

Set up the camera to render a particular view of your scene.
Preview render your scene to help you visualize how it will look in the final render.
Define how individual objects and the overall scene will render using rendering parameters.
Render your scene.

Rendering tools and menus

Describes the purpose and options of all tools and menu items.

Summary of the Rendering interface

A summary of the Render menus

Most rendering options are available from the Render menu. Use the following table to access information on its choices.

Render >	For more information...
Render	Render > Render
Globals	Render > Globals
Direct render	Render > Direct render

Summary of other Rendering controls

Control	For more information...
Display Toggles > Hardware shade	WindowDisplay > Hardware Shade
File > Export > SDL	Scene Description Language
Render > Create lights	Create a light and Light types defined
DisplayToggles > ObjectToggles > Lights	Create a light
Render > Multi-lister	Render > Multi-lister
Windows > Editors > Cameras	Windows > Editors > Cameras
Render > Editors > Light links	Render > Editors > Light links
Render > Editors > Render stats	Render > Editors > Render stats

Render an image in a 3D scene

Learn how to render a two-dimensional image in a three-dimensional scene.

To render a scene

See Environment texture, and Environment texture types.

Define the appearance of the surroundings for your scene using the environment and textures.
See Assign or layer a shader, and Add or edit textures.

Define the surface appearance of objects in your scene using shaders and textures.

See Create a light

Illuminate the objects in your scene using lights.

See Use the Multi-lister, Use the control window, and Change colors.

You should become familiar with the Multi-lister, the Control Window, and the Color Editor. These are the tools you use to create and edit the environment, shaders, textures, and lights.

See Add and edit cameras
Set up the camera to render a particular view of your scene.
See Preview rendering
Preview render your scene to help you visualize how it will look in the final render.
See What are rendering parameters?
Define how individual objects and the overall scene will render using rendering parameters.
See Types of renderers
Render your scene.

What if...?

] Rendering take a long time and I want to improve it.

See Optimization

Rendering can take a long time. There are, however, several ways you can optimize your scene to minimize rendering times. It is a good idea to read the Optimization section of this book before you begin the rendering process, even before you begin modeling your scene.

What if...?

] I have flaws in my rendering or it does not render at all.

See Troubleshoot

If you encounter problems, read the Troubleshooting section of this book for solutions to common problems.