Creating a Background

To create a background:

1.	Select Window > Palettes > Resource Browser to open the Resource Browser.

2.	From the Resources menu, select New Resource to display the New Resource menu.

3.	Select RenderWorks Background.

The Create RenderWorks Background dialog box opens.

4.	Enter the name of the new background and select the type of background to create. Click Options to set specific background parameters.

 

Parameter	Description
None	Select this option when creating a weather effect without an additional background
Clouds	Specifies a sky background with a background color and clouds
Scale	Specifies the cloud scale (1 – 10); enter a larger value for larger cloud sizes
Background Color	Select a background color for the sky
Cloud Color	Select a cloud color
Detail	Specifies the level of cloud resolution; drag the slider to the right to specify a greater level of detail (requires longer rendering times)
One Color	Specifies a background with one color; click Options to select the color
Two Color	Specifies a background with two colors which blend to form a gradient; click Options to select the colors
Top Color	Select the color for the start of the color gradient at the top of the page
Bottom Color	Select the color for the end of the color gradient at the bottom of the page
Image	Uses a specified image for the background (see Creating Image Backgrounds)
Image Environment (HDRI)	Uses a panoramic High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) file for the background (see Creating HDRI Backgrounds)

OpenGL render mode only displays One Color, Two Color, and Image backgrounds.

5.	Click OK from the Create RenderWorks Background dialog box to create the background resource.

The new background resource is listed in the Resource Browser. It is available in the Edit Design Layers dialog box (see Applying RenderWorks Backgrounds for information).

A RenderWorks background can be quickly edited by pressing Ctrl (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) and double-clicking on the resource in the Resource Browser.

Creating Image Backgrounds

To be used for a background, an image must be in one of the formats listed in Selecting the Image for Import.

1.	If an image background is specified, select a new image or an image from either the default resources or the current file’s resources (see VectorWorks Fundamentals Default Resources).

The Edit Image Background dialog box opens; specify the image height and width (centered on the page). An image used as a background of this type, as opposed to the HDRI background, remains fixed to the page and does not change according to the 3D view.

An image can also be reused from another image-based resource if one exists in the file. In the Choose Image dialog box, select Reuse an Image from Another Resource and specify the resource. The Edit Image Background dialog box opens to allow editing of image parameters (see Selecting the Image for Import for more information).

 

Parameter	Description
Width	Sets the width of the image in page units (inches or millimeters); width edits also automatically change the height, to maintain the image aspect ratio
Height	Sets the height of the image in page units (inches or millimeters); height edits also automatically change the width, to maintain the image aspect ratio
Change Image	Selects a different image for import

2.	Click OK to use the image in the background.

Creating HDRI Backgrounds

When an HDRI background is imported, it behaves as if an infinitely large, textured, sphere or cube was centered on the model. The virtual sphere or cube is so large that view position changes do not affect its display. However, view orientation changes do affect which part of the image is shown in the background; this provides a true 3D sense to the model.

By default, an image environment background renders as both a background and a light source. However, it is possible to use one HDRI background resource as an environment background, and another for environment lighting; see Setting Lighting Options.

 

Purpose of HDRI Background Resource	Creation Method
Use an HDRI background resource as both environment background and environment lighting	Create an HDRI background resource and apply it to the layer. By default, the Layer Lighting Options is set to use the lighting from the current background.
Use an HDRI background as environment background only	Create an HDRI background resource and apply it to the layer. In the Layer Lighting Options dialog box, specify None for Environment Lighting.
Use an HDRI background resource as environment lighting only	Create an HDRI background resource, but do not apply it to the layer. In the Layer Lighting Options dialog box, select From Selected Background and specify the resource.
Use one HDRI background resource as an environment background and a different background resource for environment lighting	Create the first HDRI background resource and apply it to the layer (environment background). Create the second background resource but do not apply it to the layer. Instead, in the Layer Lighting Options dialog box, select From Selected Background and specify the second resource (environment lighting).

HDRI backgrounds render best in Perspective projection. In Orthogonal projection, HDRI backgrounds are suitable for lighting and reflections, but appear as a single background color because of the narrow field of view.

For maximum speed and quality, select Use Final Gather when rendering an HDRI background with Custom RenderWorks. One bounce of indirect lighting is generated with HDRI lighting.

1.	Select the image file to use. Acceptable formats include .exr (Open EXR) and .hdr.

The Edit Image Environment (HDRI) Background dialog box opens.

 

Parameter	Description
Preview	Displays a preview of the selected image
Format	The appropriate map type format for the image is automatically determined, and normally does not need to be changed. To choose a different map type format for the image, select it from the list (Vertical Cross for a cross image, Panorama for a Mercator projection, and Angular for a spherical image).
Rotation	Rotates the image about the Z axis, changing the light orientation and visible portion of the image (range: -180 to 180 degrees)
Change Image	Imports a different image to use as the HDRI background
Brightness (%)	Specifies the brightness for environment lighting; enter a percentage or drag the slider to change the brightness. A value over 100% can be entered.
Saturation (%)	Specifies the color saturation for environment lighting; enter a percentage or drag the slider to change the saturation. A value over 100% can be entered.
Quality	Specifies the sampling value of the rendered image; higher-quality sampling results in better image resolution, but longer rendering times. Select From Render Mode to use the Sampling Quality specified in the render options (Custom RenderWorks Options or Custom Radiosity Options, see Custom RenderWorks Options or Setting Custom Radiosity Options).

2.	Click OK to use the image as an environment background resource.