POV-Ray [plugin] (updated: 2016/Aug/08)

[micheus]

I am surprised that after all these years Pov-Ray does not support Alpha Backgrounds...

We can have transparent background in POV-Ray. Something to be added.
But it will not work like in yafaray as you suggested, so we probably will need to manage the user options and process it when exporting the .pov file.

[oort]

If you have to add something during the export for Pov-Ray, that is how it works for YafaRay. On export -a is added to the command line...

Maybe you meant something different...?

oort

[micheus]

If you have to add something during the export for Pov-Ray, that is how it works for YafaRay. On export -a is added to the command line...

Yes. It can be done by using +UA in the command line, but I will prefer to add an option to the Options dialog since it will require a change to the background property in the exported file.
Currently (for a gray color) that information is written to the exported file like this:
background { rgb <0.160784, 0.160784, 0.160784> }
and in order to the command line works we will need to adjust it to:
background { rgbt <0.160784, 0.160784, 0.160784, 1.0> }

[oort]

Interesting. Sounds good. I look forward to testing it...

Thanks,
oort

[micheus]

Just a study...
A comparison between the HDR+SkySphere and the workaround that enabled us to hide the background HDR+Sphere.
Using stpeters_probe.hdr

here with the transparent background:


Using Arches_E_PineTree_3k.hdr:


here with the transparent background:


- It's interesting that removing the background we lose the caustics.
- For the workaround we can control the environment light using the Emission parameter (besides the hdr gamma).

What do you think? Is it acceptable these results? or we must separate this "workaround" in something like fake hdri?

[oort]

Only have a moment to post a quick comment. They look good to me at a quick glance. Strange that the caustics get lost. Does Pov-Ray allow you to use a photon only spot light like YafaRay does? That may help with caustics.

I do not think that this would need to be separated out. It would be good to get a comment from someone who has used Pov-Ray much more often than I have...

Thanks,
oort

[tkbd]

Micheus,In my environment, even if set the background-color to rgbt, I could't get transparent background.
So I added pigment options both "filter all 1.0" and "transmit all 1.0",Then background transparent is works.

(I edited a pov file as following )

background { rgbt <0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000,1.0> }


sky_sphere{
pigment{
image_map{ hdr "/Users/***/Desktop/PovRay3.7-Env-Test/hdri/Arches_E_PineTree_3k.hdr"
gamma 1.2
map_type 1 // Spherical
interpolate 2 // Bilinear
filter all 1.0
transmit all 1.0
}
}
rotate<0,40.0,0>
}

I don't have a deep understanding about the options...
Could you try filter and transmit option to the caustics problem?

---

To Wings3D PovRay Plugin developer. (Edited: 2016/8/11)
Do you have any plan enable set the rendering quality?


In the GUI version of PovRay has a pull-down menu for rendering quality.
This feature is easy for user to understand .

See PovRay Manual:
http://www.povray.org/documentation/view/3.6.1/223/

2.1.2.8.1 Quality Settings

The Quality=n option or +Qn switch allows you to specify the image rendering quality.
0 or 1 Just show quick colors. Use full ambient lighting only. Quick colors are used only at 5 or below.
2 or 3 Show specified diffuse and ambient light.
4 Render shadows, but no extended lights.
5 Render shadows, including extended lights.
6 or 7 Compute texture patterns, compute photons
8 Compute reflected, refracted, and transmitted rays.
9 or 10 or 11 Compute media and radiosity

[oort]

tkbd,
Please move your question for David to the YafaRay plugin development thread. He will probably not see the question in this thread, since he is focused on YafaRay.

Thanks,
oort

[tkbd]

oort,Thank you for advice.
I mistake Yafaray for PovRay.
So,I think that there is not nessesary to move it.
I have to fix the article.
Probably he would be busy with Yafaray.
David,I'm sorry for the mistake.

------------------
tkbd

[micheus]

tkbd, about the transparent background, check my post #61 - the link under the "found" word. For that parent background we need to use a "workaround" remember. You ae still using the sky_sphere and we must use the sphere only.

I can't test your suggestion about transmission now, I'm going to check later.

About the options for quality, it's something we can try and if it help in some way we can add them to the Render option dialog. Different of Kerkythea I don't think most the people would like to use POV's UI.

oort, tanks for take your time to help us test and give opinion about these changes. Any help is wellcome.

I'm a bit in a hurry this morning. I'm back late afternoon.