Lightscape User Guide

C LSnet

You can also use the scheduling feature to automatically run jobs during off-peak periods on your network.

Installing LSnet

You install LSnet from the Lightscape CD. For detailed installation instructions, refer to the LSnet folder on your CD.

Using LSnet

The following sections describe the available options for the LSnet, Jump Starter, and JobQ applications.

For information on working with LSnet, refer to the

LSnet Online Help.

Menu:

Job | Clone

Job | Edit

Job | Delete

Job | Reset

Tools | Node Specs

Tools | Scheduler

Tools | Security Lock

Tools | Render Log

Network | Initialize

Network | Shut Down

Network | Render

Help | Online Help

Project | Quit

Button:

Note: You can also access the following commands by right-clicking in the LSnet window and choosing an option from the context menu: Edit Job, Load File,

Clone Job, Reset, Delete Job, Clear All, Reset All, and

Abort Job.

Hot Key:

Ctrl+Ins

Ctrl+E

Del

Alt+Bksp

F2

Ctrl+Z

Ctrl+M

Ctrl+G

Ctrl+I

Ctrl+D

Ctrl+R

Ctrl+H

Ctrl+Q

LSnet Toolbar

You can use the LSnet toolbar, or any of the following methods, to access LSnet options.

Button: Menu:

Project | New Job

Project | Load File

Project | Save

Project | Options

Hot Key:

Ctrl+N

Ctrl+L

Ctrl+S

Ctrl+O

New Job

Use this option to create a new LSnet job.

Load File

Use this option to open Lightscape Preparation (.lp) or Solution (.ls) files for processing.

288

Lightscape

Using LSnet

❚❘❘

Save

Use this option to save an LSnet project (.prj) file.

Options

Use this option to display the LSnet Options panel.

Clone Job

Use this option to duplicate the job currently selected in the Job List.

Edit Job

Use this option to display the Job Setup panel, which you use to edit the job currently selected in the Job

List.

Delete Job

Use this option to delete the currently selected job.

Reset Job

Use this option to clear all the jobs loaded in LSnet.

Node Specs

Use this option to display the Node Specs panel, which you use to set the options for each node on your network.

Scheduler

Use this option to display the LSnet Scheduler, which you can use to schedule the day and time that rendering will take place.

Security Lock

Use this option to display the Security Lock panel, which you can use to control access to LSnet.

Render Log

Use this option to display the Render Log panel, which displays the status information for LSnet jobs.

Initialize

Use this option to initialize the rendering network.

Shut Down

Use this option to shut down the rendering network before exiting LSnet.

Render

Use this option to start and stop rendering.

Online Help

Use this option to display the LSnet online help system.

Quit

Use this option to exit LSnet.

LSnet Options Panel

Use this panel to set the LSnet options. You can access this panel by choosing Project | Options or by clicking the Options button .

Network Path

Use this option to specify the directory that LSnet uses to communicate with Jump Starter. This directory must be accessible over the network to LSnet and all render nodes.

289

C LSnet

Job Queue Path

Use this option to specify the directory to which you send jobs (for addition to the LSnet job list) using the

JobQ Sender.

PVR Save Path

Use this option to specify the location of your DPS

Perception drive, if applicable. Animation frames are copied to this device after the job finishes rendering only if the Save to PVR option on the Job Setup panel

is enabled. For more information, see “LSRAY and

LSRENDER Options” on page 292.

Output Render Log To File

Use this option to save log information to a text file in addition to displaying the information in the Render

Log panel. If this option is disabled, LSnet will not update the log file.

Use Job Queue

Use this option to enable the JobQ application. If this option is enabled, you can use the JobQ Sender application to submit jobs to LSnet for rendering.

Make Jump Starter Spy

Use this option to display the Spy panel in the Jump

Starter application. The Spy panel displays LSnet status information from any computer on the network (not just the LSnet server).

High Network Priority

Use this option to increase the priority of LSnet rendering on a node. This option does not affect rendering performance.

CPU Timeout

Use this option to specify how much time (in seconds) LSnet will search for nodes on your network. The default is 30, but you can set any value between 10 and 2048.

Loading Timeout

Use this option to specify how much time (in seconds) LSnet will attempt to load jobs.

Hard Drive Low

Use this option to set the minimum number of free megabytes required for your hard drive. If this value is reached or exceeded (there is less space remaining than the value specified), LSnet will abort rending and save a “panic.prj” file.

For more information, see the Online Help files.

Enable PVR Save

Use this option to copy animation frames to a DPS

Perception drive.

Job Setup Panel

Use the Job Setup Panel to set the options for your

LSnet jobs. You can access this panel by choosing

Job | Edit or by clicking the Options button .

The options available on the Job Setup panel vary depending on the Job Type option you have selected.

If you choose to render an lsrad job, see “LSRAD

Options” on page 291 for more information. If you

choose to render an lsray or lsrender job, see “LSRAY and LSRENDER Options” on page 292 for more

information.

Job Type

Use this list to choose the type of rendering job to perform. You can choose either lsrad, lsray, or lsrender.

290

Lightscape

Using LSnet

❚❘❘

Input File

Use this option to specify the file to render (either .lp or .ls). You can enter the path and filename in the box, or click Browse, navigate to the appropriate file in the Open dialog that appears, and then click

Open.

You must specify an input file, regardless of which job type you have chosen. If you are processing an lsray job, you can only specify Solution files for this option.

Save Preset

Use this option to save options that have been set on the Job Setup panel for use at a later time. You can save presets for any job type (lsrad, lsray, or lsrender). Once you have set the required options on the Job Setup panel, enter a name for the preset in the box, and click Save Preset. The preset values are saved, and you can apply them at any time.

LSRAD Options

Lsrad is used to process radiosity solutions. You can set the following options if you are rendering an lsrad job.

Load Preset

Use this option to load preset options into the Job

Setup panel. Select the name of the preset you want to load from the list and click Load Preset.

Delete Preset

Use this option to delete a preset from the list. Select the preset name you want to delete from the list and click Delete Preset.

Reset Solution Before Processing

Use this option to reset the radiosity mesh before processing.

Process Direct Light Sources Only

Use this option to process light from direct sources only. Indirect illumination is not calculated.

Lock Mesh

Choose an option from this list to control the creation of mesh elements during processing.

291

C LSnet

Choose:

Use Input File

Locked

Unlocked

To:

Use the input file settings.

Prevent successive iterations of the lighting simulation from subdividing any surface mesh further than the current configuration.

Create mesh elements as usual during processing.

Output File Name

Use this option to specify the name and location of the output file for the job.

Alt. Parameters File

Use this option to specify an alternate parameters

(.df) file. This file will override the meshing parameters set in the input file.

Alt. Layer State File

Use this option to specify an alternate layer state (.lay) file. This file will override the layer state set in the input file, and layers that are turned off will not be included in the radiosity calculation.

Override Settings

Choose an option from this list to control whether or not attribute and light source changes are allowed.

Shadow Testing

Choose an option from this list to determine how shadows are calculated in the job.

Choose: To:

Use Input File Use the input file settings.

All Calculate all shadows.

Direct

None

Calculate direct shadows only.

Calculate no shadows.

Terminate In

Use this option to determine at what point LSnet should terminate processing. Choose an option from the list and enter a value in the box. You can choose to terminate processing after a certain number of iterations or minutes, or after the solution transfers the specified percentage of energy.

Checkpoint

Use this option to save a Solution file at specified intervals during processing so that the results of the radiosity calculation are not lost in the case of system problems. Choose an option from the list and enter a value in the box. You can choose to save a checkpoint after a specified number of iterations or minutes.

LSRAY and LSRENDER Options

Use lsray to ray trace Solution files. Use lsrender to use

OpenGL to process Preparation or Solution files. You

292

Lightscape

Using LSnet

❚❘❘ can set the following options if you are rendering an lsray or lsrender job.

Antialiasing Level

Use antialiasing to smooth out jagged edges. You can select an option from the Antialiasing List, or select

Advanced to set specific options.

These options are available whether you are using lsray or lsrender, unless otherwise indicated.

Alt. Parameters File

Use this option to specify an alternate parameters

(.df) file. This file will override the meshing parameters set in the input file.

Alt. Layer State File

Use this option to specify an alternate layer state (.lay) file. This file will override the layer state set in the input file, and layers that are turned off will not be included in the radiosity calculation.

View File List

Use this option to add or remove view files (.vw) from your job. Select Clear All to remove all view files from the list.

Advanced

Enable this option to set the antialiasing Contrast

Threshold, Sampling Level, and Radius options. For more information, see “Antialiasing in LSRAY” on page 262.

Contrast Threshold

Use this option to set the antialiasing contrast threshold. The valid range is from 0.0 to 1.0.

Sampling Level

Use this option to set the antialiasing sampling level.

The valid range is from 1 to 10.

Radius

Use this option to set the antialiasing radius. The valid range is from 0.0 to 1.0.

Display Mode

Use this option to select a display mode for rendering.

You can choose either Wireframe, Hidden Line, Solid, or Outline. The default is Solid.

293

C LSnet

This option is available only when you are using lsrender.

Fog Type

Use this option to choose the fog settings for the job.

Choose: To:

User Input File Use the input file settings.

Disabled

Linear

Disable the use of fog in the model.

Create fog that is clear at the near plane and opaque at the far plane.

The density increases linearly from the near plane to the far plane.

Fog

Haze

Create a uniformly dense fog that becomes opaque at some distance, depending on the density setting.

This is what fog usually looks like in reality.

Create a fog that is similar to the fog type but seems to get much denser in the distance, while leaving nearby objects virtually unobscured.

Fog Density

Use this option to set the density of the fog. The range is 0 to 1, with 1 representing the densest fog effect.

Fog Color

Use this option to set the color of the fog. You can choose the color (using HSV or RGB values) in the color picker.

Background Color

Use this option to set the background color of your model. You can choose the color (using HSV or RGB values) in the color picker.

Override Input File

Use this option to enable the Ambient/Brightness/

Contrast options.

Ambient/Brightness/Contrast

Use these options to set the ambient, brightness, and contrast values for the rendered images, overriding the input file settings.

Animation File

Use this option to use an animation file when rendering your job.

Frames per Second

Use this option set the number of frames per second in the animation. The valid range is from 12 to 30.

First Frame

Use this option to set the first animation frame to render.

Last Frame

Use this option to set the last animation frame to render.

Frame Step

Use this option to set a frame step for the rendered animation. The valid range is from 1 to the last frame in the animation (maximum of 9999).

294

Lightscape

Using LSnet

❚❘❘

Ray Bounces

Use this option to control how many levels of reflection or transmission are calculated during ray tracing.

This option is available only when you are using lsray.

Don’t Load Textures

Use this option to disable the use of textures in the rendering process.

Use OpenGL Reflection Model

Use this option to force the ray tracer to generate images that closely match the OpenGL display rendering.

This option is available only when you are using lsray.

Use OpenGL Window

Use this option to create a window for OpenGL rendering. You can use this option to take advantage of any OpenGL hardware on the render nodes.

This option is available only when you are using lsrender.

Line Antialiasing

Use this option to display smoothed lines.

This option is available only when you are using lsrender.

Output Alpha Channel

Use this option to save an alpha channel version of rendered frames. You must output images to either the .tga or .rgb format to preserve alpha channels.

Blending

Use this option to blend surfaces with transparent materials with those behind them, giving a transparent effect. When this option is disabled, all surfaces are displayed opaque, regardless of the material transparency.

This option is available only when you are using lsrender.

Ray Trace Direct Illumination

Use this option to ray trace direct light contributions from light sources (the sun and luminaires marked for ray tracing).

This option is available only when you are using lsray.

Soft Shadows From Sun

By default, Lightscape renders shadow boundaries caused by the sun as sharp edges. Enable this option to blur the edges to provide a more realistic and natural shadow boundary.

This option is available only when you are using lsray.

Shadows From Inactive Layers

Use this option to cause objects on layers that are not on (not visible) to cast shadows. The objects will not appear in the image, but their shadows will appear.

This option is available only when you are using lsray.

295

C LSnet

Interlacing

Use this option to create interlaced animations. For more information, see “Rendering Interlaced Animations” on page 218.

Odd Scanlines

When rendering an interlaced animation, enable this option to cause the first field to contain the frame’s odd-numbered scan lines. If this option is disabled, the first field of the interlaced animation will contain the frame’s even-numbered scan lines.

No Culling

Use this option to disable culling. Surfaces oriented away from the viewer will not be transparent.

Region of Interest

Use this option to specify the area of a frame (in pixels) that is to be ray traced.

This option is available only when you are using lsray.

Name

Use this option to set the name and location of the output file.

Max Nodes

Use this option to set the maximum number of nodes that LSnet can use to render the job.

Save to PVR

Use this option to save a copy of animation frames to a DPS Perception drive.

Require Max Nodes For Job

Use this option to force LSnet to hold off on processing until the specified number of nodes (set in the Max Nodes box) become available.

Node Specs Panel

Use the Node Specs Panel to view information about any node on your network. You can also turn nodes on or off and assign them unique names. You can access this panel by choosing Tools | Node Specs or by clicking the Node Specs button .

Format

Use this option to choose an image format for the output file. You can also choose 24- or 48-bit resolution for the applicable image formats.

Resolution

Use this option to specify the output frame resolution.

Mode of Operation

Use this to view the operation the node is currently processing. This can be either Unassigned, Rad, Ray, or Render.

296

Lightscape

Using LSnet

❚❘❘

Node Number

Enter a node number in this box to view information about that node, or use the slider to scroll through the available nodes.

Node Name

Use this option to assign a unique name to a node.

Current Job

Use this option to view the job currently being processed by a selected node.

Status

Use this option to view what node is currently rendering, if applicable.

LSnet Scheduler

Use the Scheduler to start and stop rendering on a specified day and time. For example, you can schedule jobs to run during off-peak periods on your network. You can access this panel by choosing

Tools | Scheduler or by clicking the Scheduler button .

Day to Day

Use this option to schedule job processing on a daily basis.

Current Time

If the time displayed is incorrect, you can use this option to set the current time.

Current Date

If the date displayed is incorrect, you can use this option to set the current date.

Start Time

Use this option to set the time LSnet begins rendering your job on either a daily basis (by choosing specific days of the week) or on a weekly basis (by choosing

Week Days and/or Week Ends).

Stop Time

Use this option to set the time LSnet stops rendering your job on either a daily basis (by choosing specific days of the week) or on a weekly basis (by choosing

Week Days and/or Week Ends).

Security Lock

Use the Security Lock to set a password to restrict access to LSnet. You can access this panel by choosing

Tools | Security Lock or by clicking the Security Lock button .

Disable Scheduler

Use this option to disable use of the Scheduler settings in your job.

Weekly

Use this option to schedule job processing on a weekly basis.

Type in and verify your password, then click Lock to enable it.

297

C LSnet

Render Log

Use the Render Log to view the status information for current jobs. You can access this panel by choosing

Tools | Render Log or by clicking the Render Log button .

Clear Log

Use this option to clear the Render Log window and delete the log file.

Save Log As

Use this option to save the log information to a text file.

You set the following options for each node on your network.

Node Name

This option displays the name assigned to a node.

CPU Status

This option displays the current status for each CPU

(up to 4).

Prefs

Use this option to display the Jump Starter Preferences panel.

Spy

Use this option to display the current status of all rendering nodes on the network.

Jump Starter Preferences

You can set the following preferences for the Jump

Starter application.

Jump Starter Options

Jump Starter performs the rendering jobs as specified in job tickets. It communicates with LSnet through a shared network path to accept new job tickets from

LSnet, report the job status as it is processed, and communicate any errors that may occur during processing.

Network Path

Use this option to specify the LSnet Network Path.

Priority

Use this option to determine the priority given to your jobs. You can choose either Low, Medium, or

High.

JobQ Options

You can use the JobQ feature to submit jobs to LSnet from any machine on your network. Use the JobQ

Sender program to load a Preparation or Solution file

298

Lightscape

(.lp or .ls), set up the job ticket, and then send it to a shared directory monitored by LSnet. Any user with access to the network can add jobs by using the JobQ

Sender.

You can set the following options when using the

JobQ.

JobQ Path

Use this option to specify the directory to which you send jobs for addition to the LSnet job list. This path should be identical to the one specified in the LSnet

Options panel.

Load Job

Use this option to load a Lightscape Preparation or

Solution file to create a job for processing.

Edit Job

Use this option to display the Job Setup panel, which you use to set the options for each job. This is the same as the LSnet Job Setup panel. For more informa-

tion, see “Job Setup Panel” on page 290.

Send Job

Use this option to send the selected job to the directory specified in the JobQ Path. The job will then be picked up by LSnet for processing and deleted from this directory.

Quit

Use this option to exit the JobQ application.

Using LSnet

❚❘❘

299

300