Theater Setup PBR - Revision history

Arrehn: /* Frequently Asked Questions */

2024-07-29T17:43:47Z

Frequently Asked Questions

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:43, 29 July 2024
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	Q: "The relections aren't updating smoothly, they seem to lag behind the motion of avatars and objects and it's making me ill. What can I do?"		Q: "The relections aren't updating smoothly, they seem to lag behind the motion of avatars and objects and it's making me ill. What can I do?"
	By design, reflections are not computed as quickly as possible, because ~~thiv~~ could slow down your SL experience too much. However, if you do want to try it and see if it improves your results, go to your viewer's graphic preferences and change "Reflection Detail" to "Realtime".		By design, reflections are not computed as quickly as possible, because this could slow down your SL experience too much. However, if you do want to try it and see if it improves your results, go to your viewer's graphic preferences and change "Reflection Detail" to "Realtime".

	== More Resources ==		== More Resources ==

Arrehn: /* Frequently Asked Questions */

2024-07-29T17:43:21Z

Frequently Asked Questions

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:43, 29 July 2024
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	Q: "The relections aren't updating smoothly, they seem to lag behind the motion of avatars and objects and it's making me ill. What can I do?"		Q: "The relections aren't updating smoothly, they seem to lag behind the motion of avatars and objects and it's making me ill. What can I do?"
	By design, reflections are not computed as quickly as possible, because ~~thi~~ could slow down your SL experience too much. However, if you do want to try it and see if it improves your results, go to your viewer's graphic preferences and change "Reflection Detail" to "Realtime".		By design, reflections are not computed as quickly as possible, because thiv could slow down your SL experience too much. However, if you do want to try it and see if it improves your results, go to your viewer's graphic preferences and change "Reflection Detail" to "Realtime".

	== More Resources ==		== More Resources ==

Arrehn: /* Frequently Asked Questions */

2024-07-29T17:42:53Z

Frequently Asked Questions

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:42, 29 July 2024
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	Q. "Why am I seeing heavy glare from point light?"		Q: "Why am I seeing heavy glare from point light?"
	Older, non-PBR materials now show more reflection glare. One long term solution is to replace the older blinn-phong (aka, old materials) textures with new materials textures, if you are able. Other quick fixes may be reducing point light strength, adjusting its glossiness and environment values, or giving the point light a lower luminosity color.		Older, non-PBR materials now show more reflection glare. One long term solution is to replace the older blinn-phong (aka, old materials) textures with new materials textures, if you are able. Other quick fixes may be reducing point light strength, adjusting its glossiness and environment values, or giving the point light a lower luminosity color.

	Q. "My stage is too light/too dark!"		Q: "My stage is too light/too dark!"
	First try using a lighter or darker EEP, or change the "ambiance" value in your stage's reflection probe. If these do not work, try adjusting your graphics preference "Exposure" setting but keep in mind you'll have to share your new value with all of your visitors and guests if you want them to see your land the same way you do.		First try using a lighter or darker EEP, or change the "ambiance" value in your stage's reflection probe. If these do not work, try adjusting your graphics preference "Exposure" setting but keep in mind you'll have to share your new value with all of your visitors and guests if you want them to see your land the same way you do.

	Q. "I've tried using the "BETTER SPEED" viewer settings suggested in this notecard, but my viewer is running far slower than before and everything stutters."		Q: "I've tried using the "BETTER SPEED" viewer settings suggested in this notecard, but my viewer is running far slower than before and everything stutters."
	First verify that your graphics settings really do match the "BETTER SPEED" suggestions, without anything else checked. Then, try asking your viewer support group for help, there are many common preventable reasons. Firestorm has a wiki of common issues here: https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr_issues. If nothing else helps, the following may work for you (Firestorm only). In the Preferences / Graphics / Hardware Settings tag, check the [X] Override VRAM detection and set it to 3. Click [OK], and then restart the viewer. If this does not help you, undo these steps.		First verify that your graphics settings really do match the "BETTER SPEED" suggestions, without anything else checked. Then, try asking your viewer support group for help, there are many common preventable reasons. Firestorm has a wiki of common issues here: https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr_issues. If nothing else helps, the following may work for you (Firestorm only). In the Preferences / Graphics / Hardware Settings tag, check the [X] Override VRAM detection and set it to 3. Click [OK], and then restart the viewer. If this does not help you, undo these steps.

	Q. "When I move my camera, I sometimes see brightness levels changing, especially if I am facing a bright light source such as the sun. Is this normal?"		Q: "When I move my camera, I sometimes see brightness levels changing, especially if I am facing a bright light source such as the sun. Is this normal?"
	Yes, this is the "high dynamic range" (HDR) feature at work. It generally improves the visual quality of a scene. If you wish to reduce the effect, one easy way is to use an EEP with a low "HDR Scale:" value such as 0.5 or lower.		Yes, this is the "high dynamic range" (HDR) feature at work. It generally improves the visual quality of a scene. If you wish to reduce the effect, one easy way is to use an EEP with a low "HDR Scale:" value such as 0.5 or lower.

			Q: "The relections aren't updating smoothly, they seem to lag behind the motion of avatars and objects and it's making me ill. What can I do?"
			By design, reflections are not computed as quickly as possible, because thi could slow down your SL experience too much. However, if you do want to try it and see if it improves your results, go to your viewer's graphic preferences and change "Reflection Detail" to "Realtime".

	== More Resources ==		== More Resources ==

Arrehn at 17:38, 29 July 2024

2024-07-29T17:38:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:38, 29 July 2024
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	== Why use PBR in your theater? ==		== Why use PBR in your theater? ==

	Hello SL Performers and Venue Owners! Since the latest crop of viewers have been released, we have both the creative opportunity and challenge of using more powerful lighting and color effects in performances. More realistic reflection effects, mirrors, and high dynamic range(HDR) all offer potential to enhance the visual look of a show if used well and if you have prepared your ~~performance space~~ ahead of time.		Hello SL Performers and Venue Owners!

			Since the latest crop of viewers have been released, we have both the creative opportunity and challenge of using more powerful lighting and color effects in performances. More realistic reflection effects, mirrors, and high dynamic range(HDR) all offer potential to enhance the visual look of a show if used well and if you have prepared your venue ahead of time. Likewise if you do not prepare your performance area, new SL content (clothes, objects, etc) that uses the new PBR materials may harm the look of your show. Luckily for us, the setup is not too difficult, read on!

	== What needs to be done in advance? ==		== What needs to be done in advance? ==
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	Q. "When I move my camera, I sometimes see brightness levels changing, especially if I am facing a bright light source such as the sun. Is this normal?"		Q. "When I move my camera, I sometimes see brightness levels changing, especially if I am facing a bright light source such as the sun. Is this normal?"
	Yes, this is the "high dynamic range" (HDR) feature at work. It generally improves the visual quality of a scene. If you wish to reduce the effect, one easy way is to use an EEP with a low "HDR Scale:" value such as 0.5 or lower.		Yes, this is the "high dynamic range" (HDR) feature at work. It generally improves the visual quality of a scene. If you wish to reduce the effect, one easy way is to use an EEP with a low "HDR Scale:" value such as 0.5 or lower.

			== More Resources ==

			* [https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/PBR_Materials Second Life Official: PBR Materials]
			* [https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr Firestorm Viewer Official: PBR]
			* https://sanctuarydfae.wordpress.com/pbr-101/

	== Credits ==		== Credits ==

Arrehn: /* Misc FAQ */

2024-07-29T17:13:13Z

Misc FAQ

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:13, 29 July 2024
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	* For maximum compatibility and to avoid graphical glitches/flickering, try to avoid using more than 6 point lights in any given place. This includes avatar facelights, especially some particular facelights that might contain multiple point lights at once!		* For maximum compatibility and to avoid graphical glitches/flickering, try to avoid using more than 6 point lights in any given place. This includes avatar facelights, especially some particular facelights that might contain multiple point lights at once!

	== ~~Misc FAQ~~ ==		== Frequently Asked Questions ==


	Q. "Why am I seeing heavy glare from point light?"		Q. "Why am I seeing heavy glare from point light?"
	A. Older, non-PBR materials now show more reflection glare. One long term solution is to replace the older blinn-phong (aka, old materials) textures with new materials textures, if you are able. Other quick fixes may be reducing point light strength, adjusting its glossiness and environment values, or giving the point light a lower luminosity color.		Older, non-PBR materials now show more reflection glare. One long term solution is to replace the older blinn-phong (aka, old materials) textures with new materials textures, if you are able. Other quick fixes may be reducing point light strength, adjusting its glossiness and environment values, or giving the point light a lower luminosity color.

	Q. "My stage is too light/too dark!"		Q. "My stage is too light/too dark!"
	A. First try using a lighter or darker EEP, or change the "ambiance" value in your stage's reflection probe. If these do not work, try adjusting your graphics preference "Exposure" setting but keep in mind you'll have to share your new value with all of your visitors and guests if you want them to see your land the same way you do.		First try using a lighter or darker EEP, or change the "ambiance" value in your stage's reflection probe. If these do not work, try adjusting your graphics preference "Exposure" setting but keep in mind you'll have to share your new value with all of your visitors and guests if you want them to see your land the same way you do.

	Q. "I've tried using the "BETTER SPEED" viewer settings suggested in this notecard, but my viewer is running far slower than before and everything stutters."		Q. "I've tried using the "BETTER SPEED" viewer settings suggested in this notecard, but my viewer is running far slower than before and everything stutters."
	A. First verify that your graphics settings really do match the "BETTER SPEED" suggestions, without anything else checked. Then, try asking your viewer support group for help, there are many common preventable reasons. Firestorm has a wiki of common issues here: https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr_issues. If nothing else helps, the following may work for you (Firestorm only). In the Preferences / Graphics / Hardware Settings tag, check the [X] Override VRAM detection and set it to 3. Click [OK], and then restart the viewer. If this does not help you, undo these steps.		First verify that your graphics settings really do match the "BETTER SPEED" suggestions, without anything else checked. Then, try asking your viewer support group for help, there are many common preventable reasons. Firestorm has a wiki of common issues here: https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr_issues. If nothing else helps, the following may work for you (Firestorm only). In the Preferences / Graphics / Hardware Settings tag, check the [X] Override VRAM detection and set it to 3. Click [OK], and then restart the viewer. If this does not help you, undo these steps.

	Q. "When I move my camera, I sometimes see brightness levels changing, especially if I am facing a bright light source such as the sun. Is this normal?"		Q. "When I move my camera, I sometimes see brightness levels changing, especially if I am facing a bright light source such as the sun. Is this normal?"
	A. Yes, this is the "high dynamic range" (HDR) feature at work. It generally improves the visual quality of a scene. If you wish to reduce the effect, one easy way is to use an EEP with a low "HDR Scale:" value such as 0.5 or lower.		Yes, this is the "high dynamic range" (HDR) feature at work. It generally improves the visual quality of a scene. If you wish to reduce the effect, one easy way is to use an EEP with a low "HDR Scale:" value such as 0.5 or lower.


	== Credits ==		== Credits ==

Arrehn: /* BONUS! Look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe) */

2024-07-29T17:12:02Z

BONUS! Look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:12, 29 July 2024
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	* If your stage area is too dark, you may wish to increase the "ambient" value of the reflection probe in the build window, next to the Reflection Probe checkbox. Higher values will add more artificial light. Also see the lighting section in step 5.0.		* If your stage area is too dark, you may wish to increase the "ambient" value of the reflection probe in the build window, next to the Reflection Probe checkbox. Higher values will add more artificial light. Also see the lighting section in step 5.0.

	== ~~BONUS~~! Look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe) ==		== OPTIONAL! Look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe) ==

	You may rez any reflective PBR-materials object move it inside the reflection probe you created in step 3. I've included an example cube in the "Get your venyue ready for PBR" box at the MetahHarper in-world studio. If all is set up correctly you should see some interesting reflections on the surface if you stand near it with a facelight or other light source. Here is a scene of this cube surrounded by colored flowers and point lights against a full bright backdrop		You may rez any reflective PBR-materials object move it inside the reflection probe you created in step 3. I've included an example cube in the "Get your venyue ready for PBR" box at the MetahHarper in-world studio. If all is set up correctly you should see some interesting reflections on the surface if you stand near it with a facelight or other light source. Here is a scene of this cube surrounded by colored flowers and point lights against a full bright backdrop

Arrehn: /* BONUS #2 Light your set */

2024-07-29T17:11:47Z

BONUS #2 Light your set

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:11, 29 July 2024
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	* Other objects with the "emissive" light property.		* Other objects with the "emissive" light property.

	== ~~BONUS #2 Light~~ your set ==		== OPTIONAL! Lighting your set ==

	If you are using a dark EEP such as the midnight replacement in step 2.0, you may need to add lighting to your set.		If you are using a dark EEP such as the midnight replacement in step 2.0, you may need to add lighting to your set.

Arrehn: /* BONUS #2 Light your set */

2024-07-29T17:11:10Z

BONUS #2 Light your set

@@ Line 115: / Line 115: @@
 == BONUS #2 Light your set ==
-    If you are using a dark EEP such as the midnight replacement in step 2.0, you may need to add lighting to your set.
+If you are using a dark EEP such as the midnight replacement in step 2.0, you may need to add lighting to your set.
 == Misc FAQ ==

Arrehn: /* BONUS! look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe) */

2024-07-29T17:07:29Z

BONUS! look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:07, 29 July 2024
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	* If your stage area is too dark, you may wish to increase the "ambient" value of the reflection probe in the build window, next to the Reflection Probe checkbox. Higher values will add more artificial light. Also see the lighting section in step 5.0.		* If your stage area is too dark, you may wish to increase the "ambient" value of the reflection probe in the build window, next to the Reflection Probe checkbox. Higher values will add more artificial light. Also see the lighting section in step 5.0.

	== BONUS! ~~look~~ at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe) ==		== BONUS! Look at how new materials textures look inside your reflection zone (aka Reflection Probe) ==

	You may rez ~~this cube 􀀃 as an example and~~ move it inside the reflection probe you created in step 3. If all is set up correctly you should see some interesting reflections on the surface if you stand near it with a facelight or other light source. ~~I've included~~ a scene of this cube surrounded by colored flowers and point lights against a full bright backdrop~~: 􀀇~~		You may rez any reflective PBR-materials object move it inside the reflection probe you created in step 3. I've included an example cube in the "Get your venyue ready for PBR" box at the MetahHarper in-world studio. If all is set up correctly you should see some interesting reflections on the surface if you stand near it with a facelight or other light source. Here is a scene of this cube surrounded by colored flowers and point lights against a full bright backdrop

	To use effects like this, drag new "Materials" inventory items into the build window's Texture / PBR tab for the object and face you want to texture. The old textures and old style materials: (diffuse, normal, specular) are now in a "Blinn-Phong" tab. Only one texture type (PBR or Blinn Phong) will be used at a time. If you specify textures in both the PBR and Blinn-Phong windows, the Blinn-Phong textures will only be used for older viewers that cannot render PBR.		To use effects like this, drag new "Materials" inventory items into the build window's Texture / PBR tab for the object and face you want to texture. The old textures and old style materials: (diffuse, normal, specular) are now in a "Blinn-Phong" tab. Only one texture type (PBR or Blinn Phong) will be used at a time. If you specify textures in both the PBR and Blinn-Phong windows, the Blinn-Phong textures will only be used for older viewers that cannot render PBR.

	To get the most out of reflections you will need some sources of light. The following can be used to see reflections:		To get the most out of reflections you will need some sources of light. The following can be used to see reflections:

	Light from your chosen EEP: Typically these include light sources such as sun, moon, and ambiance.		Light from your chosen EEP: Typically these include light sources such as sun, moon, and ambiance.
	Point lights		* Point lights
	Projector lights		* Projector lights
	Ambient light in reflection probes		* Ambient light in reflection probes
	Fullbright objects		* Fullbright objects
	Glow		* Glow
	Other objects with the "emissive" light property.		* Other objects with the "emissive" light property.


	== BONUS #2 Light your set ==		== BONUS #2 Light your set ==

Arrehn: /* Enclose your stage or performance spaces in a new type of invisible object called a "reflection probe" */

2024-07-29T17:04:08Z

Enclose your stage or performance spaces in a new type of invisible object called a "reflection probe"

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:04, 29 July 2024
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	The new lighting and reflection system requires us to specify particular zones where we want to see reflections. This is especially useful for indoor spaces, where the interior of a room or theater should not contain reflections of the outdoors or sky. It is also useful for speed reasons, to avoid computing reflections of irrelevant distant objects.		The new lighting and reflection system requires us to specify particular zones where we want to see reflections. This is especially useful for indoor spaces, where the interior of a room or theater should not contain reflections of the outdoors or sky. It is also useful for speed reasons, to avoid computing reflections of irrelevant distant objects.

	To set up a refection zone or "reflection probe" in tech lingo, you can use the SL build window. The following covers a simple setup for a typical rectangular stage:		To set up a refection zone or "reflection probe" in tech lingo, you can use the SL build window. The following covers a simple setup for a typical rectangular stage:

	# Create a new plywood box prim. Change it's name to something like "theater reflection probe"		# Create a new plywood box prim. Change it's name to something like "theater reflection probe"