User Guide

58
Adding Lighting
3 Click the face.
If you use the light object tool or the light face tool while a lighting pass is in process, the
object or face is processed first. This makes it possible apply lighting to key surfaces of a
world at any point during a lighting pass.
To stop a lighting pass:
1 Select Browser view.
2 Click Stop Lighting in the Lighting Control palette.
Improving lighting quality in Browser view
A light map is an RGB image that is imposed over the world’s surface textures to create the
appearance of light and shadows. The Smooth Lighting Maps option in the Tool Inspector
palette lets you control how light maps are rendered in Atmosphere Builder. Enabling the
Smooth Lighting Maps option enhances the appearance and accuracy of light maps;
however, it also increases rendering time.
Note: This option does not affect how a world appears when viewed in the Atmosphere
Browser—it applies only to the current Atmosphere Builder session. Selecting this option can
also slow down rendering in Atmosphere Builder.
To enhance lighting quality:
1 Select Browser view, and select the move tool ().
2 Select Smooth Lighting Maps in the Tool Inspector palette.
Turning lighting on and off
You can view a world with and without lighting. With lighting, the surfaces in a world
display highlights and shadows; without lighting, the surfaces in a world appear exactly as
they do in the texture file—flat and unlit. Turning lighting off can help you work with
surfaces in dimly lit areas of a world.
Note: You must apply lighting at least once before turning the lighting on and off has any
effect.
To turn lighting on and off:
1 Select Browser view, and select the move tool ().
atmosphere.book Page 58 Wednesday, March 21, 2001 6:14 PM