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1012 Glossary
Block/Style Parent
A Block/Style Parent is closely r elated to a
VIZBlock (page 3–1125) in that it is a compound
object similar to a nested AutoCAD block. Just
like the VIZBlock, it is used for organizing linked
data from DWG files. When linking DWG data to
3ds Max, you need to decide how the incoming
entities are to b e organized in the scene. Objects
in DWG files are commonly organized by layers,
blocks, and ent it ies, while 3ds Max scenes are
organized by parent/child hierarchies of objects.
The main difference between a Block/Style Parent
and a VIZBlock is that a Block/Style Parent allows
for a p arent/child hierarchy of “components,”
but does not display any of its own geometry. A
VIZBlock displays its own geometry and lists a set
of “components,” or sub-objects.
Blur / Blur Offset
Top:Blur=1,BlurOffset=0
Middle: Blur = 10, Blur Offset = 0
Bottom: Blur = 0.01, Blur Offset = 0.2
The Blur and Blur Offset controls determine how
a 2D map is blurred, or how it is softened in the
rendering. You can’t see their effect in the viewport
renderer , only in the production renderer .
The Blur setting blurs the map based on its
distancefromtheview.Thefartherawaythemap
is, the greater the blurring. You should always use
some blurring on your maps to avoid the t ype of
scintillation, or aliasing that can occur when pixel
details are reduced off in the distance. This effect
typically o ccurs when you use detailed bitmaps
viewed at a distance, and is particularly apparent
during animations. The Blur default is 1.0, which
is a good setting for most purposes.
Blur Offset blurs the map without regard to depth.
That is, all the pixels in the map are blurred
equally, regardless of how close or how far they are
from the camera.
Whereas the Blur va lue is primar i ly used to
avoid aliasing, Blur Offset is useful when you
want to soften, or defocus the details in a map.
It’s the equivalent of blurring the bitmap in an
image-processing program before applying it as a
material map.
Note: For bump mapping (page 2–1347) ,lower
BlurandhigherBlurOffsetvaluesgivebetter
results.
Body Space
Abipedlimbcanbeputintothecoordinatespace
of the world or an object in the scene as well as
body space. Body space moves the biped limbs
whenthebipedmoves;ifyourotatethebiped’s
hips,thefeet,inbodyspace,moveaswell.