2011

In the Background Editor, you can change backgrounds by clicking the Browse button (...) next to the File Name
field and open a new image as the background.
Editing parameters in the Background Editor will interactively alter the scene with those changes. At any time,
click Apply to apply the parameter edits to the scene.
You can save an edited background for use in other scenes by dragging it into the Backgrounds folder inside the
My Effects user archive.
Environment Background and Reflections
Environment backgrounds are a special kind of background that move with the model and allow reflections
from reflective model parts.
Environment backgrounds not only make the scene look more realistic for static images of the model, but
completely transform the realism effect in animations. This is because as in real life, by moving an object around
in the background, the environment also changes. For example, looking up to the top of a building, the
background will be the sky, whereas, an aerial view of the building will have the surrounding buildings or
landscape as the background.
Another benefit of using environment backgrounds is that reflection properties of materials in the model are
able to reflect the environment (for example, when looking up, towards the top of a glass-fronted building, the
sky is reflected in the glass.
Environment backgrounds are images wrapped around the model. The recommended images to use are vertical
cross maps. These images are automatically placed on the inside of a cube that then surrounds the scene. Due
to the nature of the feature, edges and corners become indistinguishable. A wide variety of environment maps
are available for purchase on the Internet.
372 | Chapter 14 Create Photorealistic Visualizations