Shadowcatcher - Revision history

Byob at 10:20, 26 September 2018

2018-09-26T10:20:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:20, 26 September 2018
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	It is possible, however, to use the alpha channel generated by a rendering using the path engine to compose the images.		It is possible, however, to use the alpha channel generated by a rendering using the path engine to compose the images.

			<!--
	=Example=		=Example=
	This is a scene with a LuxBall as 3D object, lit by an infinite light ("hemi" in Blender).<br>		This is a scene with a LuxBall as 3D object, lit by an infinite light ("hemi" in Blender).<br>
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	[[File:Shadowcatcher_redball_with.jpg\|500px]]		[[File:Shadowcatcher_redball_with.jpg\|500px]]
			-->

	=Tips=		=Tips=
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	* When using an imagemap as environment (e.g. a HDRI), enable the "only sample upper hemisphere" option		* When using an imagemap as environment (e.g. a HDRI), enable the "only sample upper hemisphere" option
	Doing this prevents the environment to cast lights onto the shadowcatcher from below, leading to better alpha transparency.		Doing this prevents the environment to cast lights onto the shadowcatcher from below, leading to better alpha transparency.

	~~=Support in Exporters=~~
	~~==LuxBlend==~~
	The shadowcatcher option is a simple checkbox, either available in the "LuxCore specific settings" panel of a material or, for node materials, on the [http://www.luxrender.net/wiki/LuxBlend25_LuxCore_NodeEditor#Output Output node].

	~~[[File:Shadowcatcher_luxblend_classicmateditor.png\|250px]]~~

	~~[[File:Shadowcatcher_luxblend_nodemateditor.png\|250px]]~~

	~~=SDL description for developers=~~
	~~This option is one of the [[LuxCore_SDL#Common_properties\|common properties]] shared by all material types.~~

Byob: /* Supported Engines */

2018-09-26T10:18:41Z

Supported Engines

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 26 September 2018
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	=Supported Engines=		=Supported Engines=
	The shadowcatcher option is supported by the ''Path'' and ''~~Biased~~ Path'' engines (both CPU and OpenCL), but not by the ''Bidir'' and ''BidirVCM'' engines.		The shadowcatcher option is supported by the ''Path'' and ''Tiled Path'' engines (both CPU and OpenCL), but not by the ''Bidir'' and ''BidirVCM'' engines.

	It is possible, however, to use the alpha channel generated by a rendering using the path engine to compose the images.		It is possible, however, to use the alpha channel generated by a rendering using the path engine to compose the images.

Piita: Created page with "=Overview= Since version 1.6 LuxCore materials have the ''shadowcatcher'' option. See [http://www.luxrender.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12687 this forum thread] for the ori..."

2017-12-16T10:45:49Z

Created page with "=Overview= Since version 1.6 LuxCore materials have the ''shadowcatcher'' option. See [http://www.luxrender.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12687 this forum thread] for the ori..."

New page

=Overview=

Since version 1.6 LuxCore materials have the ''shadowcatcher'' option. See [http://www.luxrender.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12687 this forum thread] for the original announcement. 
It is intended to be used for compositing, e.g. to integrate a rendered 3D object into a photograph.

'''A shadowcatcher material will be transparent where hit by direct light, while shadowed areas will stay opaque.''' 
The opacity of the shadow can be controlled by the opacity/transparency of the material. 
The color of the shadow can be influenced by the material color.

Any material can be a shadowcatcher, but it does not make sense to use a purely specular material without any diffuse reflection, like glass or mirror. 
Usually matte is the material best suited for a shadowcatcher.

=Supported Engines=
The shadowcatcher option is supported by the ''Path'' and ''Biased Path'' engines (both CPU and OpenCL), but not by the ''Bidir'' and ''BidirVCM'' engines.

It is possible, however, to use the alpha channel generated by a rendering using the path engine to compose the images.

=Example=
This is a scene with a LuxBall as 3D object, lit by an infinite light ("hemi" in Blender). 
Note how the lower half of the environment image is black in order to not cast any shadows onto the shadow catcher later.

[[File:Shadowcatcher_redball_raw.jpg|500px]]

Composited over a background image:

[[File:Shadowcatcher_redball_without.jpg|500px]]

And now with a groundplane using a shadowcatcher material:

[[File:Shadowcatcher_redball_with.jpg|500px]]

=Tips=
* When using a sky light as environment, enable the "groundcolor" option and set the groundcolor to black
* When using an imagemap as environment (e.g. a HDRI), enable the "only sample upper hemisphere" option
Doing this prevents the environment to cast lights onto the shadowcatcher from below, leading to better alpha transparency.

=Support in Exporters=
==LuxBlend==
The shadowcatcher option is a simple checkbox, either available in the "LuxCore specific settings" panel of a material or, for node materials, on the [http://www.luxrender.net/wiki/LuxBlend25_LuxCore_NodeEditor#Output Output node].

[[File:Shadowcatcher_luxblend_classicmateditor.png|250px]]

[[File:Shadowcatcher_luxblend_nodemateditor.png|250px]]

=SDL description for developers=
This option is one of the [[LuxCore_SDL#Common_properties|common properties]] shared by all material types.