Detailed Description

Access interface for the Mental Ray Sky Portal.

This class represents the Mental Ray Sky Portal object, implemented by 3ds Max. For more information on the Sky Portal object see the 3ds Max User Guide. SDK client code can access this interface by querying a 3d Max light object for this interface:

 Object* obj = // obtain a pointer to an object
 BaseInterface* bi = obj->GetInterface(IID_MR_SKY_PORTAL_LIGHT);
 IMrSkyPortalLight* mrSkyPortal = dynamic_cast<IMrSkyPortalLight*>(bi);

#include <imrSkyPortalLight.h>

Inheritance diagram for IMrSkyPortalLight:

[legend]

List of all members.

Public Member Functions
virtual Interface_ID	GetID ()
	Returns the Interface ID of this interface.
virtual	~IMrSkyPortalLight ()
	A virtual destructor for the interface.
Multiplier
The multiplier for the value of the sky portal's output.
virtual float	GetMultiplier (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Gets the value of the multiplier for the sky portal's output.
virtual bool	SetMultiplier (const TimeValue t, float multiplier)=0
	Sets the value of the multiplier for the sky portal's output.
Filter Color
Tints the coloring of the light going through a sky portal
virtual AColor	GetFilterColor (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Gets the filter color of the sky portal.
virtual bool	SetFilterColor (const TimeValue t, const AColor &color)=0
	Sets the filter color of the sky portal.
Shadow Casting
virtual bool	GetCastShadowsFromOutdoors () const =0
	Methods for accessing shadow casting related parameters For basic shadow casting related functionality see class LightObject.
virtual bool	SetCastShadowsFromOutdoors (bool bEnable)=0
	Sets whether shadows are casts from objects that are "outdoors" or "outside" of the sky portal object.
Shadow Samples
virtual int	GetShadowSamples (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Affects the quality of the shadows cast by the light portal.
virtual bool	SetShadowSamples (const TimeValue t, int shadowSamples)=0
	Sets the number of shadow samples.
Dimensions
The length and the width of the sky portal.
virtual float	GetLength (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Gets the length of the sky portal.
virtual bool	SetLength (const TimeValue t, float length)=0
	Sets the length of the sky portal.
virtual float	GetWidth (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Gets the width of the sky portal.
virtual bool	SetWidth (const TimeValue t, float width)=0
	Sets the width of the sky portal.
Visibility in renderings
virtual bool	GetVisibleInRendering (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Allows for specifying whether the sky portal is visible in renderings or not.
virtual bool	SetVisibleInRenderin (const TimeValue t, bool visible)=0
	Sets whether the sky portal appears in rendering.
Transparency
virtual AColor	GetTransparencyColor (const TimeValue t, Interval &valid) const =0
	Transparency Filters the view outside the window Changing this color does not change the light coming in, but has the effect of darkening outside objects, which can help if they are overexposed.
virtual bool	SetTransparencyColor (const TimeValue t, const AColor &color)=0
	Sets the transparency color of the sky portal.
Custom Illumination Color
A map can be used to specify a custom illumination color for the sky portal
virtual Texmap *	GetIlluminationMap () const =0
	Gets the current map used to supply the illumination color.
virtual bool	SetIlluminationMap (Texmap *illumColorMap)=0
	Sets the map used for supplying the illumination color.
Light Flux Direction
enum	LightFluxDirection { kOutdoorToIndoor = 0, kIndoorToOutdoor = 1, kLastDir }
	Light Flux Direction Determines the direction in which light flows through the portal. More...
virtual LightFluxDirection	GetLightFluxDirection () const =0
	Gets the light flux direction through the sky portal.
virtual bool	SetLightFluxDirection (LightFluxDirection dir)=0
	Sets the light flux direction through the sky portal.
Illumination Color
The sky portal can derive its illumination color from different sources.
enum	IlluminationColorSource { kSceneEnvironmentColor, kCustomMapColor, kSkylightColor, kLastColorSource }
	The possible sources of illumination color used by a sky portal. More...
virtual IlluminationColorSource	GetIllumColorSource () const =0
	Gets the illumination color source used by the sky portal.
virtual bool	SetIllumColorSource (IlluminationColorSource source)=0
	Sets the illumination color source used by the sky portal.

Member Enumeration Documentation

enum LightFluxDirection

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Light Flux Direction Determines the direction in which light flows through the portal.

The sky portal has two sides that can either correspond to the "indoor" or "outdoor" sides of the scene. The possible directions of the light flux through the sky portal

Enumerator:

kOutdoorToIndoor	Light flows from the "outdoor" towards "indoor" side of the sky portal. Search for all occurrences
kIndoorToOutdoor	Light flows from the "indoor" towards "outdoor" side of the sky portal. Search for all occurrences
kLastDir	Search for all occurrences

                            {
        kOutdoorToIndoor = 0, 
        kIndoorToOutdoor = 1, 
        kLastDir,
    };

enum IlluminationColorSource

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The possible sources of illumination color used by a sky portal.

Enumerator:

kSceneEnvironmentColor	Uses the current scene environment map. This allows the outdoor to be illuminated with a different color than the indoor. Search for all occurrences
kCustomMapColor	Use a texture map for the illumination coloring. See IMrSkyPortalLight::setIlluminationMap Search for all occurrences
kSkylightColor	Uses the existent skylight in the scene. Search for all occurrences
kLastColorSource	Search for all occurrences

                                 {
        kSceneEnvironmentColor, 
        kCustomMapColor, 
        kSkylightColor, 
        kLastColorSource,
    };

Constructor & Destructor Documentation

virtual ~IMrSkyPortalLight ( ) [inline, virtual]

A virtual destructor for the interface.

{};

Member Function Documentation

virtual Interface_ID GetID ( ) [inline, virtual]

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Returns the Interface ID of this interface.

Reimplemented from BaseInterface.

{ return IID_MR_SKY_PORTAL_LIGHT; };

virtual float GetMultiplier	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Gets the value of the multiplier for the sky portal's output.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the multiplier's value is retrieved
[in]	valid	- The time interval for which the multiplier value is valid *

Returns:: The value of the multiplier

virtual bool SetMultiplier	(	const TimeValue	t,
		float	multiplier
	)		`[pure virtual]`

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Sets the value of the multiplier for the sky portal's output.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the multiplier value is set
[in]	multiplier	- The new value of multiplier

Returns:: true if the new value has been set successfully

virtual AColor GetFilterColor	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Gets the filter color of the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the color is retrieved
[in,out]	valid	- The time interval for which the color value is valid

Returns:: The value of the filter color

virtual bool SetFilterColor	(	const TimeValue	t,
		const AColor &	color
	)		`[pure virtual]`

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Sets the filter color of the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the color is set
[in]	color	- The new color value

Returns:: true if setting the new color was successful, false otherwise

virtual bool GetCastShadowsFromOutdoors ( ) const [pure virtual]

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Methods for accessing shadow casting related parameters For basic shadow casting related functionality see class LightObject.

Gets whether shadows are casts from objects that are "outdoors" or "outside" of the sky portal object.

The "outside" represents the side that is away from the sky portal's arrow icon.

Returns:: True if the sky portal casts shadows from "outdoor, false otherwise

virtual bool SetCastShadowsFromOutdoors ( bool bEnable ) [pure virtual]

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Sets whether shadows are casts from objects that are "outdoors" or "outside" of the sky portal object.

The "outside" represents the side that is away from the sky portal's arrow icon. Note that turning this option on can significantly increase render times.

Parameters:

[in] bEnable - The new parameter value

Returns:: true if setting the new parameter value was successful, false otherwise

virtual int GetShadowSamples	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Affects the quality of the shadows cast by the light portal.

Increase the value of this parameter if the shadows are grainy

Gets the number of shadow samples.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is retrieved
[in,out]	valid	- The time interval for which the parameter value is valid

Returns:: The number of samples being used for shadows, as an exponent of 2. For example, if this method returns 10, the actual number of shadow samples used is 2 at the power of 10 = 1024.

virtual bool SetShadowSamples	(	const TimeValue	t,
		int	shadowSamples
	)		`[pure virtual]`

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Sets the number of shadow samples.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is set
[in]	shadowSamples	- The new parameter value. 2 raised to the power of this value represents the actual number of shadow samples. Must be a value within [1, 10]. For example, if 10 is set via this method, the actual number of shadow samples will be 1024.

Returns:: true if setting the new parameter value was successful, false otherwise

virtual float GetLength	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Gets the length of the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is retrieved
[in,out]	valid	- The time interval for which the parameter value is valid

Returns:: The length of the sky portal

virtual bool SetLength	(	const TimeValue	t,
		float	length
	)		`[pure virtual]`

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Sets the length of the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is set
[in]	length	- The new parameter value. Must be a positive floating point value

Returns:: true if setting the new parameter value was successful, false otherwise

virtual float GetWidth	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Gets the width of the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is retrieved
[in,out]	valid	- The time interval for which the parameter value is valid

Returns:: The width of the sky portal

virtual bool SetWidth	(	const TimeValue	t,
		float	width
	)		`[pure virtual]`

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Sets the width of the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is set
[in]	width	- The new parameter value. Must be a positive floating point value

Returns:: true if setting the new parameter value was successful, false otherwise

virtual LightFluxDirection GetLightFluxDirection ( ) const [pure virtual]

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Gets the light flux direction through the sky portal.

Returns:: The light flux direction through the sky portal

virtual bool SetLightFluxDirection ( LightFluxDirection dir ) [pure virtual]

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Sets the light flux direction through the sky portal.

Parameters:

[in] dir - The new direction value

Returns:: true if setting the new parameter value was successful, false otherwise

virtual bool GetVisibleInRendering	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Allows for specifying whether the sky portal is visible in renderings or not.

When the sky portal appears in renderings, objects that are on the "indoors" side of the sky portal do not appear in the rendering.

Gets whether the sky portal appears in rendering

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is retrieved
[in,out]	valid	- The time interval for which the parameter value is valid

Returns:: true if the sky portal appears in rendering, false otherwise

virtual bool SetVisibleInRenderin	(	const TimeValue	t,
		bool	visible
	)		`[pure virtual]`

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Sets whether the sky portal appears in rendering.

Parameters:

[in]	t	- The time at which the parameter is set
[in]	visible	- The new parameter value.

Returns:: true if setting the new parameter value was successful, false otherwise

virtual AColor GetTransparencyColor	(	const TimeValue	t,
		Interval &	valid
	)		const `[pure virtual]`

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Transparency Filters the view outside the window Changing this color does not change the light coming in, but has the effect of darkening outside objects, which can help if they are overexposed.

To avoid recoloring the outside view, use a shade of gray, such as R=G=B=0.5.

Gets the transparency color of the sky portal

Parameters: