Definitions of terms used in the Mudbox Help listed
alphabetically.
- alpha channel
-
A separate channel within
a bitmap image that is used to store transparency information for
each pixel.
- ambient occlusion
-
In Mudbox, an effect
that darkens cracks, crevices, corners and points of contact on
rendered surfaces. Two methods are supported: a real-time post processing
effect applied to the model in the 3D View,
and an extraction process that generates an image map by calculating
the ambient occlusion from the perspective of several light sources.
- bake
-
In rendering, the process of
rendering illumination, shadow, shading, or textures to a file texture
or to per-vertex color mesh. Baking lets you extract detail from
very high resolution models to produce a texture map that lets you
obtain lighting effects on a lower resolution version that would
be difficult to achieve in other ways.
- base mesh
-
The lowest subdivision level
on a subdivision surface. You can subdivide to higher subdivision
levels and then return to display the base level.
- bookmark
-
Lets you save a camera view
as a preset in a tray for future use.
- brush
-
The broad definition
for a multi-purpose tool that lets you manipulate the positions
of vertices on a model, or paint color and other material attributes
on a projection plane or directly on a model.
- brush stroke
-
A mark made by the movement
of a brush on the canvas.
- bump map
-
A 2D image that simulates
3D surface detail by creating the illusion of bumps or other types
of surface relief using a grayscale image. A bump map does not alter
the shape of surfaces to which it is assigned.
- camera
-
The method for viewing the
3D scene in computer graphics. Cameras represent the scene with
visual perspective or orthographically without perspective. In Mudbox,
the camera frames the 3D View by tracking, tumbling, panning, and zooming.
- component
-
In polygonal modeling, any
of the constituent parts of a polygon (namely, vertices, edges,
faces, or UVs).
- coordinate system
-
A method by which points
are located in space.
- depth of field
-
A distance range expressed
as a near and far distance within which objects will be sharply
focused. Objects outside of this range appear blurred or out of focus.
- displacement map
-
When extracting a displacement
map, a 2D image is produced that records height information for
points on the model as grayscale information. Displacement mapping
allows a texture input to subsequently manipulate the position of
vertices on rendered geometry. When a displacement map is applied to
a polygonal model, the faces are offset or displaced from their
original positions at render time, based on the grayscale information,
to produce a detailed effect.
- dolly
-
The action of moving
the camera toward or away from its center of interest. The scene
in the camera’s view becomes larger or smaller, and the relative
size of objects in the scene changes based on their distance from
the camera.
- edge
-
A line joining two adjacent
vertices on a polygonal model.
- ethernet address
-
The physical address
of an Ethernet network board, expressed as a 48-bit number in hexadecimal
notation. On a Windows computer, the Ethernet address is also known
as a MAC (Media Access Control) address. The ethernet address is
often used to lock a software license to a particular computer.
- extraction
-
The process of copying some
feature of a 3D model (sculpting details, ambient occlusion shadows,
and so on) and converting the information so it can be represented
using a bitmap image so it can be subsequently be applied (texture
mapped) to the model in a different 3D application or a different
(lower resolution) version of the same model to reproduce the original feature.
- eyedropper
-
A tool for sampling and selecting
an exact color under the stylus or mouse cursor in Mudbox.
- face
-
The area bounded by three
or more vertices and their associated edges. When many faces are
connected together they create a network of faces called a polygon model
(also referred to as a polyset or a polygonal object).
- FBX
-
(Filmbox = FBX) A file format
owned and developed by Autodesk to provide interoperability between
digital content creation applications. FBX plug-ins are available for
Autodesk® Maya® and Autodesk® 3ds Max® software. FBX is also supported
by Autodesk® MotionBuilder® and Autodesk® Softimage® using the Autodesk®
Crosswalk software
- floating license
-
A type of multiple software
license that is served from one license server machine to other
machines over a network.
- gamma
-
In computer graphics this
term is often used to refer to the overall brightness level of an
image. Different computer platforms often apply algorithmic corrections
to the brightness level of images to compensate for variations in
the monitor display.
- HDRI
-
(High Dynamic Range Image
= HDRI) An image using a format that allows for a large range of
exposures, providing a more accurate representation of the lighting
in a scene, from bright sunlight to dark shadows. HDRI images are
32 bits per channel.
- heads-up display
-
Instructions or information
that appear over the scene that aid in using the features of the
software application.
- highlight
-
The direct reflection
of a light source as seen on the surface of an object. A highlight’s
color is based on the surface material as well as the light source.
- hotkey
-
A keyboard shortcut that uses
a single key, or combination of keys and stylus/mouse buttons, to
provide quick access to a feature or tool in Mudbox. You can customize hotkeys
using the Hotkey Editor.
- image map
-
A picture file in an
image such as jpeg, bmp, tiff, or png that gets using in materials
to create specific effects or patterns. Also known as a texture map.
- image plane
-
A 2D object (plane) that enables
the placement of an image file into a camera view. Image planes
are used in Mudbox to load 2D images as references for sculpting.
- image-based lighting
-
Lighting defined by an image
that determines the look of the light of and reflections on surfaces
in a scene.
- joint
-
In Mudbox, a user-defined
location on a polygonal model about which components can be rotated.
Joints are used for used for articulating a model into a particular pose.
- layer
-
Mudbox provides two layers
types: Sculpt and Paint. Sculpt layers are overlays of sculpting
information laying over or under other overlays of sculpting information that
record sculpting as the delta between the base mesh and the other
layers. Paint layers are images laying over or under other images.
All layers taken together comprise one complete texture or sculpted
model. Layers let you separate or hide parts of your sculpting or painting
and let you iterate your work in a non-destructive manner.
- level
-
Subdivision level. Displays
the current polygonal faces for a model at a particular subdivision
stage. Levels range from coarse to fine and are tracked by numbers, 0,
1, 2, and so on.
- limit surface
-
A smooth surface shape that
a polygonal model approaches as it gets repeatedly subdivided and
smoothed. Limit surfaces are used for calculating the distance between
the low and high resolution surfaces when extracting a texture map.
- material
-
A collection of attributes that
describe how a surface appears when it is rendered. Common surface
material attributes include diffuse color, reflectivity, and glossiness.
- mesh
-
A collection of polygons, which
can be of different types (triangles, quads, n-sided). When many
faces are connected together they create a network of faces called
a polygon mesh (also referred to as a polyset or a polygonal object).
- mid-tones
-
Tonal values in an image that
fall midway between the highlight and shadow tones.
- mirror
-
To flip the sculpt/paint stroke,
or layer about a user-defined center axis.
- model
-
A computer-based description
and representation of a three-dimensional object. Models can be
created with modeling software tools, 3D digitizers, etc. Models
can be represented by a variety of geometric algorithms; polygons,
non-uniform rational b-splines etc.
- MUD
-
The native file format output
by Mudbox. All entities created in Mudbox are stored using this
format with the exception of the bitmap files associated with paint
layers which are stored separately in a -files directory
using the file formats specified when you create a paint layer.