Volumetric scattering

[jeanphi]

Hi,

Just a heads up to tell you I'm mostly there. I just have to finalize the code for non homogeneous media and give a proper interface to access the new functionalities.
The new architecture potential is even higher than I expected. Once the ball will get rolling everything should fall nicely in place and bring many new features and possibilities at once.

Stay tuned, it's coming...

Jeanphi

[dougal2]

Awesome work jeanphi, can't wait

[neo2068]

Really great news!!

[tomb]

Excellent work really looking forward to seeing this in action

[Carbonflux]

All good things, etc...

Great stuff, I never doubted this would emerge

[Meelis]

So cool

[jeanphi]

Hi,

I've pushed the core infrastructure. No scattering is available yet, at this stage it's more for you to test and check that there are no regressions (quality and speed wise). I've not yet converted the GPU rendering interfaces, I'll do so when the CPU interfaces are tested. They will probably change because I'm not satisfied with the inhomogeneous volumes handling.
If you want to prepare exporters for scattering support, it's going to be extremely simple. Scattering volumes will have a material attached to them so all you will have to do is embed a material selector in the volume configuration. I'm going to create a few materials specifically designed for scattering, but they'll obviously be available as standard materials too (and vice versa). Will be quite fun to play with I guess.

Jeanphi

[SATtva]

I thought we'll have a new type of volume in addition to the "clear" one, no?

[jeanphi]

Hi,

Obviously yes, clear will remain as an absorption only volume but there are already more volumes available in the core, they aren't available as object volumes, but all volume regions could easily be made object volumes too.
My plan is to convert the various densities into 3D textures, that way you'll be able to use them for regular materials too (cloud volume might be an interesting one for sure).

Jeanphi

[jeanphi]

Hi,

A new "scatter" material is available it has a Schlick phase function (very close to Henniey Greenstein). Parameters are "color Kd" and "float g", both texturable. It might be interesting to use mixed with a null material to simulate haze.

Jeanphi