1.2 Getting Started

You know you have been raytracing too long when ...
... You actually read all the documentation that comes with programs.

-- AmaltheaJ5

The beginning tutorial explains step by step how to use POV-Ray's scene description language to create your own scenes. The use of almost every feature of POV-Ray's language is explained in detail. We will learn basic things like placing cameras and light sources. We will also learn how to create a large variety of objects and how to assign different textures to them. The more sophisticated features like radiosity, interior, media and atmospheric effects will be explained in detail.

Section Contents

• 1.2.1 Our First Image
  • 1.2.1.1 Understanding POV-Ray's Coordinate System
  • 1.2.1.2 Adding Standard Include Files
  • 1.2.1.3 Adding a Camera
  • 1.2.1.4 Describing an Object
  • 1.2.1.5 Adding Texture to an Object
  • 1.2.1.6 Defining a Light Source
• 1.2.2 Basic Shapes
  • 1.2.2.1 Box Object
  • 1.2.2.2 Cone Object
  • 1.2.2.3 Cylinder Object
  • 1.2.2.4 Plane Object
  • 1.2.2.5 Torus Object
• 1.2.3 CSG Objects
  • 1.2.3.1 What is CSG?
  • 1.2.3.2 CSG Union
  • 1.2.3.3 CSG Intersection
  • 1.2.3.4 CSG Difference
  • 1.2.3.5 CSG Merge
  • 1.2.3.6 CSG Pitfalls
    • 1.2.3.6.1 Co-incident Surfaces
• 1.2.4 The Light Source
  • 1.2.4.1 The Pointlight Source
  • 1.2.4.2 The Spotlight Source
  • 1.2.4.3 The Cylindrical Light Source
  • 1.2.4.4 The Area Light Source
  • 1.2.4.5 The Ambient Light Source
  • 1.2.4.6 Light Source Specials
    • 1.2.4.6.1 Using Shadowless Lights
    • 1.2.4.6.2 Assigning an Object to a Light Source
    • 1.2.4.6.3 Using Light Fading
• 1.2.5 Simple Texture Options
  • 1.2.5.1 Surface Finishes
  • 1.2.5.2 Adding Bumpiness
  • 1.2.5.3 Creating Color Patterns
  • 1.2.5.4 Pre-defined Textures
• 1.2.6 Using the Camera
  • 1.2.6.1 Using Focal Blur
• 1.2.7 POV-Ray Coordinate System
  • 1.2.7.1 Transformations
    • 1.2.7.1.1 Translate
    • 1.2.7.1.2 Scale
    • 1.2.7.1.3 Rotate
    • 1.2.7.1.4 Matrix
  • 1.2.7.2 Transformation Order
  • 1.2.7.3 Inverse Transform
  • 1.2.7.4 Transform Identifiers
  • 1.2.7.5 Transforming Textures and Objects
• 1.2.8 Setting POV-Ray Options
  • 1.2.8.1 Command Line Switches
  • 1.2.8.2 Using INI Files
  • 1.2.8.3 Using the POVINI Environment Variable

More about "radiosity"

• 1.3.7 Radiosity in 1.3 Advanced Features
• 2.3.4 Radiosity in 2.3 Scene Settings
• 2.8.13.1 Radiosity in 2.8.13 Global Settings

More about "interior"

• 2.6.1 Interior in 2.6 Interior & Media & Photons
• 2.8.9.3 Interior in 2.8.9 Object Modifiers

More about "media"

• 2.6.2 Media in 2.6 Interior & Media & Photons
• 2.8.11 Media in 2.8 Quick Reference