Lecture Notes

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·          Surface materials

o        After assigning a predefined surface style, the color is displayed as a value reflecting what appears to be a surface texture instead of a color.  For example, if the user selects glass, the surface style will display brick, textured.

·          Color

o        Luminance-how much white and black is present in a color.

o        Hue-measurement of the degree of pure color present.

o        All colors can be diagramed as one cone placed on top of another which is inverted.  The circle where the two cone bases meet is the classic color wheel, with pure colors around the outside.  As one moves toward the center of the wheel, the colors approach grey.  Pure grey is located at the center of the circle.  As one moves in the positive z dimension colors approach white.  Movement toward negative z values represents the increase of black in the color.

§          Upon examination of the provided surface styles, and noticing their lack of visual appeal, perhaps the best form of representation involves changing their relative colors more toward the grey scale, thus more closely resembling the typical monochromatic architectural model.

·          Selection options

o        Under the edit menu, one has the option to select by either ghosted or non-ghosted objects.

o        The user can also choose the select by option also under the edit menu which will invoke another dialogue box allowing the user to select by object color, surface style, object type, model type, ect.

·          Attributes palate

o        Render attribute

o        Situational attribute

§          Shadow casting vs. non-shadow casting

§          Receives vs. does not receive shadows

§          Render as wireframe

·          When using this option, the user can specify line width.

·          Lights

o        Ambient light level and color.

§          If the whole model is too dark, the user can easily correct this by increasing the ambient light level.   While this will increase the lightness of the entire model, the contrast is not adjusted.

§          Adding an additional light produces a more realistic result, however, this adds much more complexity to the model.

o        After a light has been created, one can place it in the desired location by using one of two methods. 1) using plan and elevation views of the model to accurately place the light, or 2) using the cone of vision to produce the same result.

§          Note:  make sure the light is checked as being visible in the light palate.

o        Light glow.

When this option is activated, a cone of light associated with the source becomes visible.