All data layers, including MVert/MEdge/MFace, are now managed as custom
data layers. The pointers like Mesh.mvert, Mesh.dvert or Mesh.mcol are
still used of course, but allocating, copying or freeing these arrays
should be done through the CustomData API.
Work in progress documentation on this is here:
http://mediawiki.blender.org/index.php/BlenderDev/BlenderArchitecture/CustomData
Replaced TFace by MTFace:
This is the same struct, except that it does not contain color, that now
always stays separated in MCol. This was not a good design decision to
begin with, and it is needed for adding multiple color layers later. Note
that this does mean older Blender versions will not be able to read UV
coordinates from the next release, due to an SDNA limitation.
Removed DispListMesh:
This now fully replaced by DerivedMesh. To provide access to arrays of
vertices, edges and faces, like DispListMesh does. The semantics of the
DerivedMesh.getVertArray() and similar functions were changed to return
a pointer to an array if one exists, or otherwise allocate a temporary
one. On releasing the DerivedMesh, this temporary array will be removed
automatically.
Removed ssDM and meshDM DerivedMesh backends:
The ssDM backend was for DispListMesh, so that became obsolete automatically.
The meshDM backend was replaced by the custom data backend, that now figures
out which layers need to be modified, and only duplicates those.
This changes code in many places, and overall removes 2514 lines of code.
So, there's a good chance this might break some stuff, although I've been
testing it for a few days now. The good news is, adding multiple color and
uv layers should now become easy.
A full detailed description of this will be done later... is several days
of work. Here's a summary:
Render:
- Full cleanup of render code, removing *all* globals and bad level calls
all over blender. Render module is now not called abusive anymore
- API-fied calls to rendering
- Full recode of internal render pipeline. Is now rendering tiles by
default, prepared for much smarter 'bucket' render later.
- Each thread now can render a full part
- Renders were tested with 4 threads, goes fine, apart from some lookup
tables in softshadow and AO still
- Rendering is prepared to do multiple layers and passes
- No single 32 bits trick in render code anymore, all 100% floats now.
Writing images/movies
- moved writing images to blender kernel (bye bye 'schrijfplaatje'!)
- made a new Movie handle system, also in kernel. This will enable much
easier use of movies in Blender
PreviewRender:
- Using new render API, previewrender (in buttons) now uses regular render
code to generate images.
- new datafile 'preview.blend.c' has the preview scenes in it
- previews get rendered in exact displayed size (1 pixel = 1 pixel)
3D Preview render
- new; press Pkey in 3d window, for a panel that continuously renders
(pkey is for games, i know... but we dont do that in orange now!)
- this render works nearly identical to buttons-preview render, so it stops
rendering on any event (mouse, keyboard, etc)
- on moving/scaling the panel, the render code doesn't recreate all geometry
- same for shifting/panning view
- all other operations (now) regenerate the full render database still.
- this is WIP... but big fun, especially for simple scenes!
Compositor
- Using same node system as now in use for shaders, you can composit images
- works pretty straightforward... needs much more options/tools and integration
with rendering still
- is not threaded yet, nor is so smart to only recalculate changes... will be
done soon!
- the "Render Result" node will get all layers/passes as output sockets
- The "Output" node renders to a builtin image, which you can view in the Image
window. (yes, output nodes to render-result, and to files, is on the list!)
The Bad News
- "Unified Render" is removed. It might come back in some stage, but this
system should be built from scratch. I can't really understand this code...
I expect it is not much needed, especially with advanced layer/passes
control
- Panorama render, Field render, Motion blur, is not coded yet... (I had to
recode every single feature in render, so...!)
- Lens Flare is also not back... needs total revision, might become composit
effect though (using zbuffer for visibility)
- Part render is gone! (well, thats obvious, its default now).
- The render window is only restored with limited functionality... I am going
to check first the option to render to a Image window, so Blender can become
a true single-window application. :)
For example, the 'Spare render buffer' (jkey) doesnt work.
- Render with border, now default creates a smaller image
- No zbuffers are written yet... on the todo!
- Scons files and MSVC will need work to get compiling again
OK... thats what I can quickly recall. Now go compiling!
had to add a new feature to the 3d window, to collect "after draw" objects,
which get drawn as last, after a clear of the zbuffer.
Same method can be used for nice OpenGL transparent draw, the system is
ready for it, do that later.
The huge commit is caused by cleaning up globals from struct Global. Many
variables were unused or just not needed anymore. Did that to move the ugly
G.zbuf to where it belongs, in the View3D space struct. :)
coordinates.
Known problem: Pin status bleeds a bit, so new subdivided UVs around
points that were original pinned can end up pinned in the end. Could be
fixed, or could just drop pinned status entirely.
Also, when gathering meshes, it doesn't add materials twice, so it's harder to bust the 16 materials limit.
to activate it. Added comment in code how to enable it for those who
like to play (search for translu)
What doesnt work - according to me not satisfying - is fact that radiosity
hemicubes alias badly on short distances, so interior light doesn't spread
well.
- the link order for Blender has changed, the libradiosity.a has to be moved after the librender.a (obviously for a new dependency!). Check blender/source/Makefile
- there's a new file: blender/source/radiosity/intern/source/radrender.c
Here's what the new code does:
Using the core routines of the Radiosity tool, each renderface with 'emit material' and each renderface with 'radio material flag' set will be used to itterate to a global illumination solution. Per face with high energy (emit) little images are rendered (hemicubes) which makes up lookup tables to 'shoot' its energy to other faces.
In the end this energy - color - then is directly added to the pixel colors while rendering, Gouraud shaded.
Since it's done with renderfaces, it works for all primitives in Blender.
What is doesn't do yet:
- take into account textured color of faces. Currently it uses the material RGB color for filtering distributed energy.
- do some smart pre-subdividing. I don't know yet if this is useful... Right now it means that you'll have to balance the models yourself, to deliver small faces where you want a high accuracy for shadowing.
- unified render (is at my todo list)
User notes:
- per Material you want to have included in radiosity render: set the 'radio' flag. For newly added Materials it is ON by default now.
- the Ambient slider in Material controls the amount of radiosity color.
- for enabling radiosity rendering, set the F10 "Radio" button.
- the Radiosity buttons now only show the relevant radiosity rendering options. Pressing "collect meshes" will show all buttons again.
- for meshes, the faces who use Radio material always call the 'autosmooth' routine, this to make sure sharp angles (like corners in a room) do not have shared vertices. For some smooth models (like the raptor example) you might increase the standard smoothing angle from 30 to 45 degree.
Technical notes:
- I had to expand the renderface and rendervertices for it... shame on me! Faces have one pointer extra, render vertices four floats...
- The size of the hemicubes is now based at the boundbox of the entire scene (0.002 of it). This should be more reliable... to be done
- I fixed a bug in radiosity render, where sometimes backfaces where lit
In general:
I'd like everyone to play a bit with this system. It's not easy to get good results with it. A simple "hit and go" isn't there... maybe some good suggestions?
(adding)
#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
#include <config.h>
#endif
also the Makefile.in's were from previous patch adding
the system depend stuff to configure.ac
Kent
--
mein@cs.umn.edu
