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Introduction,
or
"What's The Problem?"
If you're a real world photographer and want to take a photo with a mirror involved, of course you can see what the mirror reflects, in real time.
Not so in Poser's 3D world where you only can guess because the preview doesn't show the reflection.
You only see the final output if you render, or at least do a "Raytrace Preview" window check.
To make scene creation a little easier, and camera positioning more predictable, I invented the "Raytrace Helper":
It is a simple figure which can easily be parented to any reflective surface (mirrors, anything glossy and reflective)
It has two interconnected "tubes/cones" which represent the reflection path.
- Point the RED cone towards the object you want to see reflected in the mirror. (You have to do this manually because the Poser function "Point At..." is flawed)
- Now position your main camera so that it looks at the blue "crosshairs" and is INSIDE of the GREEN tube
How To Use:
(for the sake of brevity the "Ray Trace Helper" is abreviated to "RTH" from now on!)
The components:
-
The "RTHBody" actor:
This is used to position the RTH in case that the prop or surface you want it to parent to has non-zero origins (you can see this in several props who load in awkward angles)
The RTH "1.3. Parent RTH to Mirror" script tries to align the RTH to non-zero angles and offsets, but I can't predict all crazy angles and dangles in which some props were created, so you may need to readjust.
This is what the "RTHBody" actor is meant for.
-
The "CROSSHAIRS" actor:
This is the blue "crosshairs" at the base of the RTH.
You can only move it left/right/up/down relative to the RTH orientation.
This is intentional!
If you have your "RTHBody" aligned correctly you can move the "crosshairs across the surface to the position you want.
The "crosshairs" will stick to the object's (i.e. the mirror's) surface.
-
The "GREEN TUBE" actor:
Note that you can not move this actor!
It is controlled only by the angles of the "Red TUBE" actor (see below)
It also has the custom "Mirror Camera" parented to it (see below-below)
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The "RED TUBE" actor:
This is where the action takes place:
You point this red tube at the object you want to see in the mirror.
This can be any prop, a figure's face, or whatever.
- For a raw targeting you can use the tube.
(If the target is out of reach of the tube, you can adjust it's length)
- For very precise positioning:
Use the thin "RED Wire" inside of the "Red Tube". It represents the exact centre of the refraction path.
The more precise you point the "RED Wire" and look along the "GREEN Wire" inside the Green Tube with your camera, the more predictable your results will be.
SUMMARY:
(In a nutshell)
-
Load your mirror prop, or whatever reflective surface you want to apply it to.
-
Load the one RTH.
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Select the mirror or prop that you want to apply it to. (IMPORTANT!)
-
Run the "1.3. Parent RTH to Mirror" script.
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Point the RED tube towards the object you want to see reflected in the mirror.
-
Position your camera as described above.
-
Do a preview render to check if you've set it up all right.
EXTRA:
• If you want to load more than one RTH:
-
Load your mirror prop(s), or whatever reflective surface(s) you want to apply it to.
-
Load the FIRST RTH.
-
Select the mirror or prop that you want to apply it to. (IMPORTANT!)
-
Run the "1.3. Parent RTH to Mirror" script.
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Load the SECOND (or next) RTH.
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Select the mirror or prop that you want to apply it to. (IMPORTANT!)
-
Run the "1.3. Parent RTH to Mirror" script.
-
--> REPEAT steps 5 to 7 to add and parent more RTHs.
• If you want to "chain" a succession of RTHs:
(e.g. for a mirror cabinet)
-
load all mirrors and RTHs. Parent the RTHs to their respective mirrors.
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Start with the LAST RTH in the line (counting from your camera position)
Point the RED tube at the target.
-
Now move to the next RTH in the line.
Adjust it's RED tube so that it PERFECTLY aligns with the GREEN tube of the previous RTH.
The more precise you adjust this, the better the results will be.
(the "Wires" inside of the tubes are your friend here)
Like this, work your way down the chain until you've reached the first RTH.
Position your camera.
Now you should be able to get reflections along the whole path you've set up, finally showing your target object.
I know this is a complicated procedure.
Alas, it's the only way to get predictable results without guessing, and a hundred preview renders.
The RTH is just a simple tool to help you in getting better results, a little easier and faster.
Please note that this is still a "Beta" product!
Any suggestions on how to improve this are very welcome.
END OF MANUAL
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