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SOFTIMAGE|XSI Highlight Script
or how to precisely position
the specular highlight on a surface
using a SOFTIMAGE|XSI script.
Copyright © 2000, Guy Rabiller
Highlight Script - 290k
Scenario:
One of the strong points of virtual lightning is to be able to avoid
real world constraints from a set. Here, we want to place precisely
a 'specular highlight' on a surface. Thanks to the power of the SOFTIMAGE|XSI
constraints, I've created this little script wich will help us to
place this specular highlight precisely with the help of a null constrained
on the surface of an object. It's possible to use this technique even
with polygonal objects by 'ShrinkWrapping' a nurbs surface around
it.
Note: You can use this script for other purposes. For example, to
place a reflected object and be able to control precisely the reflexion
impact on the surface
Installation
of the Script
First,
open the ' Script
Editor '.
Click the ' Script
Editor ' Icon
Open' highlight_cp.js '.
Change from the ' Toolbar Panel
' to the
' Palette' and ' Custom Script Panel
'.
In the ' Script Editor
', select all the contents of script (
CTRL + a), then ' Drag & Drop
' it on the ' Custom Script Panel '.
The ' Add Script Command ' panel will appear.
Enter the name which you want to appear on the button in
' Command Name
' and the name which will be used to control the script in
' Command Name For Scripting
The script and its associated Button
are now installed and ready to be used.
Tutorial
Create a primitive ' Get>Primitive>SurfaceSphere
'.
With the Sphere selected, click the button
of command which we have just added.
Note: You should select only one surface at a time. If not, the
script will stop and will inform you of the problem. The same will
happen if you select a polygonal object.
Open the explorer to the object.
You will notice that the Script has created a hierarchy,
whose root is a null which we will
use to us to place the specular hightlight.
Select the null ' sphere_highlight
'.
In the' Selection ' panel, click on ' Property ' and
choose ' Cns Surface '.
Adjust the ' U Location '
and ' V Location ' to precisely place
the null , and thus the specular high
light.
You can also animate these two parameters
if you need to.
You will find another script called '
highlight_cp.js ' with a control panel
where you will be able to choose the type of light you want
to create.
[ rev. 14/09/00 - d/m/y ]
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