How to Use Environment Tools

Notes: The Environment Tools are used to set:- the skybox - to configure the cloud cover the weather - from rain to snow to clear. Weather can also be set from the Main Menu - Settings options and by using Session rules the wind speed - which will affect the swaying motion of Speedtrees the snowline - the altitude for assets that have a snow covered appearance option the date - for assets that have different seasonal options the lighting - the light levels and colours through a 24 hour period the water colour and water surface effects (smooth, rough, etc) the road traffic - enabled/disabled the world origin (geographic coordinates and altitude)

The Time of Day is set using Session rules such as Startup Option Rule and Time and Rate Rule

The World Origin and Date settings are used to set the current season e.g. January = Summer in the Southern Hemisphere and Winter in the Northern Hemisphere

The Environment Tool

Open the Environment Tools Editor from the Surveyor Main Menu as shown on the left. This will open the Environment Properties Window as shown below.

Lighting

The Lighting Tools control the ambient and sun colours. This tool tab is opened by default whenever the Environmental Editor is opened.

Light and Time

The dial shown in the window is a 24 hour clock that is used to set the lighting conditions at any time of the day and night. Steps: Click the Diurnal Cycle button to set the clock running through the full 24 hour cycle in just 30 seconds Click it again to stop the cycle The scene shown in Surveyor will display the lighting conditions that correspond to the time on the clock as the hand sweeps around. You can select a specific time by dragging the clock pointer arm to the corresponding position on the dial.

Setting the Light Conditions

The ring around the dial contains a number of green dots. Each dot is a reference point or a control point. It sets the specific Red Green and Blue colour values for the light at that particular time.

Steps: Select, by clicking, one of the green points around the ring The clock dial will immediately point to the selected dot and time The point will be highlighted and the RGB Wheels will display the Red Green and Blue values that have been set at that point

Ambient Color - directional lighting, mainly affects hue of scenery objects Sun Color - ambient lighting, mainly affects the terrain