mm_sIBL v 1.00
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Please note, due to an problem with the Python engine in Mac Modo, I have been unable to get a robust
and crash free version of the browser GUI to work in OSX. Unfortunately, Modo doesn't currently natively
support the kind of UI controls for scripts that are necessary to build a browser of this sort. I'm not
particulary happy at the prospect of leaving Mac users un-catered for so I'll be investigating whether I
can implement some sort of much simpler UI using Modo's built in controls that would at least allow acces
to the sBL sets in OSX pending a possible fix for the issues with the GUI library that I'm using.
Profuse appologies to all the Mac users, Gwynne.
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What is it?
Browser/Loader for the
sIBL (Smart Image based lighting) system developed at HDR Labs.
Installation:
- Download and extract the mm_sIBL_1-00.zip archive.
- Start Modo if it's not already running
- Press F6
- Navigate to the unzipped directory and double click on 'install_sIBL.py'
- A second file requester will open, navigate back to the directory where you unzipped the installation files and double click on 'mm_sIBLLoader.zip'
- A couple of seconds later an 'Install Complete' dialog should appear. Click OK on that and you're done.
Now you need to obtain some sIBL collections for your sIBL library. You can get these from the
sIBL section of the HDR Labs site. More are available in the
sIBL Collections section of the forum on the site. Also, be sure to check back regulary for the
sIBL Set of the month. Here's a couple of direct linke:
Set up Your library so that each sIBL set's directory is inside the main sIBL library directory like so:
- sIBL_Library
apartment
backlot1
borse2
Ditch_River
empty_room
FJB_halle
Running the browser for the first time:
The first time you run the browser you will need to tell it where your sIBL library/collection is.
- Start Modo if it's not already running
-
either press F5 and type
'@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on
'@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on '@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on '@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on '@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on '@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on '@mm_sIBL.py' (without the quotes) into the dialog, or press F6, navigate to your user scripts directory and double click on mm_sIBL.py. -
A dialog will pop up for you to locate your main sIBL Library/collection directory:
Browser description:
-
Preset thumbnail display
-
Preset title, location and author information plus description
-
Elements supported by the currently elected preset
-
List of presets in the sIBL library
-
Settings for the various elements supported by the currently selected preset
-
Switches between the main browser and the preferences display. Currently preferences only contains a button to rescan the main sIBL collection directory. If you add new sIBL sets to your directory you will need to use the button in the preferences section to update Modo's list of sIBL presets.
Known Issues:
- The spin control for the background dome radius does not currently allow editing via the keyboard, you must either use the buttons next to the control, or click in the control and use the scroll wheel in your mouse. This is a bug in the Python library used to build the browser. It's a known issue that has been fixed. As soon as an updated version of the library is available I'll post a fix.
So How exactly does it work?
Each sIBL set in the library supports one or more of the following:
- HDR environment map
- HDR Reflection map
- High resolution background image
- Sun or Key light
In Modo, the environment HDR is added as an environment material, reflection and background images are mapped to 'skydome' spheres and where specified in the sIBL collection the Sun or Key light is placed to match the main light source in the environment image. Existing lights in the scen may be left as is, be turned of or deleted (kill) via the setting in the browser.
For more information, see the
sIBL section of the HDR Labs website.
For Bug reports, problems and suggestions, use the
mm_sIBL section of the Modonize forum