9.5.2

458 • CHAPTER 7
OBJECTS MENU • MANAGING YOUR ENVIRONMENT • 459
You can use the Environment object with volumetric shaders. Plugins or the
optional PyroCluster module can be used in this way to create effects such
as smoke and fog. Simply apply the shader to the Environment object as a
texture.
Attribute manager settings
Object Properties
Environment Color
Environment color can be useful for increasing the color contrast — for example, you can use it to
introduce complementary colors into the scene. Perhaps you will set a dark blue to contrast with a
warm yellow window glow as well as to simulate night. Or imagine a moonlit scene — you can enhance
the bright yellow moonlight by using a dark purple environment.
Denes the color of the environment light. The environment light illuminates the scene evenly from all
sides to simulate the background light of a daytime sky or the indirect lighting of a room light.
Environment Strength
This parameter is set to 0% by default. If you want to simulate environment light, increase the value
to, say, 10% for architectural scenes. However, keep in mind that increasing the strength lowers the
contrast in the scene. For this reason you may nd you get better results using omni lights instead
(with shadows off).
Enable Fog
Switches fog on or off.
Color, Strength
These parameters dene the color and brightness of the fog.