4 Rendering an OpenUSD scene
This chapter covers
- Setting up a scene ready for rendering
- Exploring how to get the most out of lighting settings
- Understanding how cameras work in OpenUSD
- Achieving an end result by rendering images from your scene
We created some objects on our stages and referenced other objects to populate our scenes, but you may have noticed that they still look a little flat and unrealistic, even those that have well-made materials added. Further, you may have noticed as you move your viewpoint around the scene that certain angles work better to show off the model, enhancing its appearance and offering a clearer view of the most important details. These are both issues to consider before you reach the final step of rendering an image or animation from your creation and this requires some aesthetic choices.
The solution to the first problem is the addition of some thoughtfully chosen and well-placed lighting that can add depth and atmosphere to a scene, enhancing the fact that they’re three dimensional by highlighting the shape and form of your meshes. Done well, lighting can transform your scene from a lifeless sketch where everything feels a bit like plastic, into anything from a professional looking studio shot, an exterior scene bathed in dawn light, or even a fantastical movie still with magical glowing orbs floating around. If your scene looks dull or unnatural, lighting is your friend.