SceneComposer V3.1.1

• Candera Related Features
• SceneComposer Usability Improvements
• SceneComposer Known Issues

Candera Related Features

Display Renderer Statistics

The Renderer Statistics structure keeps track of per pass data that is relevant to the User. This includes statistics about the metrics of:

This information is presented to the user in a dedicated panel which can be made visible through the "Render Statistic" menu item from the "View" menu. The panel will be displayed by default in the top right region of the SceneComposer user interface. This panel can be moved in any other area, also (Mantis 6037).

Candera Feature Geometry Instancing

With Geometry Instancing Meshes having the same appearance can be rendered with one draw call.

This feature has no visual effect, but it can be observed through Render Statistics.

See also:

Support for BatchOrderCriterion

A new sorting criterion was introduced for render order bins: BatchOrderCriterion (Mantis 6030). BatchOrderCriterion produces a render order containing series of nodes that can then be batched by the Renderer to maximize usage of Geometry Instancing. BatchOrderCriterion has 2 modes of operation:

Occlusion Culling

A new camera render strategy was introduced: OcclusionCulling. When OcclusionCulling render strategy is selected, a new property becomes available in property grid: QueryType.

Default value of QueryType (in case of occlusion culling render strategy) was changed to AnySamplePassedConservative. "Occlusion Culling" Render Strategy option is no longer available on platforms with OpenGL ES API different than 3.0 (Mantis 6059).

Integrate Candera TextNode

For this version we provide a basic implementation: TextNode will be integrated as a new node type, and not as a replacement (full migrations - solution conversions - will not be possible).

Manipulation & rendering

SceneComposer will provide a new 2D node type: TextNode2D. Properties of the new objects:

The TextNode2D will be associated with a BitmapBrushColorBlend effect. The TextNode element in the "Toolbox" panel will create a TextNode2D object having a BitmapBrushColorBlend effect when it will be dragged into the "Scene Editor". Relationship with Translator plugin: the Text property can be edited by Translator plugin.

Photoshop export

Photoshop exporter will export the text layers as TextNode2D objects. TextNode2D objects having BitmapBrushColorBlend effects will be exported instead of RenderNode2D having TextBrushBlend effects. Instead of setting BoundingRectangle property, Size (laying out property) shall be set on TextNode.

Point text is converted to paragraph text upon export. This ensures the bounding rectangle is exported properly and the text has the same position as in Photoshop with pixel accuracy. Alignment support has also been discussed with Candera team, the text will be aligned properly regardless of "Text Laying Out" being enabled.

Solution migration (conversion)

SceneComposer does not offer a conversion from RenderNode2D to TextNode2D.

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SceneComposer Usability Improvements

Adapt SceneComposer to Extended GenericShaderParamSetter

IsPointSpriteActivationEnabled and IsMorphingMeshActivationEnabled flags were added in UniformSetter. When a uniform setter is dragged over a pointsprite or morphing mesh, the corresponding flag will be activated accordingly. Also, the new default solutions contain specialized uniform setters for morphing meshes and pointsprites which are assigned by default.

The uniforms setters on which auto activation is not enabled, from older solutions, must be updated by the user.

Color property of PointSprite object was removed. Instead, a material must be assigned to the PointSprite and the diffuse component will specify the desired color (Mantis 5896).

Vertex Buffer 24 bit Index Export

VertexBuffers can now be converted to indexed buffers of various index sizes (8bit, 16bit or 32 bit index). BufferType configuration property (which had 2 options: ArrayBuffer and IndexBuffer) was removed. "Is Indexed" property was added. If enabled, the vertex buffer will be converted to an index array buffer, by selecting the optimal index size. Therefore, depending on vertex count, an 8bit, 16bit or 32bit index buffer will be created. BufferType property in AssetData section will specify the effective buffer type (Mantis 5408).

Context Menu inside "Generate Asset" View

Inside "Generate Asset Library" the options "Select, Expand All and Collapse All" are available for every item right clicked inside "Scene Tree" side of the view (Mantis 5958).

Browsing through Tabs

A button was added at the end of the tab row. By using it, the user has the possibility to browse through all the tabs from this panel, even if they are not visible (Mantis 5320).

Device Capability

"3D Render API" device capability info was added in "SCHost Information" dialog (Mantis 6215).

Minor Improvements

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SceneComposer Known Issues

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