Getting a mirror to work in any environment

[Frank Verberne]

I used the code from this thread (http://www.worldviz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1303) to create a mirror in the gallery environment. However, when I want to use the mirror in an other environment, it doesn't work anymore. Can somebody explain me why it doesn't work anymore and how I can make it work in any environment (even without an environment)? Or do I have to adjust the mirror for the environment I'm using? If so, how can I do that? Here is my code I'm currently using:

import viz
import socket
import math
import vizmat
import csv
import time
import random

viz.go()

def addMirror(mirror,mat=None):
	#If mirror matrix is not specifed, get matrix of mirror object
	if mat is None:
		mat = mirror.getMatrix()
		
	#Position of mirror
	pos = viz.Vector(mat.getPosition())
	
	#Direction mirror is pointing
	dir = viz.Vector(mat.getForward())
	dir.normalize()

	#Quaternion rotation of mirror
	quat = mat.getQuat()
	
	#Create render texture
	tex = viz.addRenderTexture()
	
	#Create render node for rendering reflection
	lens = viz.addRenderNode(size=[512,512]) #set to [1024,1024] in the lab!
	lens.attachTexture(tex)
	lens.setInheritView(True,viz.POST_MULT)
	lens.disable(viz.CULL_FACE,op=viz.OP_SET_OVERRIDE)
	
	#Setup reflection matrix
	rot = viz.Matrix.quat(quat)
	invRot = rot.inverse()
	lens.setMatrix(viz.Matrix.translate(pos*-1.0)*invRot*viz.Matrix.scale(1,1,-1)*rot*viz.Matrix.translate(pos))
	
	#Setup reflection clip plane
	plane = vizmat.Plane(pos=pos,normal=dir)
	dist = plane.distance([0,0,0])
	lens.clipPlane([-dir[0],-dir[1],-dir[2],dist+0.001])
	
	#Project reflection texture onto mirror
	mirror.texture(tex)
	mirror.texGen(viz.TEXGEN_PROJECT_EYE)
	
#Add gallery environment
#gallery = viz.add('gallery.ive')
environment = viz.add('tut_ground.wrl')

#Create a mirror
mirror = viz.addTexQuad()
mirror.scale(1.3,3,1)
mirror.setPosition([0, 1, 2])
m = viz.Matrix()
m.setPosition(mirror.getPosition(viz.ABS_GLOBAL))
m.setEuler(180,0,0)

#Apply mirror settings to mirror object
addMirror(mirror,m)

#Increase ambient lighting
viz.MainView.getHeadLight().ambient(3,3,3) #adjust avatar lighting

#Create two self avatars, possible: vcc_male.cfg, vcc_female.cfg, male.cfg, male_bbox.cfg, duck.cfg, hand.cfg
avatar1 = viz.add('vcc_male.cfg')
avatar1.setPosition(0.5,0,0) #(Y,Z,X)
avatar2 = viz.add('vcc_female.cfg')
avatar2.setPosition(-0.5,0,0) #(Y,Z,X)

[farshizzo]

Can you be more specific about what doesn't work? I ran your script and it worked fine.

[Frank Verberne]

Originally Posted by farshizzo

Can you be more specific about what doesn't work? I ran your script and it worked fine.

It seems to be that the computer I was testing on was the problem. When I tested it in the lab, all was fine like you say. I don't know why my testing computer has this issue, but it doesn't matter that much if it works in the lab.

[Frank Verberne]

I'm still having problems with the mirror. When I don't adjust the ambient lighting like this:

#Increase ambient lighting
viz.MainView.getHeadLight().ambient(3,3,3)

the mirrorimages of the avatars are very dark. This can be fixed with the code above, but then the skin of a Moroccan avatar I will be using is way to bright. So how can I adjust the mirrorimages of the avatar so that the mirrorimages look exactly like the avatars in front of the mirror?

[farshizzo]

By default Vizard has a light source attached to the head position. So when you look in the mirror the head light is not facing the avatar. You should disable the head light and add a fixed light source. For example, the following code will create a directional light that point downward:

viz.MainView.getHeadLight().disable()
sunlight = viz.addLight()
sunlight.position(0,1,0,0)
sunlight.ambient([0.6]*3)

Also, try reducing the ambient light value. The values range from 0-1, so setting it to 3 will max out the ambient value and make everything look over bright.

[Frank Verberne]

Thanks farshizzo! After trying some things I managed to get the reflection the way I wanted. Putting the light on the position of the mirror seemed to do the trick. Because I have several conditions (where participants view the world through the eyes of the avatar or through a point outside of the body of the avatar) I had to disable the headlight and add a light that pointed on the avatar, which had to be the same as the light on the mirror. Anyway, the problem is solved!