How to make a glass window in Vizard

[Frank Verberne]

Hi,

How can I create a real like glass window in Vizard? I already have a mirror that gives the reflection, but to have a nice glass window you'll have to be able to see through the glass (it has to be transparent), but also see your reflection (it has to have some reflection). Does anyone have any suggestions how I could accomplish this?

[farshizzo]

You can use the node.alpha command to set the mirror transparency. This will still work with the mirror code you have. You can also use a static reflection texture instead of a real-time reflection, this is what most people do.

[Frank Verberne]

I've tried the node.alpha command, but it doesn't work with my mirrorsurface. The texquad becomes transparent, but the reflection texture doesn't. So it tried tex.alpha(0.5) but that didn't work. Is there any way I can modify the mirrorsurface in the code below so that it reflects and is transparent? How would the static reflection texture work?

import viz

viz.go()

import viz
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=[1024,1024])
	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')

#Use existing painting as mirror and specify the matrix
mirrorsurface = viz.addTexQuad()
mirrorsurface.alpha(.5)
mirrorsurface.setPosition([0, 1, 2]) #Y,Z,X
mirrorsurfacerotation = [0,0,0] #rotation around the Z,Y,X axes
mirrorsurface.rotate(mirrorsurfacerotation) 
m = viz.Matrix()
m.setPosition(mirrorsurface.getPosition(viz.ABS_GLOBAL))
m.setEuler(mirrorsurfacerotation[0]-180,-mirrorsurfacerotation[1], mirrorsurfacerotation[2]) #Z,X,Y

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

#Increase ambient lighting
viz.MainView.getHeadLight().ambient(1,1,1)

[Jerry]

BTW, if you want to see yourself in the mirror you can do this:

import viz
viz.go()

man = viz.add('male.cfg')
man.translate(0,0,4)

link = viz.link(viz.MainView,man)
link.preTrans([0,-1.8,0])

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=[1024,1024])
	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')

#Use existing painting as mirror and specify the matrix
mirrorsurface = viz.addTexQuad()
mirrorsurface.alpha(.2)
mirrorsurface.scale(.99,.74,1)
mirrorsurface.setPosition([-.329, 1.8, 2.9]) #Y,Z,X
mirrorsurfacerotation = [0,0,0] #rotation around the Z,Y,X axes
mirrorsurface.rotate(mirrorsurfacerotation) 
m = viz.Matrix()
m.setPosition(mirrorsurface.getPosition(viz.ABS_GLOBAL))
m.setEuler(mirrorsurfacerotation[0]-180,-mirrorsurfacerotation[1], mirrorsurfacerotation[2]) #Z,X,Y

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

#Increase ambient lighting
viz.MainView.getHeadLight().ambient(1,1,1)

[Frank Verberne]

@ Jerry: I already know how to see myself in the mirror. But I want to create a glass window where you can see through, but also reflects, like a real life glass window. So what I want to make is a transparent mirror. The problem is that I don't know how to make the reflection texture transparent.

[farshizzo]

Using the following code makes the mirror semi-transparent for me:

mirrorsurface.alpha(.2)
mirrorsurface.appearance(viz.TEXMODULATE)

[Frank Verberne]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for!

I started playing around with two mirrors facing each other, but then the reflection of mirror1 is not reflected in mirror 2. Instead, you'll see a black square at the position of mirror2 in the reflection of mirror1. And when you look into mirror2, you'll see a black square at the position of mirror1. Both mirror reflections work well for the rest of the environment. I was wondering if it is possible at all to fix this. I don't really need the solution, I just want to know if it is possible. But if the solution is quite simple, then I'm all ears (or eyes).

[Frank Verberne]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for!

I started playing around with two mirrors facing each other, but then the reflection of mirror1 is not reflected in mirror 2. Instead, you'll see a black square at the position of mirror2 in the reflection of mirror1. And when you look into mirror2, you'll see a black square at the position of mirror1. Both mirror reflections work well for the rest of the environment. I was wondering if it is possible at all to fix this. I don't really need the solution, I just want to know if it is possible. But if the solution is quite simple, then I'm all ears (or eyes).

I also noticed a significant framerate drop when an avatar and it's reflection are in view. Is there any way the algorithm for the reflection texture can be modified so that the framerate won't drop (as much)? Now the drop is from 72 fps to 36 fps.

[chris_user]

hope anyone can help me with my problem;
when I apply the mirroring effect, the mirroring looks fine, but the reflected model is way too bright.

this line is the reason for the good looking mirror effect, but it also blows out the placed model if you take a direct look

viz.MainView.getHeadLight().ambient(1,1,1)

is there a possibility to exclude the effect for the model?
hope anybody can help

thanks in advance

[VHILRA]

I am also having a lot of trouble trying to implement a mirror. In this version I cannot seem to get the mirror to reflect avatars:

import viz
import time
import vizact

viz.go()

clock = 0
PERSON_HEIGHT = 1.5
GRAVITY = 9.81
OFFSET = 0 #Offset due to the room model load
print OFFSET

light = viz.MainView.getHeadLight()
light.disable()
roomGroup = None
viz.clearcolor(0.1,0.1,0.3)

labRoom = viz.add('LabRoom.ive')
labRoom.setPosition(0, OFFSET, 0)

#Correct view height
viz.MainView.eyeheight(0)

##---------------------------------------------------------------------
##Configure tracking
##---------------------------------------------------------------------
##Orientation of the HMD
#isense = viz.add('intersense.dls')
##isense.addTracker() #adding the tracker #Commented out because of the dls file (instead of a dle
#view = viz.MainView #defining the main view
#vrpn = viz.add('vrpn7.dle') #Interface with PPT computer
#PPT_HOSTNAME = '171.64.33.43' #PPT IP address
##Adding the tracker to the orientation
#headMarker = vrpn.addTracker('PPT0@' + PPT_HOSTNAME, 0)
##Linking the orientation to the main view
#headOri = viz.link(isense, view, mask = viz.LINK_ORI, priority = 0)
##Linking the PPT to the mainview
#headPos = viz.link(headMarker, view, mask = viz.LINK_POS, priority = 0)
##Specify HMD model
#nvis.nvisorSX111()


#--------------------------------------------------------
#Mirror
#--------------------------------------------------------
REFLECT_MASK = viz.addNodeMask()

def addMirror(mirror,mat=None,eye=viz.BOTH_EYE):

#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])
lens.attachTexture(tex)
lens.setInheritView(True,viz.POST_MULT)
lens.disable(viz.CULL_FACE,op=viz.OP_OVERRIDE)
if eye == viz.LEFT_EYE:
lens.disable(viz.RENDER_RIGHT)
mirror.disable(viz.RENDER_RIGHT)
elif eye == viz.RIGHT_EYE:
lens.disable(viz.RENDER_LEFT)
mirror.disable(viz.RENDER_LEFT)
mirror.renderToAllRenderNodesExcept([lens])

#Setup reflection matrix
rot = viz.Matrix.quat(quat)
invRot = rot.inverse()
lens.setMatrix(viz.Matrix.translate(-pos)*invRot*viz.Matrix.scale(1,1,-1)*rot*viz.Matrix.translate(pos))

#Setup reflection clip plane
s = viz.sign(viz.Vector(dir) * viz.Vector(pos))
plane = vizmat.Plane(pos=pos,normal=dir)
dist = plane.distance([0,0,0])
lens.clipPlane([dir[0],dir[1],dir[2],s*dist-0.01])

#Project reflection texture onto mirror
mirror.texture(tex)
mirror.texGen(viz.TEXGEN_PROJECT_EYE)

viz.startlayer(viz.QUADS)

#Hardcoding the mirror's plane
viz.texcoord(0,0)
viz.vertex( 6.35 , OFFSET + 1.4 , -3.1)
viz.texcoord(0,1)
viz.vertex( 6.35 , OFFSET + 2.85, -3.1)
viz.texcoord(1,1)
viz.vertex( 2.8 , OFFSET + 2.85, -3.1)
viz.texcoord(1,0)
viz.vertex( 2.8 , OFFSET + 1.4 , -3.1)

mirrorRight = viz.endlayer( )
mirrorLeft = mirrorRight.copy()

#specify the matrix
m = viz.Matrix()
m.setPosition([0.25,1,0.25])
m.setEuler(0 , 0 ,0) #This determines which way the mirror is facing

#Apply mirror settings to mirror object
addMirror(mirrorRight,m,viz.RIGHT_EYE)
addMirror(mirrorLeft,m,viz.LEFT_EYE)

#Increase ambient lighting
#viz.MainView.getHeadLight().ambient(1,1,1)

#--------------------------------------------------------
#Create a self avatar
#--------------------------------------------------------
avatar = viz.add('vcc_female.cfg')
avatar.setScale(1.7,1.7,1.7)

#Link avatar body to viewpoint
avatarLink = viz.link(viz.MainView,avatar)
avatarLink.setPos([None,0,None]) #Keep avatar on floor
avatarLink.setEuler([None,0,0]) #Only update avatar yaw
avatar.setMask(viz.LEFT_MASK|viz.RIGHT_MASK,mode=v iz.MASK_REMOVE) #Only draw avatar in mirror

#Link avatar head to viewpoint
head = avatar.getBone('Bip01 Head')
head.lock()
viz.link(viz.MainView,head,mask=viz.LINK_ORI)

avatar2 = viz.add('vcc_female.cfg')

avatar2.setPosition(4, .1, 0)
avatar2.setScale(1.7,1.7,1.7)