Introduction
This tutorial provides an overview of Cutter's support for scripting Light Path Expressions
(LPE). Another tutorial,
"RifPlugin: LPE"
explains how LPE's can be conveniently tested without using the RenderMan Controls
window.
Syntax Coloration
Cutter applies syntax coloration to the text of a document with the file extension ".lpe" - a sample of which is shown below. The following lpe's are those defined by RMS19.
trial.lpe
# specular
lpe:(CS<L.>)|(CD<L.>)|(C<RD>[DS]+<L.>)|(C<RD>[DS]*O)
# diffuse
lpe:CD<L.>
# refraction
lpe:(C<T[S]>[DS]+<L.>)|(C<T[S]>[DS]*O)
# shadow
lpe:shadows;C[<.D'collector'><.S'collector'>]<L.>
|
The color scheme can be set in the Prefences window - figure 1.
Figure 1
Popup Menu
A popup menu (right mouse button) can be used to insert one of the standard LPEs. The "Quick Reference" menu item will open Cutter's internal browser with a barebones reminder of the LPE event and scattering tokens. The "Pixar LPE Documentation" menu item will open Pixar's documentation in the external browser.
Figure 2