RMS 3
Using Custom Light Source Shaders

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Introduction

This tutorial demonstrates how to assign a custom light source shader to a Maya light when using Pixar's RenderMan Studio release 3. The "shd_distant" shader used in this tutorial is taken from listing 5 of the tutorial "RSL:Directional Light Source Shaders". The reader may wish to review that tutorial because it provides an introduction to the writing of directional light source shaders. The source code for a simple light source shader called "shd_distant" is given below.

shd_distant.sl

light
shd_distant(float  intensity = 1;
            color  lightcolor = color(1,1,1);
            string shadowname = "";
            float  width = 1;
            float  samples = 16 )
{
vector direction = vector "shader" (0,0,1);
solar(direction, 0.0) {
    Cl = intensity * lightcolor;
    if(shadowname != "")
        Cl *= 1 - shadow(shadowname, Ps, "samples", samples, 
                        "width", width);
    }
}

Compile the source code and save the .slo file in a location convenient for use with Maya.

Assigning the Shader

1     Add a new light to the Maya scene then choose "Add Custom Light Shader" - figure 1.

Figure 1

In the "Extra RenderMan Attributes" panel select the checker box. The attribute editor for a RenderMan shader will open.

Figure 2

Standard Shadow Map

2.1     Browse for your shader. Note the parameter named "shadowname" has been automatically assigned a TCL expression.

    [passinfo rmanShadowPass filename -output 0 -validate 1]

Figure 3

For a shadow pass to be rendered the "Use Depth Map Shadows" checkbox must be selected - figure 4.

Figure 4

Deep Shadow Map

2.2     Make sure the "Use Depth Map Shadows" checkbox is not selected. Go to the attribute editor of the custom light shader and right-mouse click in the text field of the shadow map (figure 5) and choose "Create DeepShadow".

Figure 5

To double check if the appropriate shadow pass will be rendered open the "RenderMan Controls..." window - it is available from the main RenderMan menu. Select the "Pass Settings Tree" option from the "View" menu - figure 6.

Figure 6

The "DeepShadow" pass should be listed - figure 7. It may be necessary to choose "Refresh" from the "View" menu in order to update the display of the "pass settings tree".

Figure 7

2.3     Select "Add Shadow Attrs" from the Attributes->RenderMan menu - figure 8.

Figure 8

Once again check the "Pass Settings Tree" to ensure the deep shadow pass will be rendered.