This folder contains a design document and an image document. If the design document is rendered, it will result in an image very similar to the one supplied. This document demonstrates several important points. First, if your monitor displays 256 colors (or fewer), then you may wish to view the image in gray scale mode. Although color is nice, a black and white image will sometimes look better (more realistic), especially when the dither patterns are apparent. In gray scale mode, the dither patterns usually cannot be seen. You may find it interesting to look at the other supplied images in gray scale mode as well. You can switch between color and gray scale modes using the Finder's "Monitor" Control panel under the Apple menu.
This image looks extremely realistic, especially in gray scale mode. Some people might even mistake it for a digitized photograph. There is a reason for this. The real life objects are well represented by simple geometric shapes, and the light sources which illuminate the image have been positioned realistically. Two lamps have been used to illuminate this image, and this is very important. Although the two lamp fixtures are not visible in the image view, their reflections can be seen in the four pool balls. The two lamps also create the multiple overlapping shadows. These subtle effects are what make the image look real. If the two light sources were removed, then the resulting rendered image would look like a cartoon. Although one light source will usually make an image look very good, two light sources (if used properly) can result in an image which looks incredible. Keep in mind though that each additional light source can increase the rendering time by about 50% or more.
You may have also noticed that each pool ball is partially reflective, and each pool ball can be seen reflecting in the other three. For example, if you could look closely enough at the one-ball, you would see the fourteen-ball reflecting in it. And if you could look closely enough at the fourteen-ball's reflection, you would see the one-ball again. In other words, mirrored objects can see themselves (recursively) in other mirrored objects, and this can get as complicated as you like. If you tell RenderCAD-PRO to compute reflections, it will easily generate these multiple complex reflections automatically.
A few quick words about the design. The pool table is just a green block. Each cue stick is made up of three objects. The pool balls are egg objects, dimensioned so that they are round. The numbers on the balls are textures projected at various angles. These textures were created in a color paint program which could save them as PICT files. The surface properities of the balls have been set to make them partially reflective and very shiny. Each lamp fixture which is above the table is a light source object intersecting with a bell object. Note that the lamps shown in the supplied image are different than than the ones in the design file. As a result, if you render the design file, the resulting image will look slightly different than the supplied one.
