With PBR graphics launched in Second Life a couple months ago, we're starting to see it appear as a feature in commercial products available in the virtual world economy. One of the first I happened to notice was the Physically Based Rendering-based mirror effect in this bathroom sink vanity from longtime sponsoring partner Dutchie Design.
For SL content creators, here's a tutorial for adding the mirror effect to your own content, with a YouTube walkthrough from Feorie Frimon (above) and some tips from Dutchie:
Start with a reflection probe: This invisible box or sphere takes an image of its surroundings, like a room, and uses it as the basis for reflections on shiny surfaces and bouncing light effects. And the best part: anyone can make these themselves and add them to their pre-PBR houses too. It's easier than you think.
How to create a reflection probe:
Create a prim box, go to the Features tab and choose Reflection Probe.
Two important things: Go to the Build Menu, to Options, and choose Select Reflection Probes.
Also hit Control-Alt-T to see transparent objects. It will be hell to grab the reflection probe otherwise.
Then, stretch that box to fit your room like a glove, and watch as your space comes to life with mesmerizing reflections and bouncing light effects.
How to create a mirror with reflection probes:
It works differently, because your avatar has to be outside the reflection probe to be reflected.
In the case of this sink vanity, I made a reflection probe box and linked them together.
I also made the texture and shininess on the mirror surfaces blank, and set the Glossiness and Environments both to 255. Playing around with the size and width of the reflection probe at some point gives you a reasonable reflection.
Not perfect by any means, it only updates every 10 seconds or so, it's a bit blurry and distorted, and the distance is off. But its really fun and great for pictures.
I wrote "mirror effect" as opposed to "mirror", because as Dutchie notes, it's not (yet) a perfect real time reflection. (Then again, most AAA video games don't bother adding any mirror reflection.)
While many (most?) SLers are waiting for PBR to go become part of the Firestorm viewer, Dutchie argues it's worth trying now. (And a PBR build is available now through the in-world Firestorm Preview Group.)
"Everything looks prettier in the PBR viewer," she tells me. "Whether it's your old favorite furniture or your avatars skin, everything looks a tad more dazzling. So, no need to replace all your furniture, your stuff just got a makeover.
"Once you've experienced it, going back to plain old mirrors is like going from color TV to black and white."
As for Dutchie Design's mirror, it's available for free until the end of this month: To get a copy, teleport to her in-world store and subscribe to her group. [Teleport SLurl to Dutchie Designs here]
Now for this to actually work do we need to be on the second life viewer or can we use the firestorm viewer?
Posted by: Ryder Haze | Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 07:49 AM
I've been experimenting with PBR and making clothes for a couple of months now. Clothing is really different than furniture and buildings, because it MOVES. It's important for wearers to know that their new outfit is going to look drastically different as they move between sims (or walk into a building with a probe around it), so I'm doing my best to educate current/potential customers with lots of photos and videos on my Flickr. So far, it's all really fun!
Posted by: Dana Enyo | Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 02:49 PM