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4-2. Toonline Plugin


1. Overview

A toonline system plug-in draws the line of an anime tone on the outline of an object, the border of a surface, etc., and component two or more plug-ins, such as shader and a pixel filter.

In unReal, the outline detection of 2D base is done, data are collected by shader at the time of the rendering of Lightwave, a buffer is generated inside, and it has become the mechanism of processing the buffer with a pixelfilter and drawing an outline.
Therefore, even if the number of objects and the number of polygons of a scene increase, the consumption memory by the side of unReal and a processing speed do not change so much, but if a rendering resolution goes up, a consumption memory and a processing speed will be affected.

  • EdgeTracer [Shader]
  • EdgeTracerNode [Node]

    • is set to surface which wants to draw a line as directions for use, and a buffer is generated.
  • ToonTracer [PixelFilter]

    • sets up the line to a buffer.

    Moreover, there is support plugin.
  • BrushNode [Node]

    • The brush which draws a line for every surface is customizable by using it.

  • MakeCluster [Modeler]
  • SelectCluster [Modeler]

    • The boundary line in a polygon unit can be set up by using it by modeler.


    - Cautions -

    • The set of EdgeTracer

      • Please set only one for either EdgeTracer shader or an EdgeTracer node to one surface.
      EdgeTracer shader and an EdgeTracer node are set to one surface.
      Or when two or more EdgeTracer shader is set to one surface or two or more EdgeTracer nodes are set, it does not operate normally.

    • The processing priority of a node

      • By the specification of Lightwave, when the root node input "Material" of a surface has connection, the connection with other parameters becomes unnecessary and disregards node processing.
      When you combine the node which outputs a material, and an EdgeTracer node, please connect a material via EdgeTracer.

      The example which does not operate normally


      The above was corrected




    2. EdgeTracer Shader

    Main panel


     A support of a spreadsheet

    EdgeTracer supports the spreadsheet of a layout.
    A bank of surface setting has the following.
    "unReal2:EdgeTracer Buffer"

    • Group ID
      • Any ID are set up to a surface.
      This ID is used in order to be used as a specification for applying setting of ToonTracer or to specify the surface pierced by SurfacePiercing.
      The span of 0 to 99 can be specified as a value, and the same user ID may be used by two or more surfaces.

    • Surface Normal
      • The type of normal written in the internal buffer for unReal is specified.
      "Smooth": Use the normal according to smoothing setting of the surface.
      "Flat": Use the polygon normal which is not interpolated regardless of surface setting.
      "Smooth+Bump": Output normal also including unevenness of a bump mapping. In this setting, it becomes possible to draw a line on the edge of a bump mapping.

    • SurfacePiercing
      • The setups panel of SurfacePiercing is opened.
      Although it was the function offered with the plug-in which became independent as SurfacePiercing shader in the previous version, it was built in EdgeTarcer.


      SurfacePiercing enables an expression of the eyebrows which are not hidden in the forelock used by expression of an anime.

      It is the pre-setup for using this function.
      EdgeTracer shader or EdgeTracerNode is set to both the surface which wants to pierce and draw to foregrounds, such as eyebrows, and the surface which permits penetration of forelock etc.
      And a different group-ID from other surfaces is set to the surface by the side of eyebrows which wants to draw, and the ID is checked for a drawing by SurfacePiercing setting by the side of forelock.
      It is an example of a setups of the aforesaid image.
      The surface of eyebrows and eyes is a group-ID = 1.
      The target for a drawing of SurfacePiercing set as hair also checks 1.
      The other surface is a group-ID = 0.

    • Draw Target
      • The GroupID of a surface to display to the front can be specified.
      When there is a surface which had a GroupID of a target behind this surface, that surface is drawn to the front.
    • Line Pierce
      • The line by ToonTracer is drawn.

    • Paint Pierce
      • A surface color is drawn.

    • Surface List
      • unReal group surface panel is displayed.
      Details here


    3. EdgeTracerNode

    Main panel


     EdgeTracerNode is a node version of EdgeTracer shader.
    Please use EdgeTracerNode, when you use a ToonTracer custom buffer, the toonline rendering by FPrime.

    Input
    • Base Material(NodeInput)
      • It is a material outputted when pierce does not happen in SurfacePiercing.

    • Normal(NodeInput/Panel)
      • It is a Surface Normal.
      Please connect a vector value, when you use a node input.

    • Custom Buffer 1-4(NodeInput)
      • It is a value passed to a ToonTracer custom buffer.

    • Access Value(Panel)
      • It is a dummy value for operating a node.

    • SurfacePiercing(Panel)
      • The setups panel of SurfacePiercing opens.

    • Brush Access(NodeInput)
      • The Access output of BrushNode is connectable.


    Output
    • SP Material
      • The result of SurfacePiercing is outputted.
      When there is no pierce, Base Material is outputted as it is.
    • Access
      • It is a dummy value for operating a node.
      The node by which the node of Lightwave is not connected to the root node for increase in efficiency will be disregarded.
      In order to avoid it, please connect with the topic which sets up an arbitrary value by a panel and a Surface node does not use.
      When SurfacePiercing is used and SP Material has finally reached to a Surface node, it is not necessary to connect Access.


    4. BrushNode

    Node


    Main panel


     BrushNode can set up a local brush effective only in the set surface.

    Only the topic which enabled the checkbox of the brush parameter name is used.
    For example, only the color of a line is changed by BrushNode, and only the check of "Color" enables other setting to use the thing of ToonTracer.
    Refer to the instruction of ToonTracer for the details of each brush parameter.
    Moreover, please connect Access of an output to Brush Access of EdgeTracerNode.


    5. MakeCluster

    Main panel


     It is a modeler plug-in for creating and deleting the cluster (polygon set) used on the cluster border of ToonTracer.
    Although basic usage is the same as a creation of the standard Polygonset for Lightwave, the cluster of unRreal can create a group to four.
    This should think that it has four independent polygon sets.
    • Cluster Set / Remove
      • This function that can be chosen with a radio buttons can add or remove the selected polygon to a cluster.

      A group is selected from a "Cluster Group" popup to add to a cluster, and any cluster names are inputted into a "Name".
      In a popup, the cluster name which already exists in the selection group of the object of a primary layer can be selected from a list.
      If a name is set to a group and an OK button is pushed, it can add to a cluster.

      Only a cluster group is set up, and if a name is emptied and an OK button is pushed, a selection polygon will be removed from the group.
    • Remove Select Group
      • In this function, when the selected polygon is included in the group selected from the "Cluster Group" popup, it removes from that group.
    • Remove All Group
      • This function removes the selected polygon from a unReal cluster all group completely.


    6. SelectCluster

    Main panel


     It is a modeler plug-in which can select a polygon from the unReal cluster created by MakeCluster.
    • Cluster Group
      • A cluster group to perform into the target of a polygon selection is selected.
    • Name
      • In this popup, the list of the cluster names under the group selected in the "Cluster Group" popup can be selected.
      If a cluster name is selected here and an OK button is pushed, the polygon under the cluster will be selected.

      Moreover, all the polygons that have a cluster name in the group which selected the name when pushing the OK button with (none) are selected.


    7. ToonTracer Pixelfilter

    Main panel


     ToonTracer is a plug-in which takes charge of a drawing of a line, detects the section which serves as an outline and a boundary line from the buffer created by EdgeTracer at the time of a rendering, and draws a line using a brush.
    • Layer edit area

      • ToonTracer handles brush setting and drawing setting as one layer.
      It also becomes possible to draw an object and the line of different setting for each surface by using two or more layers.
      An edit of these layer list and a selection are done in a layer edit area.
    • Layer
      • The list of the current layers is displayed.
      A layer to edit into by clicking a list can be selected.
      A layer can be temporarily repealed with the check on the left-hand side of a list.
      The topic of a list is left-dragged to replace the order of a layer.
      A layer is drawn in layers sequentially from the bottom of a list like a texture.

    • LayerFilter popup
      • Filtering of the layer displayed on a list in popup in the upper part of a layer list can be performed.
      A filter is an Object link name of a layer, in addition (All) displays all the layers.
      Only the layer which has not set up the Object link by (None) is displayed.

    • Add Layer
      • A new layer is created.

    • Delete Layer
      • The layer selected by a list is deleted.

    • Copy Layer
      • The layer selected by a list is duplicated.
    • Group setting area
      • The target which draws a line with the layer of ToonTracer can be specified to any GroupID set up by EdgeTracer.
      In this area, it can be set up to which GroupID the selected layer draws, or whether it excludes from a drawing.
    • Group
      • It is specified by a GroupID to which surface drawing setting of the selected layer is applied, or whether it excludes.
      If a check is attached to a left column, it will become a target for a drawing.
      If a check is attached to a right column, it will become a target for an exclusion.
      It is ignored when a check is attached to neither.

    • Option
      • An option setups area is opened and closed.
      Details here


    Layer setup area
    In this area, the layer under selection is set up by a layer list.
    • Layer Name
      • It is a name displayed on a layer list.
      It can be used to the half-width alphanumerical of 80 characters.

    • Brush basic setups area
      • In this area, the form used as the base of the brush used for a drawing of a line etc. is set up.
    • Type
      • The form of a brush is selected.
      "Circle": circle.
      "Square": Square
      "Image": Any images can be used from a right popup.
      "Paint": it will become a mode which smears away not a line but the specified surface of a GroupID.

    • Brush AA
      • Except standard antialiasing setting, antialiasing by oversampling is applied to the brush pattern itself at a generate time.
      It is effective, when having set the degree of rotation angle as a brush, or especially when having opened the drawing space character greatly.

    • Edit Nodes
      • A brush parameter can be set using a node system.
      However, a part of nodes currently made only for shader may not work normally.

    • Object Link
      • Limitation so that only the GroupID set as the surface of an object by specifying an object file name may be applicable from the input to a text area, or a popup.
      When you want to use layer setting which is different by the object A which this is a useful function when handling a lot of objects, and has a surface of 10, for example, and Object B,At Object A, even GroupIDs 1 to 10 are used and mandatory of using 11 to 20 becomes unnecessary by Object B.

      Moreover, although it is the difference in the attitude of an outline with the case where the target for an exclusion is used, between the surfaces of ID specified as the target for an exclusion, a line is correctly drawn in consideration of a relationship before and after a surface with limitation by an object linking to a line not being drawn by any means.

    • Brush setup tab

      • The detailed drawing style of a brush is set up in this tab.
    • Color
      • It is a color of a brush.

    • Size
      • The size of a brush is set up by a pixel measure.

    • Softness
      • It becomes so thin that the gray level of a brush will go outside if a value is enlarged.

    • Stretch
      • If a value is enlarged, a brush will be shrunk by a lengthwise direction.

    • Rotate
      • An angle is applied to a brush.

    • Opacity
      • The opacity of a brush is set up.

    • Pivot X
    • Pivot Y
      • The center of a brush is shifted at the percentage to a brush size.
      At 100%, it shifts by one brush and is drawn.

    • Distance Control
      • A brush size can be changed according to distance using a gradient texture.

    • Line Color Texture
      • A color texture is applicable to a line.
      The texture of a brush color changes each brush color.
      However, a line color texture pastes a texture to the whole line which the drawing completed.

    • Priority Check
      • Usually, the pixel does not take a detection processing of a line into consideration to which is in a foreground within 3D scene in order to check the pixel which adjoins each other toward a lower-right from a upper left.
      However, when you want to give priority to the local brush set as the surface, the priority sequence of a drawing is set up to give priority to the surface in a foreground.

      "OFF": Priority is not checked.
      "Group ID": A group-ID gives priority to the smaller one.
      "Surface ID": Surface ID (value currently used inside Lightwave) gives priority to the smaller one.
      "Local Brush" Priority is given to the surface to which the local brush is set.
      "Depth" Priority is given to the surface in a foreground.

    • Disable Local Brush
      • Whenever it enables this check, local brush setting is disregarded and layer setting is used.

    • Bold Line
      • If this check is validated, a thin line will be drawn thickly a little.

    • Edge Overwrite
      • When drawing a line with two or more layers, a line is not overwritten at the section by which the line was usually already drawn with the front layer.
      If this check is validated, that layer will be overwritten also in the section by which the line is already drawn.

    • Border Setting 1, 2 tab
      • The requirements of a border section of generating a line are set up in the tab of demarcation.
    • Object Border
      • A line is drawn into the border sections of an object and a background, and a different border section of objects.

    • Surface Border
      • A line is drawn into the border section of a different surface.
      The surface name of the same name in a different object is also handled as another surface.

    • Group Border
      • A line is drawn into the border section with a different GroupID of a surface.

    • Cluster Border
      • A line is drawn on the border of a section where the cluster names of the cluster set up by the modeler differ.
      However, a line does not draw in the border of the polygon under a cluster, and the polygon which does not belong to a cluster.
      Setting of a cluster uses Modeler plug-in "MakeCluster".
    • Cluster Group
      • The cluster group used as the target for a check is specified.
      A cluster border checks the clusters of the same group.
      When "Sketch Color" is selected, the sketch color of a modeler is used instead of a cluster.
    • Depth Border
      • The depth of an adjacent pixel is measured and a line is drawn into a section with the difference more than fixed.
    • Depth Threshold
      • When the depth is separated greater than the specified distance, it is the drawing target of a line.

    • Normal Creases
      • The angle of the normal of an adjacent pixel is checked and a line is drawn into the section which is an acute angle from the threshold.
    • •]‰¿’PˆÊ (Evaluate Unit)
    • Evaluate Unit
      • "Per Polygon" checks only in the border section of polygons.
      "Per Pixel" checks by the pixels after a rendering.
      Therefore, although a processing becomes slow, it can draw a line also to unevenness of a bump map.

    • Convex
      • A border section sets up the threshold of the section which is a mountain fold.

    • Hollow
      • A border section sets up the threshold of the section which is a valley fold.
      Since it will be the drawing target of a line unconditionally if it is set as 180 degrees, a wireframe can be drawn, if a validation unit of measure is performed per polygon and a threshold is performed into 180 degrees also with a mountain and a valley.
    • Group Outline
      • A line is drawn for the group which drew effectively for the outline as one cluster.
    • Draw Side
      • "Doubleside": Draw the normal line.
      "Inside": Draw a brush pattern only inside from a drawing border section.
      "Outside": Draw a brush pattern only outside from a drawing border section.
    • Node Edge Detect
      • A line can be freely drawn using a node system.
      The input of the root node serves as an integer value, and a line is drawn in case of one or more values.


    Option setups area
     An option area does overall setting of ToonTracer and RenderLayer Images.
    • Renderer Setting
      • In this tab, the rendering which uses the standard renderer for Lightwave is set up.

    • Enable ToonTracer Line Render
      • The line rendering in the case of using a new style camera is performed by the ToonTracer side.
      In many cases, it is not necessary to use this option.
      When third party camera plug-in is used, and a point-like noise occurs with a rendering image, please turn ON this check.
      However, since a rendering will be carried out doubly the Lightwave side, rendering time will be extended sharply.

    • Antialiasing
      • The antialiasing level of a line is set up.
      This setting is applied only when a new style camera is used.
      When a classic camera is used, antialiasing setting of a camera is used.

    • Thread
      • The number of threads of a rendering is set up.
      This setting is applied only when a new style camera is used.
      When a classic camera is used, thread setting of a Lightwave render setting is used.

    • Evaluate After Volumetric
      • If this check is enabled, a processing of ToonTracer will come to be done after Volumetric plug-ins, such as HyperVoxel.

    • BG Color
      • The color of sections other than a line can be by force changed in this popup to perform the rendering only of the line and check it.
      "Render Image": Overlapping a line on top of the normal rendering image.
      "Surface Color": Use the setups color of the surface which has not taken shading.
      "Defined Color": Any colors can be specified by a right color slider.

    • Image Export Setting
      • In this tab, the management of an image and the preview of an image which are used by RenderLayer are performed.
    • Line Composit For Output
      • If it enables, a line will also be composed and displayed on a rendering image.
      Please do not perform line composition, but when you output only a line image to a file, validate the file output of "unReal2_LineImage" from RenderImageEdit.
      When compounding the line outputted to the file, it can compose correctly to antialiasing of a line by clipping a RGB image by an alpha channel.

    • Edit Render Image
      • A RenderLayer image editing window is opened.
      Details here

    • Enable Preview
      • Preview of a RenderLayer image is enabled.
      After this check like VIPER, it is displayed on a preview window by performing a rendering.

    • Preview
      • A preview window is displayed.



      The image which can be previewed can be chosen from a popup list.
      It scrolls by dragging a display image.
      A display type can be chosen as an image from gray scale, RGB, those of RGBA with 3 types, and popup.
      In RGBA, the color chosen with the BG Color button is used, and a composite display is given at RGBA (Composite) using a rendering picture.

    • Update
      • When a setup of ToonTracer line setting is changed, if this button is pushed, the rendering only of the line will be carried out again and a preview will be updated.
      This function can be used, only when a preview is enable and performs a rendering with a new camera.

    • About
      • In this tab, the version of a unReal and the version of Support Lightwave are displayed.
      Moreover, it can access to utilities, such as save of setting.
    • Surface List
      • A surface list panel is opened and closed.
      Details here

    • File Import/Export
      • The File-menu panel which outputs and inputs setting of ToonTracer is opened.
      Details here


    File Menu panel
     By this panel, the processing which reads setting of ToonTracer into a foreign file from a save or a file is done.
    The Read of setting related with the object besides the input/output of all the simple setting etc. is possible.
    • Export tab
      • The current ToonTracer setting is outputted to a external file (an extension is .TT3).

    • The export mode selection button
      • The output mode of a data is selected.
      "All Setting Save"
      All the layer data are collectively saved to one file.

      "Save Per ObjectLink"
      The layer data for which the object linking to the object which attached the check by an object choice list is stretched are saved.
      An archive file is created for every object as object name .TT3.
      Moreover, "Global" of the list highest rung has pointed out the layer with which the object linking is not specified, and when this is checked, it is saved by a file called Global.TT3.
      When this mode is selected, the file save place of each object linking can be selected from a save place selection button.

      "Select Layer Saved 1 File"
      Only the layer which attached the check by an object choice list is collectively saved to one file.

      "Saves Per Select Layer"
      The layer which attached the check by an object choice list is saved as 1 layer 1 file by layer name .TT3.

    • Include Option Setting
      • If this check is enabled, option setting is also included in an archive file.
      The export mode
      "All Setting Save"
      "Select Layer Saved 1 File"
      Option setting is also saved at one file outputted.

      "Save Per ObjectLink"
      Option setting is saved only Global.TT3.
      Even when Global is not specified by an object choice list, Global.TT3 file where only option setting was saved is outputted.

      "Saves Per Select Layer"
      Option setting is included in all the output files.

    • Output place selection button
      • When "Save Per ObjectLink" is specified by the export mode selection button, the output location of TT3 file to each object is selected.
      "The same folder as LWO"
      It saves at the folder in which each LWO file exists.
      Even when this mode is selected, a folder selection dialogue is displayed first, but this specifies the output location of Global.TT3.

      "Arbitary folders"
      The file of Global.TT3 and each object name is outputted to the folder specified in the dialog.

    • Target Select
      • The layer list of the current ToonTracer or the object file list in a scene is displayed.
      The target outputted by attaching a check can be selected.

    • Execute
      • An export is executed.

    • Import tab
      • Setting is read from an external file.

    • The import mode selection button
      • A way to read a configuration file is selected.
      "Replace All Layer"
      Layer setting is read after canceling all the current layer setting.

      "Add Import Layer"
      Read setting is added to the current layer list.

      "Replace Same Name Layer"
      It is replaced only when there is a layer of setting read into the current layer list and a same name.

      "Import Select ObjectLink"
      The configuration file of the object name selected by an object choice list is read.
      The description of Global.TT3 is added to the current list among the read datas, and if TT3 file of each object has a layer of a same name, it will be replaced, and if there is nothing, it will be added.

    • Include Option Setting
      • If this check is enabled, when option setting is included in the Read file, the current setting will be overwritten by that setting.

    • Target Select
      • When "Import Select ObjectLink" is specified by the import mode selection button, the Read location of tt3 file to each object is selected.
      "The same folder as LWO"
      A Read is tried from the folder in which each LWO file exists.
      Even when this mode is selected, a folder selection dialog is displayed first, but this specifies the location of Global.TT3.

      "Arbitrary folders"
      The file of Global.TT3 and each object name is read from the folder specified in the dialog.

    • Target Select
      • The Object file list in the current scene is displayed.
      The target read by attaching a check can be selected.

    • Execute
      • An import is executed.


    Surface List panel

    The list of surface names with arbitrary GroupID is displayed as this panel.
    It can work checking a surface and a GroupID at the time of setting of ToonTracer and SurfacePiercing.


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