Environment Settings

• The IG plugin API section for more details on managing IG via code (C++)
• SkyMap class for more details on managing sky and celestial bodies via code (C++)
• Meteo class for more details on managing global weather settings via code (C++)
• Region class for more details on managing weather regions via code (C++)
• Weather Layer class for more details on managing weather layers via code (C++)

Star field intensity might seem too low by default. You may need to adjust brightness level of your displays or increase maximum brightness of the star field for your area.

To set up the stars and make them look brighter do the following:

1. Temporarily disable the sun node in the IG:DateTime window of the IG Editor Plugin and make sure the Stars intensity is set to high value.
2. Open Environment Settings (Windows -> Settings -> Runtime/World/Render/Environment).
3. Set the Environment Texture to stars_c.hdr.

4. Click Environment Color and increase values of RGB color components until you reach the desired color and brightness of the star field (e.g., to 100,100,100).

   
   Notice

   The Alpha channel is used by the system to control Star Intensity (e.g., via CIGI).
5. Enable the sun node back again and save your world.

Stars are positioned on the sky automatically, depending on the date/time and geographic location.

Enable the Continuous Time option to make the star field move simulating the Earth rotation via IG Editor Plugin or IG Host.

IG has a built-in celestial body control (celestial_control packet). In order to use it, you should have:

• Two nodes, one for the Sun, and one for the Moon
• The Celestial property assigned to the sun node
• Parameters of the Celestial property containing links to the corresponding nodes.

Positions of the Sun and the Moon are adjusted automatically depending on the date/time and geographic location.

Sometimes it may be necessary to perform certain actions when the state of the sky changes (e.g. enable lighting at nignt time). Callbacks can be used for this purpose. Just implement your specific actions in a callback function and set it as follows:

/// callback function to be called when sky state changes
void SomeClass::my_callback()
{
	// pointer to your sun node (don't forget to initialize it)
	NodePtr sun;
	
	// calculating zenith angle to determine if it is night time or not
	float zenith = getAngle(vec3_up, sun->getDirection(AXIS_Z));
	bool night = zenith > sun_zenit_threshold;
	
	// switching lights
	for (auto & it : lights)
	{
		it.data.setEnable(night);
	}
	
	// switching the emission state for emissive materials
	for (auto & it : emissive_materials)
	{
		it->setState("emission",night);
	}			
}

// ...
// somewhere in code
void SomeClass::init()
{
	// adding "my_callback" to be called on changing sky state
	ig_manager->getSkyMap()->addCallbackRefresh(this, Unigine::MakeCallback(this, &SomeClass::my_callback ) );
}

Weather regions represent the shape of weather in certain areas from the top-down view (cyclone, turbulence zone, thunderstorm front). Various custom weather layers can be added to a region on demand.

The type of region specify its shape:

• Global - covers the whole world, has a default global layer
• Rectangle - rectangular shape
• Polygon - custom shape

There is always a Global region present in the world. The number of possible regions is unlimited.

A region can be set up either via the IG Editor Plugin or by the means of IG Host.

Parameters#

Weather layers represent atmospheric layers inside a region. Layers comprise a vertical profile of the weather region. Atmospheric effects are observed anywhere within the vertical range of a layer. Each region can have an unlimited number of layers.

Type of layer specify its effect:

• Base layer - contains only numerical values: temperature, pressure. It also contains parameters for wind and visibility range (haze) which can be seen visually.
• Cloud layer - contains clouds which can be of various types.
• Precipitation layer - contains precipitation effects which can be of various types (rain, snow).

By default every region has an almost infinite Global layer. You can add more layers if necessary.

A layer can be set up either via the IG Editor Plugin or by the means of IG Host.

Parameters#

Parameters Blending#

Adding and Setting Up Layers in the Editor#

Clouds#

Precipitations#

Lightning#

Wind#