CineRender Surface Channels

Surface Settings for the CineRender engine consist of a set of channels, listed on the left side of the dialog box. Each channel represents one surface property (e.g. Luminance, Fog, Environment, Normal, Alpha, Glow, Transparency, Specular, Displacement).

Many surfaces can be simulated using just a few channels. So don’t be intimidated by the numerous channels and their wide range of parameters. Generally speaking, all everyday surfaces can be created using just a handful of these channels.

Color (CineRender Surface Channel)

Diffusion (CineRender Surface Channel)

Irregularities in surface color (works by brightening and darkening the color channel)

Luminance (CineRender Surface Channel)

Luminescent color (light-independent color)

Transparency (CineRender Surface Channel)

Transparency (including refraction index)

Reflectance (CineRender Surface Channel)

Ability to reflect other objects. Also controls Specular and Color effects.

Environment (CineRender Surface Channel)

Environment reflection (simulates reflection)

Fog (CineRender Surface Channel)

Bump (CineRender Surface Channel)

Virtual bumps on a surface

Normal (CineRender Surface Channel)

Virtual surface irregularity that is lit realistically

Alpha (CineRender Surface Channel)

Localized texture invisibility

Glow (CineRender Surface Channel)

Glow Halo around an object

Displacement (CineRender Surface Channel)

Realistic bumps on a surface

Grass (CineRender Surface Channel)

Create realistic-looking grass as a surface

Illumination (CineRender Surface Channel)

Use the Illumination channel in Surface Settings to enable or disable the generation and reception of Global Illumination (GI) to and from this surface, and to control the strength of the caustics effects.