3.2 The Shader Manager

The shader manager presents RenderMan shader files from which shader nodes can be created. These shader nodes can then be visualized in the attribute editor to edit their parameters, and they can be assigned to geometric objects or lights. Assigning existing shader nodes can also be done in the shader assignment panel, which is better suited for this task (see section The Shader Assignment Panel). The shader manager is also handy to see at a glance all the shader nodes that exist in the scene.

Figure 3.2: The Shader Manager Window

The shader manager is split in two panes: the shader files pane and the shader nodes pane. Some options are grouped at the bottom above the action buttons. Details about each section follow:

The Shader Files Pane

This pane lets you select compiled shader files from some source directory. It contains the following elements:

` Directory'

The Directory option menu will contain the default `$DELIGHT/shaders' entry as well as all paths listed in the $DL_SEARCH_PATH environment variable. The compiled shader files in the selected entry are displayed in the list below. The `Specify' entry can be selected to use a different directory then the ones defined in this option menu.

` Path'

Path allows specification of a shader directory that is not defined in the $DL_SEARCH_PATH environment variable. It is only available when the Directory option menu is set to Specify.

` Name Filter'

Only the filenames that match the expression set in Name Filter will be displayed in the shader file list. Wildcard characters suc as `*' can be used in the filter.

` Refresh'

Clicking on this button will update the file list to reflect current directory content.

` Shader File List'

This list displays all the shaders in the selected directory that match the name filter and that are of the type specified by the Shader Type option menu. Double clicking on a shader file in the list will automatically create a corresponding instance (or node) in the shader nodes pane.

The Shader Nodes Pane

This pane lists all shader nodes, which are instances of RenderMan shader files. Each shader node is simply a reference to the RenderMan shader file and a set of values for that shader parameters. The elements of the shader pane are:

` Shader Name'

This field displays the name of the currently selected shader node in the list below, and it can be used to rename that shader node to a more meaningful name.

` Name Filter'

Only the node names that match the expression set in the name filter will be displayed in the shader nodes list. Wildcard characters such as `*' can be used in the filter.

` Shader Nodes List'

The list of all the shader nodes that exist in the current scene that mtches the name filter and whose type corresponds to the specified type in the Shader Type option menu. Right-clicking on some shader node offers additional actions:

` Select Shader'

Shows the parameters of the selected shader node in Maya's Attribute Editor and makes it the current Maya selection.

` Show in AE'

Shows the parameters of the selected shader node in Maya's Attribute Editor (without making it the current selection).

` Duplicate Highlighted Shaders'

Creates a copy of the highlighted shader, retaining values, expressions and connections on its attributes representing the shader's parameters. Assignments to scene objects are not duplicated.

` Select Objects'

Selects the objects in the scene that have the highlighted shaders attached to them. The sub menu offers options to specify if the highlighted shader should be used as the object shader or the collection shader.

` Highlight Shaders Assigned To Selected Objects'

Will highlight in the shader nodes list the shader nodes that are attached to scene objects currently selected.

` Delete Highlighted Shaders'

Deletes the shader nodes that are highlighted in the shader nodes list.

` Reload Highlighted Shaders'

The shader node is updated to reflect the current content of the related compiled shader file. Object assignments, attribute values, expressions and connections are preserved when possible.

` Replace Highlighted Shaders with Selected File'

The selected file in the Shaders File Pane will replace the one that was used by all highlighted shader nodes. The shader node name is not changed. Object assignments are preserved. Attribute values, expressions and connections are preserved when possible.

` Preview Highlighted Shaders'

Renders the selected shader on a sphere surrounded by three light sources

Options

` Shader Type'

Only the shaders matching the selected type will be displayed in both the shader files list and the shader nodes list.

` Collection'

The collection selected here will be used for the assignment when the Assignment option menu is set to `Collection' or `Override'. See The Shader Assignment Panel for more about shader collections.

` Assignment '

Specifies to which element a shader will be assigned when pressing the Assign button. This could be either `Object', `Collection' or `Override' (see section The Shader Assignment Panel).

Actions

` Assign'

Assign the shader node selected in the shader nodes list to the selected objects, taking into account the current values of the Collection and the Assignment option menus. The button will not be available unless objects of a relevant type are selected.

` Close'

Closes the window.

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