The reflections on Bix in the above screenshot are rendered with the cube map layer. The template used is from BixPack 15.

What can I do with the cube map layer?

With the cube map layer you can generate cube map textures for use in other layers.

How do I add a cube map layer?

Choose LAYER > Add layer > Add cube map layer... to add a new cube map layer.

The new cube map layer can be selected from the layers dropdown to make it the active layer.

Examples

The installer comes with shows demonstrating the possibilities of the cube map layer. Choose FILE > Open show... and select a show from the BluffTitler/Media/Shows/Cubemap folder.

To quickly switch between your own shows and the ones that came with the installer, click on the Personal and App buttons in the upper right corner of the file dialog.

The cube map layer creates a cube map

The cube map layer does not render anything. Instead, it creates a cube map texture in memory that can be used by other layers.

Any effect that can use a cube map, can also use the output of a cube map layer. Examples are:

• Cubemap
• AdvancedMaterials/Cubemap_Additive
• AdvancedMaterials/ColourmapCubemap

How do I make my layer use a cube map layer?

Click on the Select cube map layer button in the Change textures and effect dialog.

3D space

Only objects in 3D space can be seen in the cube map. A picture layer using the Fullscreen or the 2D in foreground style is invisible in the cube map.

Inspired by game technology

The cube map layer is inspired by game technology. For example, racing games render a new cube map for every frame to make the current scenery reflect in the car.

Inspect cube map

The generated cube map is rendered in the top right of the screen when you choose SETTINGS > Render info.

Export as picture

When the active layer is a cube map layer and you choose FILE > Export as picture..., the cube map layer is exported as a 360° picture. DDS files are saved in the cube map format. All others, including PNG and JPG, in the equirectangular format.

Mark the Include alpha channel checkbox for a transparent picture.

Limitations

In theory, a cube map texture can only render correct reflections at a single point. In practice this area can be much bigger, but for the best result make sure only layers positioned near the cube map layer use the cube map texture.

To prevent the expensive complexity of self reflection and reflections of reflections, layers using the generated cube map texture are themselves not rendered in the cube map texture. For this reason they are invisible in the reflections.

Custom

The position is set with the Position property.

Reflect water

The position is automatically optimized for use in the water layer. Select the cube map layer in the MEDIA > Change effect... dialog of the water layer.