[LDView] POV-Ray rendering in 2020

[Leonardo Gonzalez]

To save you a few steps in your work flow do this:

Take all of your code and put it in a single text file using 'notepad' and name it, for example "Top inlcude.inc"

Code:

#include "rad_def.inc"

global_settings {
      max_trace_level 10
      radiosity {
              Rad_Settings(Radiosity_Final, on, off)
      }
      assumed_gamma 1
}

light_source { // X, Y, Z
      <-1000, -1500, -1000>
      color rgb 0.5
      area_light 200, 200, 10, 10
      jitter
}

#declare LDXSkipLight1 = 1;
#declare LDXSkipLight2 = 1;
#declare LDXSkipLight3 = 1;

#ifdef (LDXFloorR) #declare LDXFloorR = 1; #end // Floor Red
#ifdef (LDXFloorG) #declare LDXFloorG = 1; #end // Floor Green
#ifdef (LDXFloorB) #declare LDXFloorB = 1; #end // Floor Blue
#ifdef (LDXFloorAmb) #declare LDXFloorAmb = 0; #end // Floor Ambient
#ifdef (LDXFloorDif) #declare LDXFloorDif = 0.9; #end // Floor Diffuse

*Notice that I used "#ifdef" (if defined) instead of "ifndef" (if not defined) since the values will be declared before the file is included (you will see below). You could also use "#declare [variable] = [value];" and POV-Ray will re-declare (overwrite) the variable.



Next open the LDView with your model and choose export from the File menu:
   


Then open the options dialog:
   


An in the "Top include filename (empty for no top include):" add your full file address from where you saved your "Top inlcude.inc" file (remember you can name it "[whateveryouwant].inc") and then save your pov model file.

  include.png (Size: 16.81 KB / Downloads: 115)


This will make your changes automatically appear in every pov file you export with the LDView from that point forward and safe you the time of manually editing each file every time. Notice that a lot of variables are already declared above the file include. If you intend to change any of these variables you have to use "ifdef" or "declare" as stated above.
   


You can conviniently open your "Top inlcude.inc" file from within POV-Ray and make changes there, save the file (no need to close the tab) and run a render without having to open and close the file outside the program.
   

Hope that helps.


P.S.
Yes I have a Zeta Drive... No I don't have 26 drives, only 6.