Environment Panel

Environments are not only what can be seen in the background of a rendering, but control an infinite sphere surrounding the model. Objects within the scene will reflect and refract the environment. The environment sphere is not an object that you can select, but a reference surface for background effects.

The Environment affects the visible part of the background and reflections. For effects that affect lighting the scene, see the Sky help topic.

Flamingo comes with a special environment called Default Flamingo Environment. This environment will sync to the current Lighting Preset. By using Lighting presets, both the Lighting and environment will be set to appropriate scene defaults.

images/environment-editor-panel.svg

Where can I find this command?

Environment Tab
Render Tools Toolbars > Environment Editor
Menus > Render Pulldown > Environments Editor
Command > EnvironmentEditor

The Environment Editor Panel is split into discrete sections. Based on the environment type, the advanced panels may vary.

Colors and textures can be dragged from the color swatch and dropped onto any other color swatch or control in the Material Editor, Texture Palette, or Environment Editor. Environment Panel

Background Type
Settings Bar
Environment List
Window Divider
Environment Properties Section
Name
Environment Property Panels

Background Type

Select the type of background for the model. Environment is an all inclusive rendering environment and should be the default setting for Flamingo. The other three settings present a much more simplified set of settings that reflect older ways of defining backgrounds. For more information see the Rhinoceros Simple Background topic

The reset of this help topic covers the Environment type.

Settings Bar

Use this bar to help navigate the Environment list.

Back Arrow

Walks back through the current environment or the previously selected environments. For instance an environment with reflective or refractive layers. Use this arrow to get back to the parent environment from the reflection or refraction details.

Forward Arrow

Walks forward through the previously selected environments. For instance an environment with reflective or refractive layers. Use this arrow to get forward to the parent environment from the reflection or refraction details.

Currently selected environment name

Displays the current environment name and edit level. For instance, if there is a reflective or refractive level a “>” is shown. A good place to see where the environment is current.

Displays the Tools menu. This is an extensive menu of commands, settings and utilities related to environments.

Help

Environment List

This lists all the environments contained in the model. One Environment will be selected as the current environment. The current environment is used in the rendering. Yellow corners will show up surrounding the current Environment.

From this list:

Click on an Environment to make it current. Once selected the environment’s properties will show in the panels below. See Render Materials Properties for more information
Scroll up and down in the list to see all the environments in the model.
Add a new Environment using the Add New Button at the bottom of the list.
Right-click a thumbnail to display the Environment context menu
Right-click the blank area to display the New Environment Context Menu

Add new environment

Scroll down to the bottom of the Environment list to see the add icon.

Opens the Render Content library of environments. The environments in the library act as templates for creating environments in the model.

This menu is available by right click on a environment listing. See the Tools Menu for details on the many options in this menu.

This menu is available by right-clicking on a blank area of the Environment List.

Create New Environment

Creates a new Flamingo Environment.

Import Environment from File…

Use this command to select a previously exported Environment.

Paste

Creates a new environment based on the contents of the Clipboard.

Paste as Instance

Creates a new environment based on the contents of the Clipboard that is linked to the original through instancing.

Grid

Displays the previews as a grid of thumbnails.

List

Displays the previews as a list of thumbnails.

Tree

Displays the previews as a tree showing nesting.

Horizontal Layout

Displays the previews to the left of the controls.

Show Preview Pane

Displays the preview properties for the currently-selected thumbnail. Set the preview geometry, size, background, rotation behavior.

Float

Floats the preview image in a re-sizable window.

Thumbnails

Small

Sets the thumbnail size to the smallest size.

Medium

Sets the thumbnail size to medium size.

Large

Sets the thumbnail size to large size.

Show Labels

Displays thumbnail name labels when in Grid mode. List mode always displays labels.

Show Units

Displays size in model units.

Auto-Update Preview

Automatically updates all previews as settings change.

Update All Previews

Update previews manually when Auto-Update Preview is off.

Window Divider

Drag on this divider to change the length of the Environment List versus the length of the Environment Properties Section.

Environment Properties Section

Environment Name

This is the name of the environment. The environment name is also saved as the file name when exporting the environment to the library. Note: Environments are stored in the Rhino model, unique environments can have the same name in different Rhino models.

Environment Panels

The Environment Properties section is filled with a number of direct Environment panels. Clicking on the grey title bar will rollup the environment panel, hiding the contents of that panel. Click on the title bar again to show contents.

Environment Panels will vary based on the type of environment and the current active environment level. For more information on specific environment panels see Flamingo Environment

These settings also appear on right-click context menus for the thumbnail previews and the thumbnail background.

Set as Current Environment

This sets the target environment current. The current environment will be used in the next rendering.