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Subsections

Introduction

This document explains how to use the Blue Moon Rendering Tools (BMRT), which are a set of rendering programs and libraries which adhere to the RenderMan(TM) standard as set forth by Pixar. This document is intended for the reader who is familiar with the concepts of computer graphics and already is fluent in both the RenderMan procedural interface and the RIB archival format. It is not designed to teach the RenderMan interface, but to give the reader documentation on how to use this implementation of the standard. For more detailed information about the RenderMan standard, you should see The RenderMan Companion, by Steve Upstill, or the official RenderMan Interface Specification, available from Pixar. Both of these texts are fully detailed and clearly written, and no attempt will be made here to duplicate the information in these references.

What is RenderMan?

RenderMan is a standard created by Pixar through which modeling programs can talk to rendering programs or devices. It may be thought of as a 3-D scene description format in the same way that PostScript is a 2-D page description format. This standard is hardware and operating system independent. RenderMan allows a modeling program to specify what to render, but not how to render it. A renderer which implements the RenderMan standard may choose to use scanline methods, ray tracing, radiosity, or any other method. These implementation details have almost no bearing on the use of the interface.

The first version of the RenderMan standard described a procedural interface, i.e. the function calls for a library which could be linked to a modeling program. When the procedures are invoked, information is passed to the renderer. Later versions of the RenderMan interface also defined the RenderMan Interface Bytestream, or RIB protocol. RIB provides an ASCII interface to a renderer which supports the RIB protocol.

The Blue Moon Rendering Tools

The Blue Moon Rendering Tools described in this document adhere to the RenderMan standard. The parts you'll most likely use are outlined below:

rgl
A previewer for RIB files which runs on top of OpenGL. Primitives display as lines or Gouraud-shaded polygons.

rendrib
A high quality renderer which uses some of the latest techniques of radiosity and ray tracing to produce near photorealistic images.

slc
A compiler for the RenderMan Shading Language, which allows you to write your own surface, light, displacement, imager, and volume shaders.

mkmip
A program to pre-process texture, shadow, and environment map files for more efficient access during rendering.

libribout
A library of `C' language bindings for the RenderMan procedural interface which results in the output of RIB (both "static" and "dynamic" libraries are provided for most platforms).

slctell
A utility that prints out the arguments and their defaults for a particular compiled shader.

libslc
A library allowing you to query the argument names and defaults of a compiled shader.

Copyrights & Trademarks

The Blue Moon Rendering Tools (BMRT), all of the programs contained therein, and their documentation are:

©Copyright 1990-1999 Larry Gritz. All Rights Reserved.

Larry Gritz retains all copyright and other legal rights to it. I have full documentation that I developed it myself, not for anybody else, and not for any employer.

This software conforms to the RenderMan Interface Standard, developed by Pixar. They require me to state the following:

The RenderMan (R) Interface Procedures and RIB Protocol are:
Copyright 1988, 1989, Pixar. All rights reserved.
RenderMan (R) is a registered trademark of Pixar.

In addition to the RI procedure and RIB protocol, certain components distributed with BMRT are Copyright Pixar. These include the standard shaders (such as ``plastic.sl'') and elements of the standard header files such as ``ri.h.''

According to the RenderMan Interface Specification document, anybody may create a program which generates the RenderMan procedure calls or RIB requests, as long as they include Pixar's copyright and trademark notice as above. Also, anybody may write a renderer which executes the RenderMan procedure calls or RIB requests, as long as they get a no-charge license from Pixar authorizing them to do so, which I have done.

This software is what's known as ``shareware.'' This means you can get a copy and ``evaluate it'' for free. If you decide that you want to keep using it for commercial gain, you are requested to send me a ``donation.''

Licensing Arrangement

This software is not in the public domain, but it is ``shareware.'' This means you can get a copy and evaluate it for free, and keep using it for free if you are a student or noncommercial user. If you decide that you want to use it for commercial purposes, you need to register. Please consult the ``License'' file that comes with the software for more information. I reserve the right to change the licensing of future versions of BMRT at any time and without notice.

Unregistered users may use the software for evaluation purposes for as long as they want. Unregistered users MAY NOT use this software for commercial gain of any kind, including profiting from any images or animations created by this software. Registered users may distribute any images or animations created by this software in any means desired (including for commercial gain). If possible, each copy should credit me as follows:

    Rendering Software...      Blue Moon Rendering Tools

I understand that this is often not practical (for example, for feature films). I trust you'll do your best to give proper credit where possible.

Nobody, not even registered users, may distribute this software in any way without written authorization from me. This is mostly so that I can ensure quality control and keep track of who is using the software.

Don't even think about suing me. Legally, I am warning you right now that this software may not do what you want it to do, and it may do plenty that you don't want. I won't even guarantee that it will not cause damage to your computer, ruin your business, or even result in permanent injury or death. All of these things are pretty unlikely -- I've been using this software for years, and it even makes very nice pictures for me. But as far as I'm concerned, legally this software is being distributed AS-IS, with no guarantees. Also, I reserve the right to change any of the terms of this software license for future releases.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the early users of my software, especially Daria Bergen, Rudy Darken, Tania Fraga, Dave Florek, Won Lee, several classes of CS-206 at GWU, the many others at the graphics lab at the George Washington University who served as my guinea pigs, and to James Hahn, my advisor. Also a special thanks to Michael B. Johnson of the MIT Media Lab, who not only helped to shake loose some of the last bugs, but who gave me the kick in the butt that I needed to convince me to distribute my software. Finally, thanks to Tony Apodaca of Pixar, for hand-holding me through the licensing process, as well as illuminating some of the more obscure parts of the standard that nobody cares about but us.


next up previous contents
Next: A Detailed Description of Up: Blue Moon Rendering Tools Previous: Contents
Larry Gritz
2000-04-14