More detailed informations are available here: http://www.smartibl.com
With sIBL_GUI 4 release I decided to accept donations, so if you think the application is worth something you can use the following Paypal button:
Why an external application instead of directly using scripting capabilities of the 3d package itself? There are advantages and inconvenient with both methods.
With an external application, .Ibl files format parsing, Collections management and database inspection are handled by that application, you write that Framework once and then you can reuse it for other 3d packages.
The bridge between sIBL_GUI and the 3d package is done through Templates that output simple loader scripts. That’s one of sIBL_GUI strength: It only took a few hours to convert the Autodesk Softimage Mental Ray Template into an Autodesk Maya Mental Ray one. Scripting a native tool with a good interface offering same functionalities as sIBL_GUI would have taken days if not weeks.
sIBL_GUI is built around Umbra Framework in Python and uses some others major libraries / tools:
The following softwares are used to generate the Windows and Mac Os X installers:
Some highlights:
and much more…
Additional informations about sIBL_GUI are available into this development thread: sIBL_GUI Thread
Installation on Windows is pretty straightforward, just launch sIBL_GUI.exe. In order to support third party images formats through FreeImage you may need to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x64).
Open sIBL_GUI.dmg and drag sIBL_GUI 4.app into the Application directory.
The following dependencies are needed:
To install sIBL_GUI from the Python Package Index you can issue this command in a shell:
pip install sIBL_GUI
or this alternative command:
easy install sIBL_GUI
Templates are not included by default and can be downloaded from sIBL_GUI_Templates repository.
If you want to support third party images formats through FreeImage, you will need to recompile FreeImage with the following patch over it:
Alternatively, if you want to directly install from Github source repository:
git clone git://github.com/KelSolaar/sIBL_GUI.git cd sIBL_GUI python setup.py install
If you want to build the documentation you will also need:
Once installed, you can launch sIBL_GUI using this shell command:
sIBL_GUI
sIBL_GUI preferences are stored per user in their home directory:
The typical sIBL_GUI preferences directory structure is the following:
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Structure Description:
sIBL_GUI accepts various command line parameters:
Note: On Mac Os X, sIBL_GUI is launched from command line doing the following:
cd sIBL_GUI.app ./Contents/MacOS/sIBL_GUI
If you want to share the same Database between multiple installed versions of sIBL_GUI there are 2 solutions:
Dirty Method
Copy the Database file sIBL_Database.sqlite on every machine that have sIBL_GUI installed.
The file is located in one of those directory depending your OS:
Recommended Method
It’s possible to share one Database file between multiple sIBL_GUI install. In order to do that you need to start sIBL_GUI with some command line parameters:
Example Command Line:
C:\\HDRLabs\\sIBL_GUI\\sIBL_GUI.exe -d “Z:/sIBL_Database/” -r
When the Database is read only, the automatic scanner adding new IBL Sets is deactivated meaning that newly IBL Sets dropped into your library directory won’t be added automatically.
It’s a good idea to put the Database with a real file system write lock in case someone launch a sIBL_GUI instance without the command line arguments.
That way you can have artists using the Database a supervisor has defined, and even using different Databases depending on their current production.
The first time sIBL_GUI is started a wizard asks to add IBL Sets into the database:
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Choose a directory where are stored some IBL Sets and they will be added to the Default Ibl Sets Collection.
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sIBL_GUI Interface is customizable and comes with 3 main layouts directly available from the main toolbar:
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Interactions:
Right clic: raises a context menu with the Ui Widgets list:
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Central Widget icon: Shows / Hides the Ibl Sets Outliner Component widget Ui.
Layouts icon: Raises a context menu where the user can store / restore up to 5 custom layouts and recall them whenever needed:
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Miscellaneous icon: Raises a context menu with some links and miscellaneous functionalities:
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The Library layout is where most of the IBL Sets management is done.
This layout is built around 4 Components:
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The Inspect layout is where Ibl Set inspection is done.
This layout is built around 3 Components:
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The Export layout is where the bridge between sIBL_GUI and the 3d packages is created.
This layout is built around 4 Components:
An additional but extremely powerful export related Component is available by right clicking the main toolbar:
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The Edit layout is where Ibl Set are edited.
This layout is built around 2 Component:
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The Preferences layout is where sIBL_GUI behavior is configured.
This layout is built around 2 Components:
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sIBL_GUI has currently 3 categories of Components:
Those 2 types are split into 4 main families:
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The Components Manager Ui Component allows sIBL_GUI addons and user Components activation / deactivation (Factory and Core Components are required and not deactivable). Selected Components details are displayed in the bottom Components Informations widget.
Interactions:
Columns Descriptions:
Context menu:
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Addons Functionalities:
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The Preferences Manager Component is used to configure sIBL_GUI behavior. There are 2 pages where settings can be changed:
General Page:
Others Page:
Those settings are Components dependent and will be described per related Component.
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The Script Editor Component allows directly interaction with sIBL_GUI through scripting. It provides various code input acceleration mechanism like basic autocompletion, syntax highlighting, etc ... A status bar widget displays various informations about the currently edited document and allows language grammar change.
Interactions:
Menus Bar:
File Menu:
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Addons Functionalities:
Edit Menu:
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Source Menu:
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Navigate Menu:
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Search Menu:
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Command Menu:
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Addons Functionalities:
View Menu:
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Dialogs:
Search And Replace:
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Search In Files:
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Magnifier Context menu:
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Results View Context menu:
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Interactions:
Columns Descriptions:
Context menu:
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Note:
While adding a new Collection, a comment can be directly provided by using a comma separated name and comment.
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The Database Component is the heart of sIBL_GUI data storage, it provides the database manipulation, read, write, migration and rotating backup methods.
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The Ibl Sets Outliner Component is the central Component where IBL Sets are viewed and chosen for export. The Component is tracking the IBL Sets files on the disk and reload them automatically when modified.
IBL Sets can be viewed using different views depending the user needs:
Columns View:
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Details View:
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Columns Descriptions:
Interactions:
Context menu:
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Addons Functionalities:
Search widget context menu:
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The Inspector Component allows Ibl Set inspection.
Interactions:
Addons Functionalities:
Context menu:
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Addons Functionalities:
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The Templates Outliner Component is where Templates are organized and reviewed. Selected Templates details are displayed in the bottom Templates Informations widget. The Component is tracking the Templates files on the disk and reload them automatically when modified.
Templates are sorted into 2 main categories:
In those categories, Templates are sorted by 3d packages.
Columns Descriptions:
Interactions:
Context menu:
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Addons Functionalities:
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The About Component displays the About window.
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The Database Operations Component allows the user to launch some database maintenance operations.
Interactions:
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The Gps Map Component is embedding a Microsoft Bing Map into sIBL_GUI: Selecting some IBL Sets (Ibl Sets with GEO coordinates) in the Ibl Sets Outliner Component will display their markers onto the Gps Map.
Interactions:
The Ibl Sets Scanner Component is a file scanning Component that will automatically register any new Ibl Sets to the Default Collection whenever it founds one in an already existing IBL Sets parent directory. This behavior can be stopped by deactivating the Component.
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The Images Caches Operations Component allows the user to manipulate sIBL_GUI images caches.
Interactions:
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The Loader Script Component is providing the bridge between sIBL_GUI and the 3d packages. It parses the selected Ibl Set, extracts data from it, and feeds the selected Template with those data resulting in a loader script that can be executed by the 3d package.
Interactions:
Addons Functionalities:
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The Loader Script Options Component allows the user to tweak the way the loader script will behave in the 3d package. Templates attributes are exposed in 2 pages where they can be adjusted:
Templates settings are stored per version and restored each time one is selected in sIBL_GUI preferences directory.
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The Locations Browser Component provides browsing capability to sIBL_GUI, adding directory browsing at various entry points in sIBL_GUI Ui. The browsing is done either by the Os default file browser or an user defined file browser.
Default Supported File Browsers:
Interactions:
The Logging Notifier Component displays logging messages in the status bar.
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The Online Updater Component maintains sIBL_GUI and it’s Templates up to date by checking HDRLabs repository for new releases on startup or user request.
Interactions:
When a download starts the Download Manager window will open:
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The Online Updater Component is configurable in the Preferences Manager Component:
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Interactions:
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The Projects Explorer Component displays sIBL_GUI opened files and projects. It offers a global overview on what is being edited in the Script Editor Component.
Interactions:
Context menu:
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The Preview Component provides image viewing capability to sIBL_GUI through the use of the Internal Images Previewer or the application defined in the Preview Component preferences.
Interactions:
The Internal Images Previewer window provides basic informations about the current Image:
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Interactions:
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The Raw Editing Utilities Component provides text editing capability to sIBL_GUI, adding text edition at various entry points in sIBL_GUI Ui. The text edition is done either by the Script Editor Component or an user defined text editor.
Interactions:
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The Rewiring Tool Component is available by right clicking the main toolbar. This Component allows rewiring / remapping of an Ibl Set file to another file of that set or an arbitrary image. This widget is powerful because it’s possible to dynamically generate IBL Sets and arbitrary loads whatever HDR you want and still benefit from sIBL_GUI one click lighting setup.
Interactions:
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The Search Database Component enables search in the database. There are 2 pages providing different search options:
Interactions:
Search In Shot Time:
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The sIBLedit Utilities Component provides a bridge between sIBL_GUI and sIBLedit.
Interactions:
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The TCP Client Ui Component allows sIBL_GUI to connect to TCP servers. As a functionality test it's possible to connect sIBL_GUI to itself: ensure that both the TCP Client Ui and TCP Server Ui Components use the same address and port.
Interactions:
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With the TCP Server Ui Component sIBL_GUI can be used as a TCP server and remote controlled.
Interactions:
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The Trace Ui Component is a development oriented Component allowing to trace execution of user defined modules. Tracing some modules doing intensive background work can stall sIBL_GUI and make it unresponsive.
Interactions:
Context menu:
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The following questions are answered by sIBL_GUI developer Thomas Mansencal and don't necessarily reflect other HDRLabs developer opinions and thoughts.
Is sIBL_GUI Open Source?
I'm using sIBL_GUI 1 / 2 / 3, is there still support for it?
No, sIBL_GUI is developed by one person on his free time, cross version support can't be achieved. Any new version deprecate the previous one.
Can I pay to help me making sIBL_GUI run on my computer?
Can I pay you to make a custom template?
No, same as above, however if you need a custom template, we can discuss of what can be done. Just remember that sIBL_GUI is done on my free time.
Where are sIBL_GUI preferences stored?
I installed sIBL_GUI and its not starting, what can I do?
You need to launch sIBL_GUI into Debug verbose mode using the -v 4 command line parameter and send me back the logging sIBL_GUI_Logging.log and sIBL_GUI_Database.sqlite database files. Some antivirus software like Avast have been reported to prevent sIBL_GUI starting, try adding an exception for sIBL_GUI in your antivirus software and see if the application is starting.
I'm having too many problems with sIBL_GUI x.x.x, are older versions still available?
I thought Loader Scripts are obsolete now?
Please refer to the first post of this thread: http://www.hdrlabs.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1271612492 to see the development status of the various loader script.
Is there a difference between an Helper Script and a Loader Script?
Yes! Helper Scripts are additional scripts that help integrating sIBL_GUI into the target 3d package whereas Loader Scripts are native 3d package scripts enabling direct Smart Ibl support. One confusion source is that I also call Loader Scripts the scripts sIBL_GUI generates. Here is a link to the sIBL_GUI Helper Scripts: http://www.hdrlabs.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1271609371/1#1
Is it possible to move the user preferences directory into sIBL_GUI installation directory, like in sIBL_GUI 2?
Using the -u / --userApplicationDatasDirectory command line parameter, you can define where sIBL_GUI 4 preferences are stored. You can easily pass sIBL_GUI installation folder to retrieve the portability of sIBL_GUI 2.
What is the shift between the viewport visual feedback sphere and the render image?
Is it possible to use the three Smart Ibl maps without a Ray Switch Shader?
Yes you need to map each one on a different sphere and play with the different rays visibility of those spheres. Just remember than probing geometry will be slower than using a pure shading solution.
Is it possible to share a common Database file between multiple computers?
Shared Database Configuration: http://kelsolaar.hdrlabs.com/sIBL_GUI/Support/Documentation/Api/resources/pages/usage.html#id4
How do I launch sIBL_GUI with command line parameters?
Create or modify a shortcut to the executable, then append the parameters you want to use into the target field.
How do I launch sIBL_GUI with command line parameters?
Open a terminal then issue the following commands with the parameters you want to use:
cd /Applications/sIBL_GUI\ 4.app/
./Contents/MacOS/sIBL_GUI
I'm getting that error: "LoaderScript | Socket connection error: '[Errno 10061] No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it'!"
Autodesk Maya 2008 - 2013:
commandPort -n "127.0.0.1:2048";
Autodesk Maya 2010 - Windows Vista / 7 :
commandPort -n "127.0.0.1:2048"; commandPort -n ":2048";
How do I open automatically the command port in Autodesk Maya?
Open your userSetup.mel in Autodesk Maya script folder (Or create the file if it doesn't exists) and append the following lines:
Autodesk Maya 2008 - 2013:
commandPort -n ("127.0.0.1:" + `optionVar -q "sIBL_GUI_commandPort"`);
Autodesk Maya 2010 - Windows Vista / 7 :
commandPort -n ("127.0.0.1:" + `optionVar -q "sIBL_GUI_commandPort"`); commandPort -n (":" + `optionVar -q "sIBL_GUI_commandPort"`);
I have installed Autodesk Maya - Helper Script, what do I put in sIBL_GUI Executable Path field?
It's a convenient method to directly launch sIBL_GUI from within Autodesk Maya, just point to sIBL_GUI executable, then you can use the second shelf button to launch sIBL_GUI.
/Applications/sIBL_GUI.app/Contents/MacOs/sIBL_GUI 4.app
I'm getting that error: "LoaderScript | Socket connection error: '[Errno 10061] No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it'!"
sIBL_GUI_XSI_Server Addon ( Windows Only ):
I'm getting that error: "' ERROR : 2424 - XSI failed to load a .NET plug-in. This error happens because the plug-in may have been compiled with a different version of XSI. Recompile the plug-in with the current version of XSI to fix the problem. ' <Plug-in: \\..\sIBL_GUI_XSI_Server\Application\Plugins\sIBL_GUI_XSI_Server.dll> ' <Current XSI version: X.X.XXX.X>"
You either:
How do I register the sIBL_GUI_XSI_Server.dll file into Windows Global Assembly Cache?
You will then need to issue a command like this in an Administrator elevated prompt:
gacutil.exe /i C:\Addons\sIBL_GUI_XSI\Application\Plugins\sIBL_GUI_XSI_Server.dll
There is also an alternative way without gacutil.exe, it has been tested on a few computers and seems to work: You just need to drag'n'drop the sIBL_GUI_Server.dll into Windows GAC folder (C:\Windows\assembly).
I'm getting that error: "LoaderScript | Win32 OLE server connection error: '(-2147221164, 'Class not registered', None, None)'!"
Notice that you need to launch Autodesk 3ds Max as Administrator for that purpose.
What is this error with Autodesk 3dsMax_MR_Standard Template: "sIBL_GUI | Mental Ray Productions Shaders are not available!"?
"hidden"
to
# "hidden"
Or after backuping the original one, you can directly use one of those already edited files: Production Shaders Files