Stages

What are stages?

Stages allow:

Various experiences, including backgrounds, settings, and interaction.
Different lighting and camera angles.
Control of user experience in the player.

Note: Stages work for Virtual Photography and 3D, not AR; in AR the real world is your stage!

Create a Stage

Pro-tip:

The most efficient workflow is to create a global "Asset" attribute before creating your stage(s) and scene(s).

Click "Stages" in the left hand menu.

Click "Add stage" in the upper right.

Give the stage an appropriate name and description.

Click "Save". The stage will be listed in the Stages area.

Create a Scene Asset for your Stage

Click on "Assets" in the left-hand menu.

Click "Create Asset" in the upper right.

Give your asset a name and select the "scene" type. click "Save Asset."

Select an object from the "Assets" pane at the bottom to act as a placeholder.

In the "Logic" tab, add an asset with the name "Asset" of type "Model." (Either a global or local attribute will work.)

Warning:

You MUST include an asset with the exact name "Asset" or your scene will not show as available in the dropdown menu elsewhere.

Click on "Rules" and add a rule to change the placeholder object based upon the asset attribute.

NOTE: This process may cause the asset image to 'disappear' from the "Layout" view. If so, simply click on the placeholder object and select an appropriate model from the dropdown for "Asset Asset" under the "-Null" field in the right-hand properties window.

NOTE: When working in the nodes area, the check box to the upper right of the scene name will allow you do multi-select node components.

Adding Lighting

In the "Layout" tab of the asset editor, click the lightbulb icon at the top of the screen. Select the type of lighting you wish to add.

Adjust the location of the lighting by clicking on icons at the top, then manipulating the directional adjustements in the image.

With the light selected, adjust the lighting properties in the right-hand menu as desired.

Adding Cameras

Click the camera icon to add a camera.

Adjust the camera location and angle by clicking on the icons at the top, then manipulating the directional adjustements in the image.

Click the camera icon again to add additional cameras.

To see the view from the perspective of any given camera, click the "Perspective Camera" button and select the desired camera from the dropdown.

Click the camera button and select "Perspective Camera" to return to the default view.

Set the default camera by clicking on the scene name at the top of the nodes tree. In the right-hand column locate "Player". Select the appropriate camera from the drop-down menu.

Adding Backgrounds

Click the scene name in your node tree, then scroll down to locate "Background" in the Properties menu on the right hand side.

Select the desired background option.

"Environment" background allows you to utilize an environment map as selected in the "Environment" section just above the "Background" menu.

Environments are utilized when there is a desire to "reflect" preset surroundings on the object. Notice how the parking lot is reflected in this metalic object.

A solid colored background may be selected by choosing "color" from the drop down menu.

Adding Props

From the Assets window at the bottom, drag in additional prop items as desired and drop them on the stage name. They will appear at the bottom of the list.

Adjust the location of each item and set the item properties. These items will not change as you swap assets.

Controlling User Experience

Adjusting the properties of these stage features (camera, lighting, etc) may be used to control the user experience.

For example, to constrain the user's ability to zoom by adjusting the camera properties of the default camera select the camera from the nodes list. In the right-hand menu, scroll down to locate "Constraints."

In the "Zoom Distance" menu, select "Enabled (Relative Distance)." Adjust the min and max as desired. NOTE: The minimum will be a negative number.

Adjusting the Longitude and Latitude will constrain the up-down spin and left-right spin respectively.

The "Allow Roll" check will allow rotation on the z-axis:

Connect your "Scene" to your "Stage"

Click on "Stages" in the left-hand menu.

Click on your stage.

Click "Edit."

In the "Visualization" dropdown on the right, select your "scene" asset.

Click "Save stage."

Alternative Scene Creation: Using Imported Models

Go to the edit area of the model you wish to use for scene creation. In the layout tab, under nodes, right-click on the node name and select "clone to scene."

The clone will automatically open in a new tab. From there, you may add scene components (lighting, cameras, etc...) or modify scene properties as desired.