This page provides information about the V-Ray Softbox texture in Cinema 4D.
Overview
The VRaySoftbox is a procedural texture that can be used in a V-Ray Light to create the illumination coming from a Soft Box light source. The example shown here uses a VRaySoftBox texture attached to a V-Ray Light.
UI Path: Texture > V-Ray > VRaySoftbox
Base Parameters
Base Color – Controls the color of the texture.
Use Base Texture – Enabling the checkbox enables the use of maps. When texture use is enabled, the Base Color option is disabled.
Base Texture – Specifies a color to use when the Use Base Texture is enabled. This color can be used to blend with a specified texture for more artistic results.
Texture – Specifies a texture to use when the Use Base Texture is enabled.
Mix Strength – Specifies the blend amount between the base texture and the color.
Tint On – When enabled, the color in the Base Color parameter is multiplied by the Tint Color parameter.
Tint Color – Specifies the color for the tint.
Strength – A multiplier that controls how strong the effect of the Tint Color parameter is.
Processing
Multiplier – A multiplier for the overall VRaySoftBox texture. It acts similar to changing the multiplier of the V-Ray light that uses this texture instead.
Gamma – A gamma correction that is going to be applied to the texture.
Hot Spot/Dark Spot
Spots On – Enables or disables the hot/dark spot effect.
Multiplier – Controls the strength of the hot/dark spot effect.
Spots Mode – Specifies the effect - a hot or a dark spot:
Hot Spot (Add) – Adds more of the Base Color in the center area of the VRaySoftBox. The amount added corresponds to the Multiplier value.
Dark Spot (Subtract) – Subtracts some of the Base Color in the center area of the VRaySoftBox map. The amount subtracted corresponds to the Multiplier value.
Tint On – When enabled, modifies the color of the spot.
Tint Color – Specifies with what color the spot is modified.
Strength – A multiplier that controls how strong the effect of the Tint Color parameter is. See the Hot Spot vs Dark Spot example for a visual representation.
Tiling Options
Offset U/V – Controls the position of the texture along the U or V axis.
Tile U/V – When enabled, the Tiles U and Tiles V options control the tiling of the texture along the U or V axis.
Tiles U/V – Controls the tiling of the texture along the U or V axis.
Fading Options
These options control how the hot/dark spot fades out into the base color.
Outer Radius – The outer radius where the hot spot ends as a fraction of the texture size.
Inner Radius – The inner radius where the hot spot begins to fade out as a fraction of the texture size.
Softness – Controls the rate, at which the hot spot fades out. See the Tiling and Fading example for a visual representation.
Example: Hot Spot vs Dark Spot
This example shows the difference between Hot Spot and Dark Spot methods. The Base Color is grey and the Tint Color is white. The Multiplier is set to 0.1.
Hot Spot/Dark Spot options disabled
Hot Spot
Dark Spot
Example: Tiling and Fading
This example shows how VRaySoftbox tiling affects the reflection and shadow sharpness that the light casts on the object, as well as on the scene illumination. The same effect (achieved by tweaking the tiling value) can be done by tweaking the Outer Radius of the VRaySoftbox. The Base Color is set to black and the Tint Color is set to white in the Base Parameters.
Tiling = 2, Outer Radius = 0.5
Tiling = 1, Outer Radius = 0.5
Tiling = 1, Outer Radius = 0.8
Tiling = 1, Outer Radius = 0.1
Gradients
V/U/Radial Vignette
The Gradients options allow for blending gradient textures on top of the VRaySoftbox texture. A gradient vignette can be added in the U and V direction, and also radially.
On – Enables the Vignette effect. See the U/V Radial Vignette example for a visual representation.
Flip – When enabled, the direction of the Vignette is flipped.
Gradient – Use double click on the gradient swatch to add a new color mark to it or refine the current mark. A set of self-explanatory options is available from the context menu.
Frame
The Frame options multiply the VRaySoftbox texture with a square shape gradient, defined with the gradient swatch.
On – Enables the Frame. See the Frame example for a visual representation.
Flip – When enabled, the direction of the Frame is flipped.
Gradient – Use double click on the gradient swatch to add a new color mark to it or refine the current mark. A set of self-explanatory options is available from the context menu.
Frame Tint On – When enabled, modifies the color of the gradient.
Frame Tint Color – Specifies the tint color.
Frame Tint Strength – A multiplier that controls how strong the effect of the Tint Color parameter is.
Frame Noise Amount – Controls how strong the Noise effect on the gradients is.
Frame Noise Size – Changes the scale of the noise function.
Frame Noise Phase – Controls the speed of the noise procedural animation.
Fractal Noise – Enables fractal noise.
Fractal Levels – Sets the levels for the fractal function.
Example: U/V/Radial Vignette
This example shows the effect of a gradient vignette on the render.
Vignette is off
V Vignette is on
V Vignette is on, and Flip is enabled
U Vignette is on
Radial Vignette is on
Example: Frame
This example shows the effect of the Frame parameter. When the option is enabled, the VRaySoftBox texture is multiplied with a square shape gradient.
Frame is off
Frame is on
Frames is on, Gradient is darker