KeyShot Manual

Welcome to KeyShot 2KeyShot is the first interactive image creation tool of its kind that allows anyone with little or no experience to create photographic images from their 3D digital data within minutes. It is a continuation of the product HyperShot that was developed by Luxion from 2006 until 2009.About this manualKeyShot works on both, Mac and PC. The functionality is identical. The onlydi ff erences are some of the supported file formats as well as the CTRL key, which is ⌘ on the Mac. This will be clearly documented throughout the manual. How it worksKeyshot is a realtime raytracing and global illumination application that is entirely CPU based and thus doesn’t require any special hardware to run. With the use of scientifically accurate materials and real world light combined with extreme ease-of-use anybody can generate photographic images from their 3D geometry within a matter or minutes after first opening the program.The performance of KeyShot increases when more processors are being added. KeyShot’s architecture is highly optimized such that when the number of processors doubles, performance also doubles.There is no limit on how many CPUs can be addressed in one computer. KeyShot also supports chip sets with a hyper-threaded architecture with the same e ffi ciencies as multiple CPUs and multi-core CPUs.KeyShot raytraces constantly, as soon as you start the application. At any point in time you are able to stop the realtime rendering by hitting [Shift] + [P]. Resume realtime raytracing using the same key combination.KeyShot licensingThe KeyShot license is locked to the MAC address of your computer. The exception is KeyShot Pro Floating which allows you run KeyShot from any computer. Please contact sales@ for more information.You can deactivate your license from your current computer and activate on another machine. Please note that an internet activation is needed for this. You can transfer your licenses between a total of 3 machines. There is no limit on how often you can do this.To deactivate a license to move to another computer, simply start KeyShot and go to the Help menu (PC), or KeyShot menu (PC), and select Deactivate license on this computer.You can now activate KeyShot on a di ff erent computer with your permanent serial code.KeyShot contentKeyShot, by default, has the following content structure:•Scenes: Contains all your saved scenes.•Materials: Contains all materials.•Textures: Contains all textures and labels used with your materials •Environments: Contains all you lighting environments•Backplates: Contains images and photographs•Renderings: Contains all Screenshot and RenderingsKeyShot user interface and toolsThis chapter describes the user interface and all the tools inside KeyShot. Please note the following abbreviations:•LMB = Left Mouse Button•MMB = Middle Mouse Button•RMB = Right Mouse ButtonThe KeyShot applications has 3 main areas:•Realtime window•Library•OptionsRealtime WindowThe realtime window has the main toolbar on the bottom that takes the user through the 6 steps from importing a model to creating the final image.•Import : Import a model including KeyShot’s own scenes (.bip files)•Materials : Open material library.•Environment : Open the environment library to access lighting environments •Backplates : Open the backplates library to access images to add to the scene.•Screenshot : Save image from the realtime window.•Render : Open the render settings to control the final image output.When working with objects in the realtime window, you will also have the option to access important functions via the right mouse button pop up menu when clicking on the object.LibraryThe library contains all content for your scenes which can be dragged and dropped into the realtime window. When first opening the library, right click into each tab and select Rescan Library Directory . You can also add additional content, create groups and remove content from the library.•Materials : Drag and drop a material onto an object in the realtime window or one or multiple objects in the Scene Tree (Options). When dragging materials onto the object you will notice that the part will adopt the material and show the result in realtime. The material is not being applied until you let go of the mouse button.•Environments : Drag and drop into the realtime window to see the e ff ect of the lighting in the scene.•Textures : Drag and drop textures onto an object with any non-transparent material. Hold down the CTRL (CMD) key to apply the texture as a bump map to any material.•Backplates : Contains your photographs and other background images that you may want to use to compose the final image.•Rendering : Contains all realtime and o ffl ine rendered images which can also be used as back plates.Import 3D data,or scene (.bip)file Open materiallibrary Open environment library Open backplate library Save image from therealtime window Open settings for final renderOpen options windowOptions [Spacebar]The options dialog will give you access•to work with the scene and objects in the scene - Scene•create and edit materials - Material•adjust the lighting - Environment•compose the final image - Backplate•set up the perfect image in realtime - Realtime•control the camera and save views - CameraPreferencesPreference settings allow you to control•General settings•Location of the KeyShot Resources•Import settingsRight mouse button menuThe right mouse button menu gives you the ability to quickly interact with the model and the scene.Hotkeys [K]KeyShot relies heavily on hotkeys for fast and e ffi cient workflow. You can access the list of hotkeys by simply hitting [K]. To close tke hotkey list, hit [K] again. When using hotkeys, make sure that the realtime window is active. You can make it active by simply clicking inside of it.Moving the CameraKeyShot is a highly interactive and dynamic application. When moving the camera, you will notice some pixelation that will stop when the camera movement stops. At that point in time the image will res to perfection until the camera is moved again. To move the camera use the following mouse and hotkey combinations:•[ALT LMB], Mac: [⌥ LMB] : Tumble the camera around the focal point •[ALT MMB], Mac: [⌥ MMB]: Pan the camera•[ALT RMB], Mac [⌥ MMB]: Dolly the camera, i.e. moving the camera closer to or away from the object. CAD users would describe this as “Zoom”. Make sure to move the mouse horizontally.Import - Importing dataImporting 3D data or KeyShot scenes (bips)Select import model to import your model in any of the following file formats:•SolidWorks 2010 and prIOR (.sldprt, .sldasm) - Windows only•Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2, 3, 4, 5 (.prt, .asm)•Rhinoceros 4.0 and prIOR (.3dm)•SketchUp 7 and prIOR (.skp)•3DStudio Max (.3ds)•IGES•STEP AP203/214•Obj•FBX•BIP (KeyShot Scene - import objects with materials and cameraviews)After selecting Import Model, you have the following options:•Merge with current scene: Select this option when you want to add multiple models into the same scene. You may want to move the first imported object first by moving the model using [SHIFT ALT Left Mouse Button], and drag the model o ff the center on the ground plane.•Same coordinates as previous object: This ensures that the imported object maintains the same size relative to the previously imported object. This only makes sense when you add a second object to a scene. Make sure that Merge with current scene is checked. This has no e ff ect when importing .bip files.•Keep individual parts: This option allows you to keep individual parts that otherwise may be grouped together. This can come in handy for all kinds of file formats. When parts appear to be grouped together and can’t be unlinked, simply re-import by checking this option. This has no e ff ect whenimporting .bip files.Scene - Working with objectsThe scene tab contains the scene tree that gives you direct access to all objects and parts in the scene, as well as the ability to move and scale objects (not parts yet).Scene treeThe scene tree gives you access to the objects in the scene and all its parts. Right now you will see either the part or layer name, or the material name.You can do the following:•Hide/Unhide: Quickly hide/unhide entire objects or individual parts. You can select multiple parts and hide them through the right mouse button menu.•Delete/Undo Delete: Works like Hide/Unhide•Link/Unlink parts: Linking parts will put them in the same material group. Once linked, you can hide them, delete them, change and edit materials for all linked parts simultaneously. To unlink, simply select individual parts you want to unlink and select Unlink from the right mouse button menu.•Assign Material: Select an individual or multiple parts/objects. Then open the material library and assigning a material by dragging and dropping a material ball onto the selected parts/objects.•Edit Material: Right click on the selected part and select Edit material.•Copy Material: Right click on the selected part and select Copy material.•Paste/Paste and link material: After copying you can pasteMoving and ScalingYou can move and scale an object in conjunction with or instead of using the Move Widget in the realtime window.•Position: Move the object in local x, y, or z direction.•Rotation: Rotate the object around the local x, y or z axis. Use the up/down arrows to quickly rotate around 45º.•Scale: Increase the size of the object in local x, y, or z direction•Size: Increase or decrease the overall size of the object.•Snap to ground: Snap the object to the ground plane.•Reset: Reset the object back to it’s original position.Material - Working with materialsApplying materialsTo apply a material to any part of an object, open the material library. Select a material and drag and drop it onto the object. Notice how the parts adopt the material as soon as you move the mouse over the part. The part will not be painted until you let go of the mouse button. Alternatively, you can use [SHIFT LMB] to select a material and [SHIFT RMB] to apply the material to the desired portion of the model. If you desire to apply the selected material to several parts of the model, simple continue to [SHIFT RMB] click onto the desired parts.You can also open the Scene tab in the Option menu and drag and drop the material onto the one or multiple parts, or the entire object.Editing and creating new materialsWhether you want to create a new material or edit an existing one, the steps are identical. In essence, whenever you edit an existing material on the object you are creating a new material. To edit or create new materials double click onto a material that has been applied to a part of the object in the scene, or right click onto a part in the scene and select Edit material. Either way you will be taken to the Material tab in the Options dialog. The selected material’s parameter list appears. The available choices will depend on which material you selected. Please see APPENDIX: KeyShot Materials for more detailed information on the individual parameters for each material.All material changes and new creation always stay with the object, and are saved in the BIP file.KeyShot’s materials are fundamentally di ff erent from “shaders” found in traditional rendering applications. All of KeyShot’s materials are scientifically accurate, requiring therefore far less work to define a certain material and finish for an object.•Name: The name of the material. + allows you to add the material to the library for later reuse.•Material type: Choose the material like that you would like to start out with. Think in terms of real world materials such as metal, glass, plastic etc. Each material has predefined color and parameter settings. Upon selecting the material type you will see the immediate e ff ect a core material has.•Color, IOR, Roughness et a l: Tweak the color and parameters, and see thee ff ects immediately.•Reset: Reset ALL parameter, texture, bumpmap and label changes to the beginning when the dialog was first opened.Once you made the edits to the core material you have chosen, you can save the material to the library for later use in other scenes by hitting the + next to Name.Applying texturesNon-transparent materials can have a texture applied to replace the base color. This texture will can be a jpeg, ti ff, png or other common file format. To apply a texture, create a new material or edit and existing material. Then select the Texture tab.•Load: Select a jpeg, ti ff or any other image file. When you selected an image once, and then open a di ff erent material to map a texture the previous texture is available for immediate use, yet with default settings. You can select a new texture if you choose.•Enable: Turn texture on or o ff.•Repeat: Switches between single and multiple copies of the texture.•Sync: Synchronize all settings with the bump map.•Projection: Determines how the texture is being mapped:UV coordinates: Your object may not have any uv coordinates and the texture may not show up initially. Change the projection type.Box Map: Mapping uses a “box”.Planar x, y, z: uses the planar projection from the x, y, or z direction. To determine the direction, turn on the coordinate system in the View menu, or use [SHIFT] + C. If the surface you would like to map to is at an angle, you may want to try and rotate the object so it aligns with the projection direction. After mapping you can move the object back to its original position. The mapping will stay.Cylindrical (beta): Uses a cylinder standing up (y-direction) for mapping. If your object requires cylindrical mapping in any other direction, rotate the object to align the object with the projection direction. Move the object back to its original position after mapping.Spherical (beta): Uses a sphere with y being the up direction. If your object requires spherical mapping in a di ff erent direction, rotate the object to align the object with the projection direction. Move the object back to its original position after mapping.•Position: Drag the texture on the model into position. Move the camera using [ALT] + LMB. You can still interact with all other parameters while in this mode.•Keep aspect ratio: Maintains the original aspect ratio of the image•Flip horizontal / vertical: Invert the texture.•Shift u: Move the texture in horizontal direction over the surface.•Shift v: Move the texture in vertical direction over the surface.•Scale u: Change the width of the texture.•Scale v: Change the height of the texture.•Angle: Rotate the texture around its center.•Intensity: Change the brightness of the texture.Bump mappingYou can apply a bumpmap to any material by using any kind of image, allowing you to add extra realism to materials, and stunning visual e ff ects. The bumpmap can be combines with texture maps mentioned above, or used by themselves.To apply a bumpmap, create a new material or edit an existing material. Then select the Bumpmap tab. This will open up a new dialog that looks nearly identical to the texture map dialog.Bump Map: Select a jpeg, ti ff or any other image file. When you selected an image once, and then open a di ff erent material to map a texture the previous texture is available for immediate use, yet with default settings. You can select a new bumpmap if you choose.•Load: Select a jpeg, ti ff or any other image file. When you selected an image once, and then open a di ff erent material to map a bumpmap the previous bumpmap is available for immediate use, yet with default settings. You can select a new bumpmap if you choose.•Enable: Turn bumpmap on or o ff.•Repeat: Switches between single and multiple copies of the bumpmap.•Sync: Synchronize all settings with the bump map.•Projection: Determines how the bumpmap is being mapped:UV coordinates: Your object may not have any uv coordinates and the bumpmap may not show up initially. Change the projection type.Box Map: Mapping uses a “box”.Planar x, y, z: uses the planar projection from the x, y, or z direction. To determine the direction, turn on the coordinate system in the View menu, or use [SHIFT] + C. If the surface you would like to map to is at an angle, you may want to try and rotate the object so it aligns with the projection direction. After mapping you can move the object back to its original position. The mapping will stay.Cylindrical (beta): Uses a cylinder standing up (y-direction) for mapping. If your object requires cylindrical mapping in any other direction, rotate the object to align the object with the projection direction. Move the object back to its original position after mapping.Spherical (beta): Uses a sphere with y being the up direction. If your object requires spherical mapping in a di ff erent direction, rotate the object to alignthe object with the projection direction. Move the object back to its original position after mapping.•Position: Drag the bumpmap on the model into position. Move the camera using [ALT] + LMB. You can still interact with all other parameters while in this mode.•Keep aspect ratio: Maintains the original aspect ratio of the image.•Normal map: When using an actual Normal Map, make sure to check this option•Flip horizontal / vertical: Invert the bumpmap.•Shift u: Move the bumpmap in horizontal direction over the surface.•Shift v: Move the bumpmap in vertical direction over the surface.•Scale u: Change the width of the bumpmap.•Scale v: Change the height of the bumpmap.•Angle: Rotate the bumpmap around its center.•Height: Controls the height of the bunmpmap.LabelsIf you are working with a logo, make sure that the image has transparency, also known as an “Alpha Channel”. Only .ti ff or .png files can have an alpha channel or transparency. The transparency will allow the color of the material to be visible.•Add: Add a label.•Delete: Delete a label.•Up/Down arrows: Move label to front/back•Enable: Turn label on or o ff.•Repeat: Switches between single and multiple copies of the label.•Projection: Determines how the label is being mapped:Normal Projection: The default setting wraps the label onto any given surface UV coordinates: Your object may not have any uv coordinates and the label may not show up initially. Change the projection type.Box Map: Mapping uses a “box”.Planar x, y, z: uses the planar projection from the x, y, or z direction. To determine the direction, turn on the coordinate system in the View menu, or use [SHIFT] + C. If the surface you would like to map to is at an angle, you may want to try and rotate the object so it aligns with the projection direction. After mapping you can move the object back to its original position. The mapping will stay.Cylindrical (beta): Uses a cylinder standing up (y-direction) for mapping. If your object requires cylindrical mapping in any other direction, rotate the object to align the object with the projection direction. Move the object backto its original position after mapping.Spherical (beta): Uses a sphere with y being the up direction. If your object requires spherical mapping in a di ff erent direction, rotate the object to align the object with the projection direction. Move the object back to its original position after mapping.•Position: Drag the label on the model into position. Move the camera using [ALT] + LMB. You can still interact with all other parameters while in this mode.•Keep aspect ratio: Maintains the original aspect ratio of the image.•Two sided: See front and back of label.•Flip horizontal / vertical: Invert the label.•Shift u: Move the label in horizontal direction over the surface.•Shift v: Move the label in vertical direction over the surface.•Scale u: Change the width of the label.•Scale v: Change the height of the label.•Angle: Rotate the label around its center.•Intensity: Change the brightness of the texture.•Depth: Determines how far the label should be projectedEnvironment - Adjust lighting and other environment e ff ectsThe functions in the environment tab control the lighting in the scene. These are grouped into 2 categories, Environments and Environment Shading.•Background Color: This function allows you to change the background color. The background color is hidden by the environment. You will need to hide the environment (see below) in order to see the background color. The background color doesn’t a ff ect the scene, nor is it reflected in the object.•Visible Environment [E]: Hides the environment when checked, and displays the background color set above. Note that even when the environment is hidden the scene will still be fully illuminated, and all shadows and reflections continue to be present.•Brightness [Arrow keys]: Controls the amount of light in the scene. Use the left /right arrow keys to decrease / increase the amount of light in the scene. •Gamma: Controls the intensity of the light in the scene. Larger values will yield less of a contrast between light and dark areas, resulting in softer shadows. Lower values yield a higher contrast between light and dark areas.•Rotation [CTRL LMB], [⌘ LMB] (Mac): Rotates the environment around the y (vertical)” axis of the scene. When rotating the environment you will notice that the ground shadow doesn’t update until you let go of the mouse button and finish the rotation.•Ground Shadows: Turn the ground shadows on and o ff. Shadows that are being cast onto the object itself will still be visible.•Ground Reflections: Turns the ground plane into a reflective surface. The amount of reflection is controlled by the color of the background and the camera angle. To get additional control over ground reflections it is recommended to add a geometric plane to the scene which can then be painted with various materials and textures.•Flatten Ground [G]: This flattens the bottom part of the sphere to give it “gum drop” shape. You may notice some stretching of the environment towards the edge of the ground. Flattening of the Ground may be desired to get a more detailed reflection of the ground in the object. This is often times desired by people working with cars.•Environment Size: Controls the size of the spherical environment in meters. Note that changing the size will not change the intensity of the light. Changing the environment size can be used to control the reflections in an object.•Environment Height Adjustment: This functions allows you to move te environment up and down to control position of the lighting in the enviromentand reflection in the object. The number is a relative percentage of the overall size of the environment. Together with the Rotation of the environment this function gives great control over the position of the lighting.Backplates - Using images in the background Backplates are 2D images that can be used as background image against the scene. They can also be used to place a 3D object “into the image”, making it look like that is actually part of the image. Use the Camera controls to adjust Distance, Perspective, Azimuth, Incline, and Twist to get the perfect fit. Use the Ground grid for perfect perspective matching.By default, the realtime window will adjust and assume the aspect ratio of the backplate. This behavior can be controlled under Preferences.The functions are:•Select: Load backplate•Use backplate: Quickly toggle backplate on/o ff.•Adjust brightness: Takes on Brightness and Gamma set in the Realtime tab when checked.Realtime - Setting up the perfect picture in realtimeUse this tab extensively. The settings in here let you control the scene, so you can get the perfect picture in realtime. Your final rendering will then look identical.Image SettingsAdjustment: These settings a ff ect the overall image including the backplate.•Width / Height: This allows you to set the size of the realtime window. It is recommended to set the proper aspect ratio before setting camera angles. A larger windows will result in slower realtime performance.When changing the window size, you can chose from pre-set resolution, or enter your custom resolution.•Lock Aspect Ratio: Uncheck when changing the aspect ratio•Brightness: Adjusts the overall brightness of the image.•Gamma: Determines the overall contrast of the image. A higher gamma value will result in darker areas appearing less dark, and brighter areas to be less bright.Realtime SettingsThese settings a ff ect realtime and final rendering.•Ray Bounces: Determines the number of bounces light makes in a scene. It is important to gradually increase the number of raybounces until no di ff erence can be noticed when increasing the number. This number should be used in the final rendering•Shadow Quality: Determines the quality of the Ground Shadow. This setting is independent of the setting in the Render Tab, but is indicative of what value should be used in the rendering.•Detailed Shadows [S]: Calculates detailed and inter-object shadows when checked.•Detailed Indirect Illumination: Turns on light reflections from objects.•Ground indirect illumination: Turns on ground caustics.•Fast updates: This allows fast interaction in realtime. When unchecked, you will not see any pixelation but have a detailed raytraced scene at all times. However, this is very computationally intensive, and therefore only recommended for 8 core systems and higher.•Sepia: Turns on Sepia e ff ect in realtime.•Ground grid: Turn on a grid on the ground planeCamera - Working with the camera and camerae ff ectsThe camera tab contains functions for interacting with the camera for fine tuning the camera position, select di ff erent camera types, and save the current view with its settings.•View: This pulldown menu contains all saved views that you create throughout your session. It contains several predefined views, as well as the last view with which your scene was saved. To go from one view to the next, simply select a new view. You can also switch to the next view using [ALT N], [⌥N] (Mac). You can Add (+) a new view, or Delete (-) the current view.•Lock camera: This will freeze the camera in its current positions so it can’t be moved. All other functions are not a ff ected.•Orthographic camera: Switch the camera to Orthographic to work with a true orthographic camera. You will notice that some functions will become unavailable.•Keep above ground: This will keep the camera above the ground plane. Uncheck if you want to move the camera below the ground.•Distance: Controls the distance of the camera from the object.•Azimuth: The horizontal angle from the reference direction (focal point). •Inclination: The elevation angle of the camera with the focal point as being the center.•Twist [CTRL ALT Wheel], [⌘⌥ Wheel] (Mac): Changing the twist angle will tilt the camera around its horizontal viewing axis.•FOV - Field of View: The field of view is that part of the scene that is visible through the camera at a particular position and orientation in space. FOV works in conjunction with Focal Length. Notice how both sliders move simultaneously.•Focal Length [ALT Wheel], [⌥ Wheel] (Mac): Changing the focal length to change perspective. In Photography terms, this is also referred to as “Zoom”. When increasing the value, the camera zooms closer to the object and therefore must be moved away from the object. The larger the focal length, the less perspective you will have in the scene. If you decrease the focal length, you will add more perspective. You may need to move the camera closer to the object to get the desired e ff ect.•Perspective: Changes FOV / Focal Length and Distance of the camera to the object simultaneously. It is a combination of those 2 functions in one, allowing you to change the perspective of the scene while “keeping the object in place”.•Pick pivot: Set the pivot point。