** Lampy Lamp Shader v1.3
** for Lightwave v5.x
** Created and Copyright 1998 by Kevin Phillips
** SGI Version Kindly recompiled by Marvin Landis

Introduction:
-------------
After developing so many image effects, It was time to play with something new!

Well, here's my first 'decent' shader plugin for Lightwave - This one is
called 'Lampy' - It allows a surface to be affected by an internal light
source - Much like a lamp!  If the light source has shadow trace set,
Lampy will generate *internal* shadowing!

And only a day later, Heck, I've updated Lampy again!


Effects available:
------------------
So, what can you use Lampy for?

* True Back-projection effects... No need to front-project onto a surface!
* Internal Shadowing...
* Cool Xray effects...
* And a lot more (once I think of some!)


Installing the Plugin:
----------------------
After unzipping Lampy, place the LAMPY.P file into your plugins directory.
In the Options panel, select Add Plugins and add the LAMPY plugin.

You should see a message indicating that 2 plugins were added.



Using the Plugin:
-----------------
As Lampy is a shader plugin, you can access it from the Surfaces panel.

Lampy will appear in the list as T42_LAMPY - Select this and you are ready
to use Lampy...

(To ensure that Lampy will work accurately, make sure that the object you wish
to use Lampy with has 'CAST SHADOWS' turned off... Sorry, but this version of
Lampy will not work correctly with this active. Fixed in Next release maybe?)

Click the Options button next to the LAMPY (v1.3) button to set Lampy up.

There are 8 settings that can be applied:


Lamp:			Select a light in the scene to become your lamp light.
			(Preferably *inside* the object, but doesn't have to be!)

Luminance:		Set how you wish the new luminosity of the object to
			be generated. Additive adds the new luminosity to the 
			surfaces existing luminous setting. Replacement will totally
			replace the luminosity with the lights settings - Can look
			bad unless you have a base setting of 0% luminosity to begin
			with!  (Additive is the best of the two!)

L-Strength:		You can set a multiplier value here to boost or lower
			the Lamp lights luminosity settings.

Mix Method:		This and the following two settings allow you to use the lamp
			lights colour settings to adjust the surface.  Note that any
			internal 'transparent' objects with colour filter applied will
			affect the lamps colour - Useful indeed!

			Additive will add the colour to the original surface value.
			Replacement will totally replace the surface colour with the
			Lamps colour.

Colour Mix:		This setting allows you to set the percentage of lamp colour 
			that will be mixed with the surface. This setting only applies
			if you are using the 'Additive' Mix Method.

Use Lamp Color Settings:This Button allows you to activate or deactivate the previous
			two settings and apply colour as well as the luminosity...

Transparency:		Like Mix Method, you can now add or replace the transparency
			settings for the Surface, using the Lights Lumination strength
			to control how transparent the surface will be...

Max Transp:		Like L-Strength, this value sets the maximum amount of
			transparency that can be applied to the surface. It is in essence
			simply a multiplier that can be used to boost or decrease the
			overall strength of the effect...

Use Transparency Settin:Switches the Transparency effect on and off!

Invert Transparency Set:Inverts the Transparency values,so that where the brightest luminance
			usually makes the surface the maximum transparency, it now becomes the
			most untransparent...



Limitations of Lampy:
---------------------
Lampy now saves its settings with the model - The light settings may alter though
should you load the object back into a new scene...

Of course, as noted, you must switch off the CAST SHADOWS option on the object
that will be using Lampy.  This is because Lampy uses the Illumination feature
of Lightwave... If you activate CAST SHADOWS, Lampy will sometimes generate what
looks like random pixels rather then smooth luminance...


Updates:
--------
Apart from the before-mentioned limitations, I have the following ideas:

* Diffuse light passing through the surface
* Allow for Multiple light sources inside the object
* Soft inner shadows (Related to the Diffusion)
* Maybe extend the plugin to a pixel filter to apply 'glare' effects?

Any other ideas are always welcome!



Disclaimer:
-----------
Lampy v1.3 is FreeWare - By Freeware, this does not mean that you own the
product.  You have free license to use Lampy for Personal projects,
and commercial projects as long as you credit the use of the plugin.

Future releases of Lampy may or may not be Freeware - Dependant upon the
amendments and complexity of future updates, The author may see fit to charge
a minimal fee for the ongoing use of newer releases of the product.

Lampy has been heavily tested, but may still have some bugs and errors.
You may not hold the Author responsible for any damage or error caused
by the use of Lampy in any way.  You understand that by using Lampy,
you are doing so at your OWN RISK...

You may not redistribute this plugin via Electronic form, physical or printed
form without the permission of the Author.

CONTACT ADDRESS:
----------------

Official Distribution URL:
--------------------------
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/2976

eMail at:
---------
kevman@geocities.com

Snail Mail at:
--------------
Kevin Phillips
PO Box 7116
Wellesley Street
Auckland
New Zealand
