Cartoon Robot Steve
Steve is a cartoon robot model included with Vizard's resources. This article contains a video of him being controlled by a keyboard tracker and an example script that shows how to add him to a scene using the steve.py module.
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Launching scripts from the command line
This article describes how to launch Vizard scripts using the command line. Running scripts from the command line allows you automate the execution of your scripts using 3rd party apps. Using the command line also enables you to pass arguments to your script, allowing you to change the behavior without modifying the script.
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Introduction to the ARToolKit plug-in
This plug-in provides support for the ARToolKit Professional library by ARToolworks. It allows for the tracking of image and matrix based markers using a standard webcam. Vizard can then render models and combine them with video captured from the webcam. Vizard uses the position and orientation of the markers for placing these models in the AR scene. The video tutorial in this article shows a short demo of this in action and then steps through the basic code for tracking a marker and linking a model to it.
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Lens Correction
Vizard can perform lens correction on the output image to account for distorted displays, such as HMDs. The video below shows a scene with and without lens correction.
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Embedding resources in scripts
This article describes how to embed certain texture and model resources within your script. Using this technique allows you to distribute or move your script to different locations without needing to worry about copying any resources along with it.
Full Screen Anti-Aliasing (FSAA)
One of the simplest ways of improving the visual quality of your scripts is to enable full screen anti-aliasing (FSAA). Anti-Aliasing is a technique used to make jagged edges of polygons appear smooth. Most modern graphics cards support FSAA and it only takes a single line of Vizard code to enable it.
Display background texture
Vizard provides the option of changing the background color of the scene, but some users need the ability to display an image instead of a single color. This article describes how to replace the background color of your scene with any texture object, including images and videos.
Shadow Module
Use the shadow module to create dynamically projected shadows within Vizard. This post describes how to use the module and includes a short video and sample script that shows an avatar walking around with a shadow.
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Avatar Collisions
This article descibes how to detect collisions on individual body parts of an avatar. Included is some sample code and a short video of this in action.
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Adding a Mirror
This post provides some sample code for using a mirror in your Vizard script and a short video demonstrating its use within the Vizard art gallery. You can apply the mirror settings to a flat model that you have in your environment or a texture quad that you add in your script. When you use the addMirror function shown here you pass an object that will take on a mirror as its texture.
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