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New page

__NOTOC__

This book provides a reference for the Persistence of Vision Ray-Tracer
(POV-Ray). The documentation applies to all platforms to which this version of POV-Ray
is ported. The platform-specific documentation is available for each platform separately.

This book is divided into these main parts:

<ol>
<li>This introduction together with a complete reference on
[[Documentation:Tutorial Section 2.2#Setting POV-Ray Options|POV-Ray Options]] which explains
options (set either by command line switches or by INI file keywords) that
tell POV-Ray how to render the scenes.</li>

<li>A complete reference on [[Reference:Scene Description Language|Scene Description Language]]
in which you describe the scene.</li>

<li>A complete reference on the [[Documentation:Reference Section 7#Include Files|Standard Include Files]]
that come with the POV-Ray package, to be used in your scenes.</li>

<li> Finally, a consolidation of the POV-Ray Scene Description Language
in the [[Documentation:Reference Section 8#Quick Reference|Quick Reference]].
</ol>

This book covers only the generic parts of the program which are common
to each version.
Note: Each version has platform-specific documentation not
included here.
We recommend you finish reading the tutorial book then read the platform-specific information before using this reference.

The platform-specific docs will show you how to render a sample scene and
will give you detailed description of the platform-specific features.

The Windows version documentation is available on the POV-Ray program's
Help menu or by pressing the F1 key while in the program.

The Mac platform documentation is available via the Help menu
as well as for viewing using a regular web browser. Details may be found in
the POV-Ray MacOS Read Me which contains information
specific to the Mac version of POV-Ray. It is best to read this document
first.

The Unix / Linux version documentation can be found at the same place as
the platform independent part. Usually that is
<code>/usr/local/share/povray-3.?/html</code>

More about the notation used throughout this book may be found in the section
[[Reference:Notation and Basic Assumptions|Notation and Basic Assumptions]].

==Contents==
#[[Reference:Command-Line and INI-File Options|Command-line Options]]
##[[Reference:Animation Options|Animation Options]]
##[[Reference:General Output Options|General Output Options]]
##[[Reference:Display Output Options|Display Output Options]]
##[[Reference:File Output Options|File Output Options]]
##[[Reference:Scene Parsing Options|Scene Parsing Options]]
##[[Reference:Shell Command Options|Shell-out to Operating System]]
##[[Reference:Text Output Options|Text Output]]
##[[Reference:Tracing Options|Tracing Options]]
#[[Reference:Scene Description Language|Scene Description Language]]
##[[Reference:Scene Description Language#Language Basics|Language Basics]]
###[[Reference:Keywords|Keywords]]
###[[Reference:Identifiers|Identifiers]]
###[[Reference:Comments|Comments]]
###[[Reference:Numeric Expressions|Numeric Expressions]]
###[[Reference:Vector Expressions|Vector Expressions]]
###[[Reference:Color Expressions|Color Expressions]]
###[[Reference:Function|User-Defined Functions]]
###[[Reference:Strings|Strings]]
###[[Reference:Array|Arrays]]
###[[Reference:Spline|Splines]]
##[[Reference:Language Directives|Language Directives]]
###[[Reference:Include Directive|Include Directive]]
###[[Reference:Declare and Local Directives|Declare and Local Directives]]
###[[Reference:File I/O Directives|File I/O Directives]]
###[[Reference:Default Directive|Default Directive]]
###[[Reference:Version Directive|Version Directive]]
###[[Reference:Conditional Directives|Conditional Directives]]
###[[Reference:User Message Directives|User Message Directives]]
###[[Reference:User Defined Macros|User Defined Macros]]
#Scene
##[[Reference:Global Settings|Global Settings]]
##[[Reference:Camera|Camera]]
##Atmospheric Effects
###[[Reference:Atmospheric Media|Atmospheric Media]]
###[[Reference:Background|Background]]
###[[Reference:Fog|Fog]]
###[[Reference:Sky Sphere|Sky Sphere]]
###[[Reference:Rainbow|Rainbow]]
#Lighting
##[[Reference:Light Source|Light Sources]]
###[[Reference:Light Source#Point Lights|Point Lights]]
###[[Reference:Light Source#Spotlights|Spotlights]]
###[[Reference:Light Source#Cylindrical Lights|Cylindrical Lights]]
###[[Reference:Light Source#Parallel Lights|Parallel Lights]]
###[[Reference:Light Source#Area Lights|Area Lights]]
##[[Reference:Light Group|Light Groups]]
##[[Reference:Radiosity|Radiosity]]
##[[Reference:Photons|Photons]]
#[[Reference:Object|Objects]]
##[[Reference:Object#Finite Solid Primitives|Finite Solid Primitives]]
###[[Reference:Blob|Blob]]
###[[Reference:Box|Box]]
###[[Reference:Cone|Cone]]
###[[Reference:Cylinder|Cylinder]]
###[[Reference:Height Field|Height Field]]
###[[Reference:Isosurface|Isosurface]]
###[[Reference:Julia Fractal|Julia Fractal]]
###[[Reference:Lathe|Lathe]]
###[[Reference:Ovus|Ovus]]
###[[Reference:Parametric|Parametric]]
###[[Reference:Prism|Prism]]
###[[Reference:Sphere|Sphere]]
###[[Reference:Sphere Sweep|Sphere Sweep]]
###[[Reference:Superellipsoid|Superquadric Ellipsoid]]
###[[Reference:Sor|Surface of Revolution]]
###[[Reference:Text|Text]]
###[[Reference:Torus|Torus]]
##[[Reference:Object#Finite Patch Primitives|Finite Patch Primitives]]
###[[Reference:Bicubic Patch|Bicubic Patch]]
###[[Reference:Disc|Disc]]
###[[Reference:Mesh|Mesh]]
###[[Reference:Mesh2|Mesh2]]
###[[Reference:Polygon|Polygon]]
###[[Reference:Triangle|Triangle]]
###[[Reference:Smooth Triangle|Smooth Triangle]]
##[[Reference:Object#Infinite Solid Primitives|Infinite Solid Primitives]]
###[[Reference:Plane|Plane]]
###[[Reference:Poly|Poly]]
###[[Reference:Cubic|Cubic]]
###[[Reference:Quartic|Quartic]]
###[[Reference:Polynomial|Polynomial]]
###[[Reference:Quadric|Quadric]]
##[[Reference:Object#Constructive Solid Geometry|Constructive Solid Geometry]]
###[[Reference:Object#Inside and Outside|Inside and Outside]]
###[[Reference:Union|Union]]
###[[Reference:Intersection|Intersection]]
###[[Reference:Difference|Difference]]
###[[Reference:Merge|Merge]]
##[[Reference:Object#Object Modifiers|Object Modifiers]]
#[[Reference:Texture|Textures]]
##[[Reference:Pigment|Pigment]]
##[[Reference:Normal|Normal]]
##[[Reference:Finish|Finish]]
##[[Reference:Halo|Halo]]
##[[Reference:Patterned Textures|Patterned Textures]]
##[[Reference:Layered Textures|Layered Textures]]
##[[Reference:UV Mapping|UV Mapping]]
##[[Reference:Triangle Texture Interpolation|Triangle Texture Interpolation]]
##[[Reference:Interior Texture|Interior Texture]]
##[[Reference:Cutaway Textures|Cutaway Textures]]
#[[Reference:Media|Media]]
##[[Reference:Media#Media Types|Media Types]]
##[[Reference:Media#Sampling Parameters & Methods|Sampling Parameters & Methods]]
##[[Reference:Media#Density|Density]]
#[[Reference:Pattern|Patterns]]
##[[Reference:Pattern#General Patterns|General Patterns]]
###[[Reference:Agate Pattern|Agate]]
###[[Reference:Boxed Pattern|Boxed]]
###[[Reference:Bozo Pattern|Bozo]]
###[[Reference:Brick Pattern|Brick]]
###[[Reference:Bumps Pattern|Bumps]]
###[[Reference:Cubic Pattern|Cubic]]
###[[Reference:Cylindrical Pattern|Cylindrical]]
###[[Reference:Density_File Pattern|Density_File]]
###[[Reference:Dents Pattern|Dents]]
###[[Reference:Facets Pattern|Facets]]
###[[Reference:Fractal Pattern|Fractal Patterns]]
###[[Reference:Function Pattern|Function as pattern]]
###[[Reference:Gradient Pattern|Gradient]]
###[[Reference:Granite Pattern|Granite]]
###[[Reference:Hexagon Pattern|Hexagon]]
###[[Reference:Leopard Pattern|Leopard]]
###[[Reference:Marble Pattern|Marble]]
###[[Reference:Onion Pattern|Onion]]
###[[Reference:Pavement Pattern|Pavement]]
###[[Reference:Pigment Pattern|Pigment Pattern]]
###[[Reference:Planar Pattern|Planar]]
###[[Reference:Quilted Pattern|Quilted]]
###[[Reference:Radial Pattern|Radial]]
###[[Reference:Ripples Pattern|Ripples]]
###[[Reference:Spherical Pattern|Spherical]]
###[[Reference:Spiral1 Pattern|Spiral1]]
###[[Reference:Spiral2 Pattern|Spiral2]]
###[[Reference:Spotted Pattern|Spotted]]
###[[Reference:Square Pattern|Square]]
###[[Reference:Tiling Pattern|Tiling]]
###[[Reference:Waves Pattern|Waves]]
###[[Reference:Wood Pattern|Wood]]
###[[Reference:Wrinkles Pattern|Wrinkles]]
##[[Reference:Pattern#Discontinuous Patterns|Discontinuous Patterns]]
###[[Reference:Cells Pattern|Cells]]
###[[Reference:Checker Pattern|Checker]]
###[[Reference:Crackle Pattern|Crackle Patterns]]
###[[Reference:Object Pattern|Object Pattern]]
###[[Reference:Triangular Pattern|Triangular]]
##[[Reference:Pattern#Normal-Dependent Patterns|Normal-Dependent Patterns]]
###[[Reference:Aoi Pattern|Aoi]]
###[[Reference:Slope Pattern|Slope]]
##[[Reference:Pattern#Special Patterns|Special Patterns]]
###[[Reference:Average Pattern|Average]]
###[[Reference:Image Pattern|Image Pattern]]
##[[Reference:Pattern#Pattern Modifiers|Pattern Modifiers]]
#[[Reference:Reference Section 7#Include Files|Include Files]]
##Main Files
###[[Reference:arrays.inc|arrays.inc]]
###[[Reference:chars.inc|chars.inc]]
###[[Reference:colors.inc|colors.inc]]
###[[Reference:consts.inc|consts.inc]]
###[[Reference:debug.inc|debug.inc]]
###[[Reference:finish.inc|finish.inc]]
###[[Reference:functions.inc|functions.inc]]
###[[Reference:glass.inc|glass.inc, glass_old.inc]]
###[[Reference:math.inc|math.inc]]
###[[Reference:metals.inc|metals.inc]]
###[[Reference:golds.inc|golds.inc]]
###[[Reference:rand.inc|rand.inc]]
###[[Reference:shapes.inc|shapes.inc]]
###[[Reference:shapes2.inc|shapes2.inc]]
###[[Reference:shapesq.inc|shapesq.inc]]
###[[Reference:skies.inc|skies.inc]]
###[[Reference:stars.inc|stars.inc]]
###[[Reference:stones.inc|stones.inc]]
###[[Reference:stdinc.inc|stdinc.inc]]
###[[Reference:strings.inc|strings.inc]]
###[[Reference:textures.inc|textures.inc]]
###[[Reference:transforms.inc|transforms.inc]]
###[[Reference:woodmaps.inc|woodmaps.inc]]
###[[Reference:woods.inc|woods.inc]]
###[[Reference:logo.inc|logo.inc]]
###[[Reference:rad_def.inc|rad_def.inc]]
###[[Reference:screen.inc|screen.inc]]
###[[Reference:sunpos.inc|sunpos.inc]]
##Old Files
###[[Reference:glass_old.inc|glass_old.inc]]
###[[Reference:shapes_old.inc|shapes_old.inc]]
###[[Reference:stage1.inc|stage1.inc]]
###[[Reference:stdcam.inc|stdcam.inc]]
###[[Reference:stones1.inc|stones1.inc]]
###[[Reference:stones2.inc|stones2.inc]]
##Other Files
###[[Reference:Font Files|font files (*.ttf)]]
###[[Reference:Color_Map Files|color_map files (*.map)]]
###[[Reference:Image Files|image files (*.png, *.pot, *.df3)]]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 <!--<sectiondesc desc=<"reference introduction">--->
 <p>This is the <em>Reference</em> section, and it applies to all platforms for which this version of POV-Ray has been ported. The platform-specific documentation is available in a separate section.</p>
-<p>Excluding this introduction, the reference section is divided into three main parts.</p>
+<p>Excluding this introduction, the reference section is divided into seven main parts.</p>
 <ol>
    <li>The [[Reference:Command-Line and INI-File Options|Command-line Options]] section for controlling and configuring POV-Ray.</li>
    <li>The [[Reference:Scene Description Language|Scene Description Language]] section for the programming rules and syntax used in POV-Ray.</li>
-   <li>The [[Reference:Scene File Elements|Scene File Elements]] section that details the <em>camera</em> and <em>lighting</em> types that are available,<br>and the vast array of built-in <em>objects</em>, <em>patterns</em> and <em>textures</em> used to construct scene files.</li>
+   <li>The [[Reference:Scene File Basics|Scene File Basics]] section that details the <em>settings</em>, <em>camera</em> and <em>lighting</em> types that are available.</li>
 </ol>

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 </ol>
-<p>New users may find it more convenient to begin with the <em>Introduction to Pov-Ray</em> or [[Documentation:Tutorial Table of Contents|tutorial]] section, followed by the platform-specific documentation, in order to become more familiar your versions platform-specific features.</p>
+<p>New users may find it more convenient to begin with the <em>Introduction to Pov-Ray</em> or [[Documentation:Tutorial Section 1#Introduction|tutorial]] section, followed by the platform-specific documentation, in order to become more familiar your versions platform-specific features.</p>
 <p>Additional notes about this documentation are as follows:</p>
 <ol>

@@ Line 227: / Line 227: @@
 ###[[Reference:Transforms.inc|transforms.inc]]
 ###[[Reference:Woodmaps.inc|woodmaps.inc]]
-###[[Reference:woods.inc|woods.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Woods.inc|woods.inc]]
-###[[Reference:logo.inc|logo.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Logo.inc|logo.inc]]
 ###[[Reference:Rad_def.inc|rad_def.inc]]
 ###[[Reference:Screen.inc|screen.inc]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:11, 8 August 2012
(No difference)

@@ Line 202: / Line 202: @@
 ###[[Reference:Image Pattern|Image Pattern]]
 ##[[Reference:Pattern#Pattern Modifiers|Pattern Modifiers]]
-#<strong>[[Reference:Reference Section 7#Include Files|Include Files]]</strong>
+#<strong>Include Files</strong>
 ##Main Files
-###[[Reference:arrays.inc|arrays.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Arrays.inc|arrays.inc]]
-###[[Reference:chars.inc|chars.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Chars.inc|chars.inc]]
-###[[Reference:colors.inc|colors.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Colors.inc|colors.inc]]
-###[[Reference:consts.inc|consts.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Consts.inc|consts.inc]]
-###[[Reference:debug.inc|debug.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Debug.inc|debug.inc]]
-###[[Reference:finish.inc|finish.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Finish.inc|finish.inc]]
-###[[Reference:functions.inc|functions.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Functions.inc|functions.inc]]
-###[[Reference:glass.inc|glass.inc, glass_old.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Glass.inc|glass.inc, glass_old.inc]]
-###[[Reference:math.inc|math.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Math.inc|math.inc]]
-###[[Reference:metals.inc|metals.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Metals.inc|metals.inc]]
-###[[Reference:golds.inc|golds.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Golds.inc|golds.inc]]
-###[[Reference:rand.inc|rand.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Rand.inc|rand.inc]]
-###[[Reference:shapes.inc|shapes.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Shapes.inc|shapes.inc]]
-###[[Reference:shapes2.inc|shapes2.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Shapes2.inc|shapes2.inc]]
-###[[Reference:shapesq.inc|shapesq.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Shapesq.inc|shapesq.inc]]
-###[[Reference:skies.inc|skies.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Skies.inc|skies.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stars.inc|stars.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stars.inc|stars.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stones.inc|stones.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stones.inc|stones.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stdinc.inc|stdinc.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stdinc.inc|stdinc.inc]]
-###[[Reference:strings.inc|strings.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Strings.inc|strings.inc]]
-###[[Reference:textures.inc|textures.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Textures.inc|textures.inc]]
-###[[Reference:transforms.inc|transforms.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Transforms.inc|transforms.inc]]
-###[[Reference:woodmaps.inc|woodmaps.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Woodmaps.inc|woodmaps.inc]]
 ###[[Reference:woods.inc|woods.inc]]
 ###[[Reference:logo.inc|logo.inc]]
-###[[Reference:rad_def.inc|rad_def.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Rad_def.inc|rad_def.inc]]
-###[[Reference:screen.inc|screen.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Screen.inc|screen.inc]]
-###[[Reference:sunpos.inc|sunpos.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Sunpos.inc|sunpos.inc]]
 ##Old Files
-###[[Reference:glass_old.inc|glass_old.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Glass_old.inc|glass_old.inc]]
-###[[Reference:shapes_old.inc|shapes_old.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Shapes_old.inc|shapes_old.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stage1.inc|stage1.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stage1.inc|stage1.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stdcam.inc|stdcam.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stdcam.inc|stdcam.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stones1.inc|stones1.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stones1.inc|stones1.inc]]
-###[[Reference:stones2.inc|stones2.inc]]
+###[[Reference:Stones2.inc|stones2.inc]]
 ##Other Files
 ###[[Reference:Font Files|font files (*.ttf)]]
 ###[[Reference:Color_Map Files|color_map files (*.map)]]
 ###[[Reference:Image Files|image files (*.png, *.pot, *.df3)]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:06, 15 March 2012
(No difference)