Sun Effects

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Sun Effects System Overview

Rombo Sky engine includes a sophisticated Sun Effects system that provides direct manipulation and enhancement of solar rendering through three RGB sockets. This specialized subsystem allows for precise control over solar phenomena and atmospheric interactions that affect the sun's appearance.

The system provides three RGB sockets for effect combination:

  • Socket 1: Primary sun effect (commonly used for turbulence or bloom)
  • Socket 2: Secondary effects
  • Socket 3: Tertiary effects

Unlike general atmospheric effects, Sun Effects directly modify the sun's appearance, shape, and light behavior. These effects can be combined to create complex, physically plausible solar phenomena that respond to atmospheric conditions and time of day.

Integration Note: Sun Effects are evaluated in rendering order and can interact with each other. When combining multiple effects, consider their natural physical relationships to maintain realistic results.

Sun Horizon V-Shape

The Sun Horizon V-Shape effect simulates the characteristic V-shaped distortion that occurs when the sun is near the horizon. This phenomenon is caused by atmospheric refraction and creates a distinctive flattened and distorted appearance. The effect is particularly prominent during sunrise and sunset conditions.

Appearance Parameters

tint
(RGB: 0.82, 0.46, 0.25)
Controls the color tint applied to the V-shape effect. Default values create a warm sunset/sunrise appearance. Adjust for different atmospheric conditions or artistic needs.
intensity
(0.0+, soft: 0.0-5.0)
Controls the overall strength of the V-shape effect. Higher values create more pronounced distortion.

These parameters work together to determine the visual prominence of the effect:

  • Default intensity (0.4) creates a subtle, realistic horizon interaction
  • Higher values (1.0-2.0) create more dramatic distortion for creative purposes
  • Values above 2.0 create stylized, exaggerated effects

Shape Control

width
(0.0-1.0)
Controls the horizontal width of the V-shape effect. Higher values create a wider distortion area.
spread
(0.0-1.0)
Controls how far the V-shape effect spreads from the horizon contact point. Higher values extend the effect further.
wrap
(0.0-1.0)
Controls how the effect wraps around the horizon. Higher values create a more pronounced curvature.

Shape Control Recommendations:

  • Subtle realistic effect: width (0.2-0.4), spread (0.1-0.3), wrap (0.5-0.7)
  • Dramatic sunset: width (0.5-0.7), spread (0.3-0.5), wrap (0.7-0.9)
  • Extreme distortion: width (0.8-1.0), spread (0.5-0.8), wrap (0.8-1.0)

Distance and Turbulence

distant
(0.0-1.0)
Controls how the effect scales with distance. Higher values maintain effect intensity at greater distances.
turbulence
(0.0-1.0)
Controls the amount of non-uniform distortion along the V-shape. Higher values create more irregular, animated distortion.
turbulenceFreq
(0.0+, soft: 0.0-5.0)
Controls the frequency of turbulence variations. Higher values create finer, more detailed distortion patterns.

Turbulence recommendations:

  • For calm atmosphere: turbulence (0.0-0.1), turbulenceFreq (1.0)
  • For moderate heat distortion: turbulence (0.2-0.4), turbulenceFreq (1.5-2.5)
  • For extreme heat haze: turbulence (0.5-0.8), turbulenceFreq (2.0-4.0)

Best Practices: The Sun Horizon V-Shape effect is most realistic when the sun is positioned near the horizon. The effect automatically adjusts based on sun elevation, but parameters can be tuned to work at different heights. For best results, use in combination with appropriate atmospheric scattering settings in the main Rombo Sky Renderer.

Typical Use Cases:

  • Sunrise/Sunset: Create realistic horizon interaction with moderate settings
  • Desert Scenes: Combine with high turbulence for heat distortion effects
  • Arctic/Antarctic: Use with cooler tint for unique polar atmospheric phenomena
  • Time-lapse: Animate parameters subtly for realistic sun transition effects

Sun Turbulence

Documentation coming soon...

Sun Bloom

Documentation coming soon...

Sun Pillar

Documentation coming soon...

 
 
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