Layer Shadow

Instructions

SuperMap iDesktopX can obtain the shadow positions of data in a scene based on the position of the light source (sun) to simulate shadow effects for data in the scene. The shadow mode needs to be used together with the Visible function in the Scene tab. After enabling the shadow effect, the display direction of object shadows is related to the current scene time, not the current computer time. You can view or modify the current scene time in the Trajectory management panel in the Scene tab. For details, please refer to Sun Effect.

Currently, 3D tile layers (with models as source data), 2D point/line/region layers, 3D point/line/region layers, model layers, and instance layers support setting the shadow mode. Among them, the shadow mode of 2D region layers is usually applied to region datasets and thematic map layers with extrusion heights. The shadow of point (line) layers is usually applied to layers where point (line) symbols are set as 3D symbols.

Entry

  • Layer Manager -> Layer Right-Click Menu -> Shadow Mode
  • Scene Tab -> Properties Module -> Layer Properties Button -> Layer Properties Panel -> Basic Module -> Shadow Mode

Steps

  1. Create or open a scene, and load the target data into the scene window.
  2. The shadow effect requires the Sun Effect to be activated before shadows can be displayed. Before adjusting the shadow mode, activate the sun effect by clicking the Visible button in the Browse group of the Scene tab, and then adjust the time using the Trajectory button to dynamically adjust the shadow effect.
  3. Adjust the shadow mode of the layer in any of the following ways as needed.
    • Method 1: In the Layer Manager, select the target layer and click the right mouse button. In the pop-up right-click menu, choose Shadow Mode. The options include No Shadow, Show Shadow of Selected Objects, and Show Shadow of All Objects.
      • No Shadow: Selecting this option means that the shadows of objects in the layer will not be displayed.
      • Show Shadow of Selected Objects: After selecting this option, the shadows of selected objects in the layer will be displayed.
      • Show Shadow of All Objects: After selecting this option, the shadows of all objects in the layer will be displayed.
    • Method 2: In the Layer Manager, select one or more layers, then in the Properties group of the Scene tab, click the Layer Properties button to open the Layer Properties panel. In the Basic module, click the drop-down button on the right side of "Shadow Mode" to make settings.
  4. After adjustment, the shadow effect will be displayed in the scene. The following figure shows a schematic diagram of model shadows.