4.3.3 Further Projections in Pov-Ray

There are several types of projections available in Pov-Ray, see the documentation [pov:182.html#target_730] for more details:

• Perspective projection

  Figure: Perspective projection

  

• Orthographic projection

  Figure: Orthographic projection

  

• Fisheye projection: A spherical projection. This time we project radially onto a sphere and then by some projection the sphere to the plan. Uses Polar-coordinates.

  Figure: Fisheye projection

  

• Ultra wide angle projection: Here we project onto a cylinder and then we flatten the cylinder

  Figure: Ultrawideangle projection

  

• Omnimax projection: Is similar to a $180^o$-fisheye projection but with aspect ratio unequal to 1.

  Figure: Omnimax projection

  

• Panoramic projection: Cylindrical equirectangular projection

  Figure: Panoramic projection

  

• Cylindrical projection: Project onto a vertical or horizontal cylinder with respect to a center or the cylinders axes.

  Figure: Cylindrical projection

  

• Spherical projection: Project onto a sphere and uses rectangular coordinates.

  Figure: Spherical projection

  

Using the optional parameters focal_point, aperture and blur_samples one can change the by default infinite field of depth to some realistic range.

Figure: Finite field of depth

  camera {
    location <0.0, 1.0, -10.0>
    look_at  <0.0, 1.0,  0.0>
    focal_point < 1, 1, -6>    // pink sphere in focus
    aperture 0.4     // a nice compromise
    blur_samples 20      // more samples, higher quality image
  }