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POV-Ray(1)			 Version 3.1g			    POV-Ray(1)

NAME
       povray,	x-povray,  s-povray  -	POV-Ray: The Persistence of Vision Ray
       Tracer

SYNOPSIS
       povray [+iinput_file] [+ooutput_file] [+/-option...] [INI_file ...]

       x-povray [+iinput_file] [+ooutput_file] [+/-option...] [INI_file ...]

       s-povray [+iinput_file] [+ooutput_file] [+/-option...] [INI_file ...]

DESCRIPTION
       POV-Ray is a free, full-featured ray tracer, written and maintained  by
       a team of volunteers on the Internet.  On the Unix platform POV-Ray can
       be either a text-mode only program (povray),  or	 can  optionally  have
       preview	capabilities  using  the  X  Window  System (x-povray).	 Under
       Linux, POV-Ray can optionally use the SVGA library (s-povray)  to  pre‐
       view renderings.

       This  manual  page  only lists the basic POV-Ray and Unix specific fea‐
       tures and command-line options for this version of POV-Ray.  For a com‐
       plete  description of the features of POV-Ray and its scene description
       language, or for a better  explanation  of  the	meaning	 of  the  com‐
       mand-line  and  INI file options, please consult the documentation that
       should accompany all versions of POV-Ray.  On some sites this  will  be
       installed  in  /usr/local/lib/povray31.	Some of the Unix specific fea‐
       tures are:

	      Support for X Windows display automatically uses the best visual
	      class and deepest depth available.  For visuals that do not sup‐
	      port 24 bits of color per pixel, Floyd-Steinberg error diffusion
	      dithering	 is used, along with a dynamically allocated and opti‐
	      mized palette to produce the best display possible with the cur‐
	      rent visual, depth, and available colormap.

	      ICCCM  compliance	 for the X Windows version means that the pre‐
	      view window will behave like standard X Windows programs, commu‐
	      nicate  properly	with  the  window manager, and will accept the
	      standard command-line options.  See X(1) for more information.

	      Support for SVGAlib display automatically detects the  available
	      SVGA  display  modes to choose the size which best fits the ren‐
	      dered image.  When rendering an image that is too large for  the
	      current  display,	 the  displayed	 image is scaled to fit on the
	      screen.  For displays that  do  not  support  true-color	modes,
	      Floyd-Steinberg dithering is used.

	      ASCII  graphics  in  the text-mode version allow a basic view of
	      the current rendering on text-only terminals.

	      An interrupt handler allows rendering to	be  interrupted	 in  a
	      safe way, so that any data not currently written to disk will be
	      saved before exiting.  Control-C or SIGINT  will	cause  a  user
	      abort,  and  save	 the  current  rendering, before exiting.  See
	      kill(1) for more information.

	      Platform and architecture independent rendering means  the  same
	      scene will render in the same way on all computers and operating
	      systems (with the exception of the rendering speed, of course).

OPTIONS
       Options can be specified with either a leading '+' or  a	 leading  '-'.
       Many options are switches, meaning a '+' turns the option on, and a '-'
       turns the option off.  Generally, the INI file option for such switches
       is  bool.   For	other  options, it doesn't matter if a '+' or a '-' is
       used.  Most options cannot have spaces in them so  you  should  specify
       +FN  rather  than +F N, and combining options is not allowed, so +SC is
       very different from +S +C. Options are not case sensitive.

       The command-line options are shown below with their  corresponding  INI
       file  options.  If the same option is specified multiple times, whether
       in INI files or on the command-line, the last such option overrides any
       previous	 ones,	with  the  exception of the +L or Library_Path option,
       which is cumulative.

   Parsing options:
       I<input_file_name> or Input_File_Name=file
	      Specifies the input file to use.	If the input file name is '-',
	      the scene description will be read from the standard input.

       L<library_path> or Library_Path=path
	      Specifies	 a  directory  for  to search for input files, include
	      files, fonts, and image maps, if the specified file  is  not  in
	      the current directory.

       MVn.n or Version=float
	      Treat  scene  files  as  if they were version n.n instead of the
	      current version.	This may be overridden from within  the	 scene
	      file.

       SU or Split_Unions=bool
	      Split  bounded  CSG  unions if children are finite.  This allows
	      automatic bounding of CSG objects to take place.

       UR or Remove_Bounds=bool
	      Remove unnecessary  bounding  objects.   This  allows  automatic
	      bounding of older scene files to take place.

   Output options:
       H[01234567]
	      Display help on command-line options for section 0 through 7.

       Hnn or Height=integer
	      The image should be nn pixels high.

       Wnn or Width=integer
	      The image should be nn pixels wide.

       SRnn or Start_Row=integer
	      Start the rendering at row nn from the top of the screen.

       SR0.nn or Start_Row=float
	      Start the rendering nn percent from the top of the screen.

       ERnn or End_Row=integer
	      End the rendering at row nn from the top of the screen.

       ER0.nn or End_Row=float
	      End the rendering at nn percent from the top of the screen.

       SCnn or Start_Column=integer
	      Start the rendering at column nn from the left of the screen.

       SC0.nn or Start_Column=float
	      Start the rendering at nn percent from the left of the screen.

       ECnn or End_Column=integer
	      End the rendering at column nn from the left of the screen.

       EC0.nn or End_Column=float
	      End the rendering at nn percent from the left of the screen.

       C or Continue_Trace=bool
	      Continue a previously interrupted trace.

       P or Pause_When_Done=bool
	      If previewing, pause when the rendering is complete before clos‐
	      ing the window.

       V or Verbose=bool
	      Output verbose status messages on the progress of the rendering.

       X or Test_Abort=bool
	      Enable the  'q'  and  'Q'	 keys  to  interrupt  a	 rendering  in
	      progress.

       Xnn or Test_Abort_Count=integer
	      Only check every nn pixels for a user abort.

   Output options - display related:
       D[0][GHT] or Display=bool  Palette=char
	      Display  the  rendering  in  progress, optionally specifying the
	      palette.	The only valid X Windows palette option	 is  G,	 which
	      forces grayscale preview.	 The X Windows palette is based on the
	      visual used, whether selected automatically by  POV-Ray  or  via
	      the  -visual  option.  SVGA options are T for 24-bit true-color,
	      and H for 15-bit high-color display, in addition to the  default
	      256-color palette.  To specify the palette, you must first spec‐
	      ify the display type (the second character, shown here  as  '0')
	      for  compatibility  reasons,  even  though it is ignored in Unix
	      versions.

       Display_Gamma=float
	      Set the display gamma to the specified value.

       SPnn or Preview_Start_Size=integer
	      Start mosaic preview with blocks nn pixels square.

       EPnn or Preview_End_Size=integer
	      End mosaic preview with blocks nn pixels square.

       UD or Draw_Vistas=bool
	      Draw vista rectangles before rendering.

   Output options - file related:
       Bnn or Buffer_Output=bool Buffer_Size=integer
	      Use an output buffer nn kilobytes in size.

       F[CNPT][n] or Output_to_File=bool Output_File_Type=char
	      Store the rendered image using one  of  the  available  formats,
	      namely  Compressed  TGA, PNG, PPM, and TGA.  PNG format supports
	      the n option to specify the number of bits per color, where 5 <=
	      n <= 16.

       O<output_file> or Output_File_Name=file
	      Write  the output to the file named output_file, or the standard
	      output if '-' is given as the output file name.

       HT[CNPTX] or Histogram_Type=char
	      Create a CPU utilization histogram image in format x.  Available
	      formats are Comma-separated values (CSV), PNG grayscale, PPM POV
	      heightfield, uncompressed TGA POV heightfield, or X for no  his‐
	      togram generation.

       HN<histogram_file_name> or Histogram_Name=file
	      Output the histogram to the specified file.

       HSx.y or Histogram_Grid_Size=float
	      Divide the histogram into x columns and y rows of buckets.

   Tracing options:
       MBnn or Bounding=bool Bounding_Threshold=integer
	      Use  automatic bounding slabs if more than nn objects are in the
	      scene.

       Qn or Quality=integer
	      Render at quality n.  Qualities range from 0  for	 rough	images
	      and  9  for complete ray-tracing and textures, and 10 and 11 add
	      radiosity.

       QR or Radiosity=bool
	      Turn on radiosity.

       A0.n or Antialias=bool Antialias_Threshold=integer
	      Do antialiasing on the pixels until the difference between adja‐
	      cent  pixels is less that 0.n, or the maximum recursion depth is
	      reached.

       AMn or Sampling_Method=integer
	      Specify the method of antialiasing used, non-adaptive (n	=  1),
	      or adaptive antialiasing (n = 2).

       Jn.n or Jitter=bool Jitter_Amount=float
	      Specify  maximum	radius,	 in  pixels,  that antialiased samples
	      should be jittered from their true centers.

       Rn or Antialias_Depth=integer
	      Set the maximum recursion depth for antialiased  pixel  sub-sam‐
	      pling.

       UL or Light_Buffer=bool
	      Use light buffer to speed up rendering.

       UV or Vista_Buffer=bool
	      Use vista buffer to speed up rendering.

   Animation options:
       Kn.n or Clock=float
	      Render  a single frame of an animation with the clock value n.n,
	      typically used in external animation loops.

       KFInn or Initial_Frame=integer
	      Specify the initial frame number	for  an	 animation,  using  an
	      internal animation loop.	The default is 1.

       KFFnn or Final_Frame=integer
	      Specify  the  final frame number for an animation.  This must be
	      set at a value other that 1 in order to render  multiple	frames
	      at once (i.e. an internal animation loop).

       KIn.n or Initial_Clock=float
	      Specify the clock value for the initial frame of an animation.

       KFn.n or Final_Clock=float
	      Specify the clock value for the frame final of an animation.

       SFnn or Subset_Start_Frame=integer
	      Render  a	 subset of frames from an animation, starting at frame
	      nn.

       SFnn or Subset_Start_Frame=float
	      Render a subset of frames from an animation, starting nn percent
	      into the animation.

       EFnn or Subset_End_Frame=integer
	      Render  a	 subset of frames from an animation, stopping at frame
	      nn.

       EFnn or Subset_End_Frame=float
	      Render a subset of frames from an animation, stopping nn percent
	      into the animation.

       KC or Cyclic_Animation=bool
	      Generate clock values for a cyclic animation.

       UF or Field_Render=bool
	      Render  alternate	 frames	 using	odd/even  fields, suitable for
	      interlaced output.

       UO or Odd_Field=bool
	      Start a field rendered animation on the odd field,  rather  than
	      the even field.

   Shell Out:
       Pre_Scene_Command=command line
	      Execute the specified command line before the scene is rendered.
	      This option may only be used from INI files.

       Pre_Frame_Command=command line
	      Execute the specified command line before the frame is rendered.
	      This option may only be used from INI files.

       Post_Scene_Command=command line
	      Execute  the specified command line after the scene is rendered.
	      This option may only be used from INI files.

       Post_Frame_Command=command line
	      Execute the specified command line after the frame is  rendered.
	      This option may only be used from INI files.

       User_Abort_Command=command line
	      Execute the specified command line when the user aborts POV-Ray.
	      This option may only be used from INI files.

       Fatal_Error_Command=command line
	      Execute the specified command line  when	POV-Ray	 has  a	 fatal
	      error. This option may only be used from INI files.

   Command-line Substitutions
       The following substitutions are available for use within command lines:

       %h     Height of image in pixels

       %k     Clock value of this frame

       %n     Frame number of this frame

       %o     Output file name with extension and embedded frame number if any

       %s     Scene  name  derived  by stripping path and extension from input
	      name

       %w     Width of image in pixels

       %%     A single % sign.

   Shell Command Return Actions
       These options can be used within INI files to specify actions  to  take
       based on return codes from shell commands.

       Pre_Scene_Return=return action
	      Set pre-scene return actions

       Pre_Frame_Return=return action
	      Set pre-frame return actions

       Post_Scene_Return=return action
	      Set post-scene return actions

       Post_Frame_Return=return action
	      Set post-frame return actions

       User_Abort_Return=return action
	      Set user abort return actions

       Fatal_Error_Return=return action
	      Set fatal error return actions

   Return Actions:
       Return  actions are specified by a single letter.  The possible actions
       are:

       I      Ignore the code

       S      Skip one step

       A      All steps skipped

       Q      Quit POV-Ray immediately

       U      Generate a user abort in POV-Ray

       F      Generate a fatal error in POV-Ray

   Redirecting options:
       GI<name> or Create_Ini=bool or Create_Ini=file
	      Write all INI parameters to a file named after the  input	 scene
	      file, or one with the specified name.

       G[ADFRSW] or <Stream>_Console=bool
	      Write  the specified stream to the console.  The streams are All
	      (except status), Debug, Fatal, Render, Statistics, and Warning.

       G[ADFRSW]<name> or <Stream>_File=bool or <Stream>_File=file
	      Write the specified stream to the console and/or	the  specified
	      file.   The  streams are All (except status), Debug, Fatal, Ren‐
	      der, Statistics, and Warning.

   X Windows options
       In addition to the standard command-line options, the X Windows version
       recognizes  additional  command-line switches.  See X(1) for a complete
       description of these options.

       -display <display_name>
	      Display preview on display_name rather than the default display.
	      This is meant to be used to change the display to a remote host.
	      The normal dispay option +d is still valid.

       -geometry  [WIDTHxHEIGHT][+XOFF+YOFF]
	      Render the image with WIDTH and HEIGHT as	 the  dimensions,  and
	      locate the window XOFF from the left edge, and YOFF from the top
	      edge of the screen (or if negative the right  and	 bottom	 edges
	      respectively).   The  WIDTH  and	HEIGHT, if given, override any
	      previous Wnn and Hnn settings.

       -help  Display the X Windows specific options.  Use -H by itself on the
	      command-line to output the general POV-Ray options.

       -icon  Start the preview window as an icon.

       -title <window_title>
	      Override the default preview window title with window_title.

       -visual <visual_type>
	      Use  the deepest visual of visual_type, if available, instead of
	      the visual automatically selected	 visual.   Valid  visuals  are
	      StaticGray,  GrayScale,  StaticColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, or
	      DirectColor.

RESOURCES
       Currently no X resource or app-default files are supported  for	the  X
       Windows options.

FILES
       POV-Ray version 3.1 includes a modification which causes the povray.ini
       in  the	current	 directory  to	override  the  individual  setting  in
       .povrayrc,  POV-Ray  now	 looks	for initial configuration information,
       like the Library_Path settings, which gives the location for the	 stan‐
       dard  include files, first in the environment variable $POVINI, then in
       ./povray.ini,	  then	    in	    $HOME/.povrayrc,	  then	    in
       /usr/local/lib/povray31/povray.ini,  which  directory can be changed at
       compile-time by modifying POVLIBDIR in the makefile.

       POVLEGAL.DOC should be accompany all installations of POV-Ray, and out‐
       lines  specific conditions and restrictions on the POV-Ray software.  A
       condition of POVLEGAL.DOC requires that documentation, INI,  and	 scene
       files be available to all users of POV-Ray  They are often installed in
       /usr/local/lib/povray31, but may be in other locations on some systems.

       The most recent version of POV-Ray and its documentation can always  be
       retrieved   via	anonymous  FTP	at  ftp.povray.org,  or	 via  HTTP  at
       http://www.povray.org/, as well as many other locations.

SEE ALSO
       X(1), kill(1)

COPYRIGHT
       POV-Ray is Copyright (C)	 1991,	1999  the  POV-Ray  Development	 Team.
       Although	 it  is distributed as freeware, it is NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN soft‐
       ware.  POV-Ray is subject to the	 restrictions  as  defined  in	POVLE‐
       GAL.DOC.

       X  Windows  is Copyright (C) 1984 - 1991 the Massachusetts Institute of
       Technology, and also Copyright (C) 1992 - 1996 the X Consortium, Inc.

TRADEMARKS
       Persistence of Vision, POV-Ray, and POV-Help are registered  trademarks
       of the POV-Ray Development Team.

BUGS
       The  SVGA  version  does	 not currently generate an optimized grayscale
       palette for grayscale preview, so displays using the G  palette	option
       will use very few gray levels, and a few non-gray colors.

       Before  reporting  a  bug to the authors, you should make sure you have
       the latest version of the software, in case the bug  has	 already  been
       fixed.	There  are a large number of POV-Ray users on the USENET news‐
       group comp.graphics.rendering.raytracing that may be able to  help  you
       with  your  problem.  If you are having problems compiling, installing,
       or running the software, you should seek help  locally  or  on  USENET,
       rather than from the authors.

       If you have a repeatable bug in the most recent version, try to isolate
       the bug in the smallest scene file possible.  The POV-Ray Team Co-ordi‐
       nator  is  Chris	 Young and can be reached at team-coord@povray.org. Do
       not send large binary or uuencoded files to Chris without first	asking
       permission to do so.

AUTHORS
       The primary developers, in alphabetical order are:

	 Steve Anger	    Dieter Bayer       Chris Cason
	 Chris Dailey	    Andreas Dilger     Steve Demlow
	 Alexander Enzmann  Dan Farmer	       Timothy Wegner
	 Chris Young

       Major contributing authors, in alphabetical order are:

	 Steve A. Bennett   David K. Buck      Aaron A. Collins
	 Pascal Massimino   Jim McElhiney      Douglas Muir
	 Bill Pulver	    Robert Skinner     Zsolt Szalavari
	 Scott Taylor	    Drew Wells

       Other authors are listed in the documentation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
       POV-Ray	is  based  on  DKBTrace	 2.12  by  David  K. Buck and Aaron A.
       Collins.

POV-Team		       21 November 1999			    POV-Ray(1)
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