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# Interface: ViewportSSB

Interfaces > Core Interfaces> ViewportSSB

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Note

This Core Interface is not available by default in 3ds Max 2012 and higher because the Viewports are set to use the Nitrous Graphics System.

You must switch the Viewports to Direct3D graphics for this interface to become available!

The ViewportSSB Core Interface available in 3ds Max 2010 and higher when using Direct3D viewport graphics exposes some properties and methods related to the viewport Soft Shadows effect.

Properties:

    ViewportSSB.CubeBias : float : Read|Write

Get/Set the Cube MapBias value used when blurring the Shadow Map.

Default is 0.5.

    ViewportSSB.ShadowMapSize : Integer : Read|Write

Get/Set the Shadow Map Size value used to calculate the Viewport Shadows.

Default is 512.

EXAMPLES: |
    vss = maxops.getViewportShadingSettings() --get control <IObject>
    vss.ActivateViewportShading = true --turn on hardware shading
    vss.ShadowsActive = true --enable shadows
    vss.ShadowMode = #Soft --enable soft shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadows = false --disable area shadows
    ViewportSSB.ShadowMapSize = 512 --default shadow map size
ViewportSSB.ShadowMapSize = 256 | ViewportSSB.ShadowMapSize = 128
ViewportSSB.ShadowMapSize = 64 | ViewportSSB.ShadowMapSize = 32

    ViewportSSB.EVSMConfig : point3by value: Read|Write

Get/set a Point3 value that can be used to control light "bleeding" in the Shadows.

Default is [10,5,0.01].

    ViewportSSB.AreaShadow : Boolean : Read|Write

Turn on/off Area Shadow preview of Area Lights.

Only works if Shadows are set to #Soft, otherwise #Hard shadows will be calculated regardless.

When set to true, Area Lights will cast Area Shadows.

When set to false, Area Lights will cast Soft Shadows.

Default is false.

EXAMPLES:
    vss = maxops.getViewportShadingSettings() --get control <IObject>
    vss.ActivateViewportShading = true --turn on hardware shading
    vss.ShadowsActive = true --enable shadows
    vss.ShadowMode = #Hard --enable soft shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadow = true --disable area shadows
    --As you can see, Area Shadows are NOT displayed in Hard Shadows mode.
    vss.ShadowMode = #Soft --enable soft shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadow = false --disable area shadows
    --Area Shadows are disabled, so we get Soft shadows display
    vss.ShadowMode = #Soft --enable soft shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadow = true --enable areashadows
    --Both Soft and Area Shadows are enabled, so we get Area Shadows
    --in the viewports:

    ViewportSSB.TransAreaShadow : Boolean : Read|Write

Turn on/off transparency support for Area Shadow.

Default is false.

EXAMPLES:
    vss = maxops.getViewportShadingSettings() --get control <IObject>
    vss.ActivateViewportShading = true --turn on hardware shading
    vss.ShadowsActive = true --enable shadows
    vss.ShadowMode = #Soft --enable soft shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadows = false --disable area shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadows = true --enablearea shadows
    ViewportSSB.TransAreaShadow = false --disable transparent area shadows
    ViewportSSB.AreaShadows = true --enable area shadows
    ViewportSSB.TransAreaShadow = true --enable transparent area shadows

Methods:

    <String>ViewportSSB.GetVideoMemoryUsed()

Returns the video memory used by the effect as a string.

FOR EXAMPLE:
    ViewportSSB.GetVideoMemoryUsed()
    --> "23.50 (19.50 + 4.00)MB"

#### See Also

- Viewport Shading Settings

- Interface: IViewportShadingMgr