Voxel Layer

The Voxel Layer is the primary object type used in Voxel Scenes and Voxel Movies within Foxel. It consists of a single voxel grid with a maximum size of 256x256x256. This layer allows users to edit the voxel grid, providing a versatile platform for creating intricate designs and animations.

Voxel Definition

A Voxel, short for "volume element," is a cube-shaped unit of space in a 3D grid that stores indices for color and material, which reference the Color Palette and Material Set of the project. This functionality enables the creation of detailed and vibrant designs.

In Foxel, voxels can also take on various shapes, including:

• Cubes: The standard voxel shape.
• Slopes: Angled voxels for creating inclined surfaces.
• Corner Slopes: Voxel shapes designed for intersections, allowing for more complex designs.

These versatile shapes enable users to create dynamic and intricate structures within their voxel projects.

Level of Detail (LOD)

Voxel Layers support four levels of detail (LOD):

• LOD0: Full resolution.
• LOD1: 1/2 resolution.
• LOD2: 1/4 resolution.
• LOD3: 1/8 resolution.

By default, the level of detail is automatically generated, but users have the option to manually edit the LOD settings if desired. For more information, refer to Working with Levels of Detail (LOD).

Voxel Keyframes in Voxel Movies

In Voxel Movies, Voxel Layers are referred to as Voxel Keyframes. Each keyframe has an additional property called duration, which specifies how many frames the keyframe is displayed before transitioning to the next keyframe. This feature is essential for creating frame-by-frame animations, allowing for smooth transitions and dynamic storytelling. For more information, see Introduction to Frame-by-Frame Animation.

Voxel Layer Properties

The following properties can be adjusted for Voxel Layers:

• Size: Defines the voxel grid size, with a minimum of 1x1x1 and a maximum of 256x256x256.
• Manual LOD: Enables manual editing of LOD settings for LOD1 through LOD3.
• Size LOD1-LOD3: These sizes define the voxel grid sizes for LOD1, LOD2, and LOD3, and are editable only if Manual LOD is enabled. Note that the maximum grid sizes for LOD1, LOD2, and LOD3 are half of the previous LOD size plus one.
• Duration: Available only for Voxel Keyframes, this property specifies how long the keyframe is displayed in a Voxel Movie.