Shared Cubemaps

Cubemaps in Foxel are essential for various visual effects, including Image-Based Lighting (IBL), reflections, and background environments. They enhance the realism of your projects by providing a 360-degree view of the surrounding environment.

Managing Cubemaps

Cubemaps are managed through the Cubemaps Tab of the Visual Resources Panel.

🔺 Figure 1 The Cubemaps Tab.

File Location

All cubemap files are stored in the following directory:
Documents\Foxel\Shared\Cubemaps

File Format

Cubemaps are saved in the proprietary format .fxlcm that includes both environment maps and convolution maps, allowing for fast loading and efficient upload to the GPU.

Importing Cubemaps

To import cubemaps into Foxel, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Cubemap Tab.
2. Click on the Import button.
3. Select the files you want to import and click Open.

Foxel supports a wide variety of common cubemap layouts, which are automatically detected upon import:

🔺 Figure 2: Supported cubemap layouts.

You can also import a cubemap using six separate images. The filenames must include the following postfixes: _right, _left, _top, _bottom, _front, and _back. For example:

• cubemap_right.png
• cubemap_left.png
• cubemap_top.png
• cubemap_bottom.png
• cubemap_front.png
• cubemap_back.png

Note

To import a cubemap from six images, select only one of the six images in the import dialog.

Additionally, Foxel can generate cubemaps from 360° panorama images that use equirectangular projection:

🔺 Figure 3: 360° panorama with equirectangular projection.

Supported File Formats for Import

File Format	File Extension
Image	.png, .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .tiff
HDR Image	.hdr

Exporting Cubemaps

To export cubemaps, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Cubemap Tab.
2. Select the cubemaps you want to export.
3. Right-click on your selection.
4. Choose Export from the context menu.

• If you are exporting a single file, you will be prompted to enter a file name.
• If you are exporting multiple files, you will be prompted to select a destination folder. In this case, the default file type will be used for exporting.

The exported cubemap layout will be in a horizontal cross format.

Supported File Formats for Export

File Format	File Extension
Image	.png, .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .tiff