Which Reference Type Do You Need
In Foxel, references are not one generic object type.
Each source asset type has its own matching Reference object type, and choosing the right one is part of the workflow.
Why This Matters
When creating a Reference manually, the Reference type must match the asset type.
If that rule is unclear, reference setup becomes confusing very quickly.
The simple question is:
Which kind of source asset do you want to reference?
Once you know that, the correct Reference type is usually clear.
Two Reference Categories
Foxel provides two reference categories:
- Voxel References
- Pixel References
A voxel object can be either a Voxel Layer or a Voxel Reference.
A pixel object can be either a Pixel Layer or a Pixel Reference.
The category depends on what kind of data the Reference produces in the target asset.
Voxel Reference Types
Voxel References load data from other assets and display the result as voxel data inside a Voxel Scene.
Depending on the Reference type, the source data may be scanned, converted, voxelized, or read from an existing voxel frame before it is displayed.
Scene Reference
Use a Scene Reference when the source asset is another Voxel Scene.
A Scene Reference loads voxel data from that scene by scanning a region and merging the result into a single grid.
Use this when you want one Voxel Scene to reuse content from another Voxel Scene.
Mesh Reference
Use a Mesh Reference when the source asset is a Mesh Asset.
A Mesh Reference voxelizes the mesh data and displays the result as voxel data in the scene.
Use this when imported mesh content should become part of a voxel-based scene workflow.
Heightmap Reference
Use a Heightmap Reference when the source asset is a Heightmap.
A Heightmap Reference converts the stored height information into voxel data.
Use this when height-based pixel data should become voxel relief or environment detail inside a Voxel Scene.
Movie Reference
Use a Movie Reference when the source asset is a Voxel Movie.
A Movie Reference displays the voxel data of a selected frame.
Use this when a specific Voxel Movie frame should appear as voxel content in a Voxel Scene.
Pixel References
Pixel References load data from other assets and display the result as pixel data inside a Heightmap.
At the moment, Pixel References can reference Heightmaps only.
The loaded pixel grid can be:
- Flipped
- Rotated
- Scaled
Use a Pixel Reference when you want to reuse Heightmap content inside another Heightmap workflow instead of generating voxel data in a Voxel Scene.
The Simple Rule
When creating a Reference manually:
- Choose the Reference object type first.
- Assign the matching source asset in the Inspector.
The Reference type must match the assigned asset type.
| Source Asset | Reference Type |
|---|---|
| Voxel Scene | Scene Reference |
| Mesh Asset | Mesh Reference |
| Heightmap | Heightmap Reference |
| Voxel Movie | Movie Reference |
| Heightmap for pixel workflow | Pixel Reference |
What To Remember
- Foxel has Voxel References and Pixel References.
- Each source asset type has its own matching Reference type.
- Voxel Scenes, Mesh Assets, Heightmaps, and Voxel Movies all use different Voxel Reference types.
- Pixel References currently reference Heightmaps only.
- The Reference type must match the assigned asset type.
- Choose the Reference based on the source asset and the target workflow.