Tool: Blender Image Generator

[refact0r]

Plan is to replace current Python image generator with a Blender system that doesn't use the same math as FOUND.

Depends on issue #57

[lsakunes]

Camera(ID) - Blender Python API <- move the camera to wherever and fiddle with its settings; write the position to a txt file or smth (alternatively set up a custom property in blender and include it in the image's metadata)
https://docs.blender.org/api/current/bpy.ops.render.html#bpy.ops.render.render <- render the image
Then if you go into the "view layer" tab, open passes->light then select "Color" under diffuse, you can go into the compositing tab and set up the nodes like pictured and this will output a pure color image with no lighting.

For the actual rendering I would use eevee, and set the samples to be relatively low. The only reason to increase samples is if you need better antialiasing. I found 10 looks alright, but the algorithm might need a higher resolution.

[lsakunes]

To make it consistent with future iterations, most texture maps use the same UV mapping as the "UV sphere", not the icosphere.

(Shift+A)

Make sure to scale the sphere to match the earth's relative X Y and Z scale

(hit N if you don't see this menu)

Set the subdivisions (Modifiers->Add Modifier->Generate->Subdivision) to be pretty high for render so that we get an accurate curve without edges (I think 6 should be enough; if it's not just put another subdivision modifier on)

[lsakunes]

Don't worry if the display looks weird when you render. The actual image that gets outputted is different so make sure you check that instead.

[j4lando]

Can this approach be automated for mass image generation?

[lsakunes]

Yeah once everything is set up, the script handles it all so you can just put it in a loop