Surface mode is the default point-cloud display mode.
Size
Enter a point size value in world-space units for the Size setting. Larger values make points appear bigger, visually "closing" gaps and creating the illusion of a more continuous surface. However, overly large sizes can lead to a loss of detail and a blurry appearance.
Smoothness band
The Smoothness band setting adjusts the perceived roughness of the surface. Smaller values create a rougher appearance, while larger values produce smooth color transitions. Avoid overly large values, as they can cause the background to blend into the surface.
Shading mode
The Shading mode setting provides three options: Basic, Flat shaded, and PBR.
Basic
Disables shading, displaying the point cloud without any lighting effects.
Flat shaded
Applies shading to the point cloud using a virtual light source positioned at the camera’s location.
PBR (Physically-Based Rendering)
Offers realistic shading by simulating material properties. When PBR is selected, additional options become available:
- Base color: Defines the primary color of the material.
- Metallic: Controls how metallic the point cloud appears. A value of 0 indicates a non-metallic (dielectric) surface, while a value of 1 represents a fully metallic surface.
- Roughness: Determines how smooth or rough the surface appears. A lower value results in a smoother surface with sharper reflections, while a higher value gives a rougher, more diffuse appearance with softer reflections.
- IOR (Index of Refraction): Advanced users may adjust this to control the index of refraction.
From left to right, roughness values range from 0 to 1. The top row represents non-metal materials, while the bottom row represents metals.