The N-Panel Interface

Integrated directly into the Blender Sidebar (press N and navigate to the PV Pro tab). This provides a dockable, persistent workspace that stays open and accessible while you build, tweak, and refine your models.

To Open: Press N in the 3D Viewport to open the sidebar, then select the PV Pro tab.

1. Aspect Ratio Control

This setting defines the shape of your final image. Selecting an aspect ratio here immediately updates Blender's resolution settings and adjusts the camera's sensor fit.

• Match Render (Auto-Sync) The camera sensor will automatically scale to match whatever resolution you have set in the Render tab. Use this for standard workflows.
• Industry Standard Presets Quickly switch to 1:1 (Square) for Instagram, 9:16 (Vertical) for mobile ads, or 16:9 (HD) for web headers.
• Free Mode Unlocks manual sensor width/height control for experimental framing.

2. Professional Angle Presets

PV Pro doesn't just move the camera; it calculates a specialized distance to ensure the product fill-factor is consistent across all angles.

3. 360° Turntable Engine

Create high-end rotating animations with zero keyframing knowledge.

Step-by-Step Setup:

1. Set Turntable Mode:
   • Rotate Product: The lights and camera stay still while the object spins. Best for items with strong directional lighting.
   • Rotate Camera: The camera orbits the product. Best for scenes with complex environments or HDRIs.
2. Define Duration: Set the Frame Count. A typical 360 loop is 120-240 frames for a smooth result.
3. Select Direction: Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise.
4. Initialize: Click 360° Turntable. PV Pro will build a "Constraint Rig" that handles the math.
5. Preview: Click Play Loop to see the rotation in the viewport.

4. Precision Adjustments (Zoom & Height)

Use these buttons for non-destructive framing tweaks. Unlike manual moving, these preserve the camera's focus and center-lock.

• Zoom In / Out / Reset Increments focal length by 10% per click. Range: 0.5x (Ultra Wide) to 3.0x (Extreme Telephoto). Reset returns to the preset default (1.0x).
• Height Up / Down / Reset Offsets the vertical position by 0.05 units. Use this to shift the horizon line without losing your product in the frame.

5. Depth of Field (DOF) System

Simulate a real physical lens to create a cinematic "Bokeh" effect.

• Auto-Focus Mode Uses geometry analysis to lock focus on the exact center of your model. Use the Focus Offset slider to shift focus forward (toward the lens) or backward.
• Manual Focus Mode Provides a direct distance slider (in meters) for custom focal points.
• Blur Presets (Aperture) Choose from Sharp (Infinite focus), Subtle (Commercial style), Deep (Portrait style), or Macro (Extreme background blur).

6. Camera Clipping Plane

This is a technical safety setting. If your background appears to disappear or "Z-fight" (flicker), adjust these values.

• Start: The nearest point the camera can see. (Default: 0.1m)
• End: The furthest point the camera can see. Increase this if you have a massive studio environment. (Default: 100m)

1. Lighting Mode Selection

PV Pro provides two powerful ways to light your scene. You can toggle between them using the primary Lighting Mode button.

• Lighting Presets (Physical Rigs) Spawns actual 3D Area and Point lights in a rig around your product. Best for high-contrast commercial shots with specific highlights.
• Smart Studio (HDRI Engine) Uses 32-bit high-dynamic-range images for 360° global illumination. Best for realistic reflections and natural, soft lighting.

2. Working with Lighting Presets

Each preset is a hand-crafted light rig tuned for specific materials and product types.

Advanced Light Tuning:

After selecting a preset, expand the Advanced Light Settings to control individual intensities. For example, in Soft Studio, you can separately adjust the Key, Fill, and Rim lights to create the perfect balance.

3. Working with Smart Studio (HDRI)

Harness the power of realistic environments with the curated HDRI library.

1. Choose a Preset: Select from Dramatic, Clean Studio, Luxury Dark, Soft Outdoor, or Window Light.
2. Adjust Strength: Control the overall brightness of the environment.
3. Rotate World: Use the rotation slider to move the "Sun" or primary light source around the product until the reflections look perfect.
4. Custom HDRI: Use the folder icon to load your own .hdr or .exr files.

4. Environment & Background System

Define what sits behind and underneath your product.

• Studio Backdrop Mode Choose from Podiums, L-Curves, or 360-Seamless geometry.
  • Colors: Dynamically adjusts based on the backdrop. Some backdrops support multiple color zones.
  • Reflection: Adjust how "shiny" or "matte" the floor is.
• Transparent Mode Disables all backgrounds and enables alpha transparency. Mandatory for 360-degree turntable renders that need to be composited onto web-viewers.

5. Creative Shadow (GOBO)

Project intricate shadows onto your scene to add depth and narrative.

Step-by-Step GOBO Setup:

1. Enable: Toggle the "Turn ON" button in the Creative Shadow section.
2. Pick Texture: Click the texture name to open the visual browser. Choose from Windows, Trees, Railings, or Geometric patterns.
3. Scale & Intensity: Adjust the shadow's size and how "dark" or "subtle" it appears.
4. Orientation: Use Angle to determine where the light comes from (e.g., a high sun vs. a low window) and Rotation to spin the pattern.

6. Animation Preview

If you have set up a 360° turntable in the Camera tab, use the Play Animation Loop button here to see how your lighting and shadows interact with the movement before you hit render.

1. Master Render Quality

Choose your target quality level. PV Pro immediately configures Samples, Noise Thresholds, and Light Bounces for the Cycles engine.

2. Custom Quality Override

For absolute control, enable the Custom Quality Override checkbox. This provides a single "Master Quality" slider from 1% to 100%.

3. Resolution & Aspect Ratio

Define the physical size of your image. This system is dual-linked with the Camera tab for perfect framing.

• Render Aspect Ratio Choose your format (1:1, 16:9, etc.). Selecting FREE unlocks manual Width and Height inputs.
• Resolution Presets Quickly scale your chosen aspect ratio to FHD (1080p), 4K (2160p), or even 8K.

4. Output Settings & Formats

Configure how and where your files are saved.

• File Format Choose from PNG (Standard), JPG (Compressed), EXR (High Dynamic Range), or MP4 (Direct Video Export).
• Render Mode Logic • Single Frame: Renders only the current timeline frame.
  • Active Segment / Frame Range: Renders a sequence of images.
  Note: Multi-frame modes are automatically restricted unless your background supports 360-degree viewing.
• Output Folder & Automation Pick your destination. PV Pro uses a Smart Folder System that automatically sorts your renders into subfolders named by project and date.

5. Executing the Render

Click the large CREATE RENDERS button to start the process.

• Status Monitor: During rendering, a progress bar and "Time Remaining" estimate will appear in the UI.
• Safety Check: If you haven't performed the Analyze step, the addon will warn you to ensure the lights and cameras are correctly calibrated before starting.