Alpha values

[martin]

Hi all,

I try to implement something called Opacity Shadow Mapping by which it is possible to calculate shadows of semi-transparent
objects. In order to do this, I have to render the scene several times with special clipping parameters. After rendering,
I will read back the resulting alpha values from the color buffer. But unfortunately, all alpha values are one. I am using
the blending equation GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA. My question: How can I render the scene and
get back different alpha values at different positions? To get more precisely: When I render a quad textured with a bitmap
that has an alpha value of 0.6, I want this 0.6 appear in the color buffer again. When I render this scene again with another
quad lying over the other, I want the two alpha values properly accumulated and stored again in the color buffer.

Any help will be appreciated,
MK

[baldurk]

if you look at the scene, make sure that the quads do have an alpha of 0.6. ie. see if you can see through them. If that's OK, then it's a problem in the reading process.

[martin]

Sorry, that's not my problem. I know how to texture transparent objects, but I want this alpha value in the framebuffer and I
have no idea how to do this. The alpha values in the framebuffer are contstantly one after the rendering process.

[baldurk]

well, that's not the problem.. Do the colour values get read right?

[martin]

I read the values from the framebuffer with
glReadPixels(0,0,512,512,GL_ALPHA,GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE ,map);
All alpha values turn out to be 1.

[Dia Kharrat]

How are you rendering the screen? Are you sure you are rendering transperant objects?
Btw, read up on 'glReadBuffer()' to specify the buffer you want to read from.

[martin]

Yes, I'm sure that I am rendering transparent objects, the color values are all fine blended together.
I am using glReadBuffer(GL_BACK) to read from the back buffer (I'm using double buffering).
There is no alpha buffer from where I can read the intermediate alpha values.

[martin]

Hmm, I see where the problem is...
I tried a demo program using GLUT. When I initialize GLUT with GLUT_RGBA and especially with GLUT_ALPHA,
it works. Unfortunately, I am not using GLUT, but Trolltechs Qt OpenGL component. I have to look for an
equivalent option there.

[Noor]

Hmm :rolleyes: . When I read the help menu concerning the problem you had, the help menu did not say anything about GLUT. But anyway congratulations :) .