{"id":6212,"date":"2025-03-03T13:41:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T21:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/?p=6212"},"modified":"2025-04-03T12:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T19:16:11","slug":"space-in-a-new-light-update-35","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/space-in-a-new-light-update-35\/","title":{"rendered":"Space in a New Light | Update 35"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Immerse yourself in a universe more awe-inspiring and realistic than ever before with our next-generation graphics update! We’ve also added many interface improvements to make controlling the universe easier and more intuitive. You need to see it to believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A More Realistic Graphics Engine<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve completely replaced our 10-year-old graphics technology with a state-of-the-art system to make Universe Sandbox look more realistic with physically-based lighting. This new system has required us to update our minimum requirements<\/a>. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Edit Objects Simultaneously<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The properties panel now lets you edit multiple objects at once. Use the new Multi-Select<\/strong> tool to select multiple objects and try increasing the mass of every object in the Solar System simultaneously!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Automatic Interface Management<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Focus on manipulating the universe instead of managing panels with our new interface system that automatically positions, resizes, and closes panels so you can always see the simulation. This immersive system also provides better support for ultrawide monitors and small screens (like smartphones).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Focus on realism<\/strong>
Making Universe Sandbox look as realistic as possible with physically-based lighting has made stars realistically bright, and collisions result in blindingly realistic hot spots. It turns out there\u2019s a reason you\u2019re not supposed to look at the Sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Light from hot planets
Hot objects now emit light based on their temperature so you can use intense impacts to light up your simulation. Previously, only stars could emit light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Localized glow
Objects now bloom only in hot areas, like those created from lasers or collisions, instead of being surrounded by a single uniform glow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smoothly blending clouds
Gas and dust clouds now smoothly pass over planets instead of creating sharp intersections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Realistic artifacts
The surfaces of human-scale objects, or artifacts like spacecraft, have shiny, reflective metals and rough, rugged edges that interact with light more realistically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Math in text fields
All object properties now support basic math. Try typing \u201c*42\u201d into a property to multiply by 42 or \u201c\/3\u201d to divide by 3, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore planet surfaces
Move across the surface of a planet with the WASD keys after landing on it by zooming in for a closer look or using the Land action button in the planet’s Overview tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Light intensity with distance
Objects are now always realistically lit based on their physical distance from a light source. Previously, objects were lit with the same intensity based on the camera’s distance from a light source instead of the object’s distance from a light source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before (Realistic Object Visibility): Planet sizes have been exaggerated to show how planets are all lit at the same intensity, no matter how far they are from the Sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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After (Realistic Lighting with Space Goggle On): Planet sizes have been exaggerated to show how planets are lit more realistically based on their distance from the Sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Light warping
Black holes now realistically warp the visuals from other black holes instead of blocking any black holes behind them from being seen. The images below are from the same simulation, with custom colors in the \u201cBefore\u201d image that make the black holes easier to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Updated View Panel
We\u2019ve improved the View panel with more intuitive controls and lighting options<\/p>\n\n\n\n