When using the shadowcam view for different lights, it seems that some cams do not show the figures entirely. Also, while in shadowcam view, moving the XYZ trans under light properties causes figures to either disappear gradually or vice versa. Funny thing is, a figure is fully visible in one view but, when that same shadowcam is accessed later, the figure would be completely invisible. The above picture is a solid ball prop that is for some reason partially invisible through shadowcam view.

I don't think this visibility of figures in shadowcam has any effect in actual render, as all the shadows that are suppose to be casted are indeed shown once it's rendered. However, adjusting the lights' location by looking through the shadowcam is a real pain since I can't see where the figure is. Is anybody else also having this problem or is this the way shadowcams behave? All my other camera's are working fine, it's just the shadowcams that are giving me this trouble.

It looks like the hither is to high.

Actually, hither is at very low. I further adjusted it to some negative value and it seems to have some effect as I think I coud see the outline of the figure but that's as far as it goes once the dial reaches certain number.

What's weird is, when two lights have exactly same settings under properties and under materials, a figure is fully visible in one shadowcam but it's completely invisible in another.

post screenshot of two spotlights and ball, if possible

The clear spot will have no shadow, usually. Zoom or scale up/ out and all will be fine.

P6, P5, PP, or P4? Latest SR for that edition.

Hi Miss Nancy. See what you got me started :) Just kidding, I been using shadowcam alot since you taught me that "zoom in" trick, but something I noticed was inconsistency of shadowcam in displaying the figures. It would also be alot easier if poser would stop adjusting the shadowcam automatically but, whenever I make a change to the scene, shadowcam acts completely different. Like this two lights that have same exact properties, the figure shows up in one shadowcam while it doesn't show up in another. I can get the figure to come up again if I move the light to different position but why wouldn't it show up if they are in same position?

I usually flip the parameter dial choice to the shadowcam under cameras, not the light.

Ooops, didn't see the posts while I was typing.

Richardson, that makes sense. When you say scale out, is it the scale dial under lights or camera? Actually, just tried both and it's still invisible. Well, since it's on top of the other so it should be invisible right?

Just making sure, so when it's rendered like this, the second light shouldn't have any effect on the final render?

actually what I was looking for was a screencap of the main document window, showing the position of the two spotlites relative to the ball. there is an arcane trick to show the "position" of an universal lite, but it's not very helpful.

Scale dial under shadowcam< ...and the light associated with this cam should be pointing at you on tyhe lightball. You can click on it and tweak the light trans(XYZ, rot) while looking through its cam. Really works. P6 is a bit more diofficult than P5. Every new light or prop that you add to your scene will effect the cam zoom too. It will try to cover all objects. It is lockable, I think.

-Miss Nancy, This?

-Richardson,
Yes, it does work! As a matter of fact, I created these lights after reading your realism tutorial here. In that tutorial, you said place the specular light near the main lights. How near the specular light should be to retain its effect? If it's right on top of the main light like above, does specular light loses all of its effectiveness?

As for the invisible parts that do not go away when you zoom the cam,,, I think it only works well when mainlight is a spot. InfiniteLight (cams) are a bit more difficult with small objects like your sphere. I just duplicated your problem. How near the specular light should be to retain its effect? I place it close to the mainlight so it does not interfere with the shadows from the mainlight. It can help sometimes with shadows and hard to light skins, too. This is just one technique in about 12,000,000 possible variances. ;) Just hoped it would make things easier for some. You can just as easily drag it to the rear and use it as a rimlight.

"Just hoped it would make things easier for some. You can just as easily drag it to the rear and use it as a rimlight"

I wasn't blaming you for my hardship at all :) It seemed no matter where that specular light is placed, or any other light for that matter, there's always parts of the figure that were invisible. I was trying to figure out what was casuing it and it ended up placing specular light directly over the main. Neddless to say, it didn't made matters any easier :)

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. Oh, and thanks for writing that tutorial, it helped me very much.

Message edited on: 02/26/2006 19:32

chinnei, Most poser lightsets are onesided. Ibl is your best bet(in Poser) for all around light with perhaps a high value sun(150%+) set above might give you an "animating" lightset. And glad someone read it! I've got a few killer lightsets I'd love to put out but have to find an ibl/loader for it 1st.