How do you put a "point light" inside something...or for that matter, any light "inside" something?

maybe i am misunderstanding what you mean, but you can just create it, make sure it's visible, and then move it like any other object. when lights are created, they're not at the origin, but someplace out in space -- i usually start with the top camera, reset the light's x and z translate to values within its view, and then grab the light and move it to where i want it with the additional help of the other orthographic cameras. there are other ways to make something glow inside, but i am not experienced enough yet with poser to know which methods are more or less expensive.

It's the "out in space" part that I'm having trouble with.  I move the dials and all I can see are white lines with arrows for some lights, and just a change in light/shadow when I move others.

Are the lights invisible?  How do you find where they are so you can see them?

infinite lights are represented by a large white circle with 3 arrows, point lights are small rings, spot lights look like klieg lights (cylinder with flaps). you can make them visible the same way you do other objects -- window -> parameter dials -> properties tab -> visible checkbox. that tab is also where you can change one light type to another one. they get created outside of the standard camera view, so to see them you either have to move them closer to the origin, or pull the camera back far enough. i don't move the dials because they're not precise enough for me; i just type in the values. if you just make an empty scene, create a light, change x, y, and z translate to 0, you should see it sitting right smack at the origin.

White lines with arrows sounds like an infinite light. The problem with point lights are that their representation in the preview is extremely small, so they are difficult to see. Try adding a point light, increasing the scale to 500% and set the x, y, and z trans dials to zero. The light should then be visible on the floor in the exact centre of the scene, as a concentric double ring. To make it even more visible, you could set the element style for the light to flat shaded. You should find it easily then!

Aargh, X-post!

nevermind the xpost -- scaling/shading the point light is a good idea, and i hadn't thought of that at all. tnx!

Point lights are hard to locate sometimes, because they are shown as very small circles. Use the lights scale dial to make them bigger. Maybe they are easier to find from top view.

Thanks :)  I'll try that after my youngest cat decides to stop cuddling and let me back into Poser,  LOL 

I am always switching to the Aux camera to locate the point lights, that gives me a better overview of the scene. Once I've found them I simply grab and move them and do the fine tuning with the dials.

This is something where Poser's tiled document window is quite handy...

One pane using your seene cam and one or two orthogonal cams (top and/or front) for moving the lights :)

You can see the light's x and z location thru the top cam and the y location thru the front cam and still see how the light's affecting your scene!

I have old eyes and can't see what's  in the window if I have the document window broken up into several angles.  I need to work with a larger document window and use the AUX or Posing cameras to turn things around to check different angles.

If I had a 26 inch monitor I'd do the multi view document window :)

Quote - I have old eyes and can't see what's  in the window if I have the document window broken up into several angles.  I need to work with a larger document window and use the AUX or Posing cameras to turn things around to check different angles.

If I had a 26 inch monitor I'd do the multi view document window :)

You could try changing the document window to full screen... Also very useful feature... even on large monitors :)

Martin

Quote - You could try changing the document window to full screen... Also very useful feature... even on large monitors :)

I'm using two monitors, one showing the preview window in fullsize. This is one of the things I love most on P6! :))

If I work in full screen, I can't see the tools.  I have the interface set up in such a way that I can squeeze in a 1024x768 window. I usually only work with an 800x800 one, but sometimes I want the larger one depending on what scene I'm trying to work with.

One day I'll get a new desktop and move my Poser off of my laptop, but for now it's what I have to use as my current desktop can just manage to render a draft and seizes up when trying to render a production one.

Attached Link: http://ockhamsbungalow.com/Python/SnapTo.zip

chosen body part or prop instantly.  Much easier than having to

use two or three different camera angles to be sure you're

really there!  I use it often with point lights.

Thanks!  I downloaded the script.  I have a question.  The readme states:

"Select the 'mover' before starting the script"

What is the "mover"?

In this case the point light would be the 'mover'.  The 'destination'

would be the lampshade, or whatever you want the point light

to be in the middle of.

Thanks :)

 I just finished giving you your very own  "Subscripts" area in Poser :)  I have a number of your scripts and they warranted their own special spot, hehe. I especially like the PBM and zero dial cleaners.  They make such a huge difference :)

I wasn't happy with 'mover' and 'destination', but couldn't think

of a better pair of words.  If you can think of a better description,

I'd welcome it......

What about "Target" and "Destination"?

When bringing things together, I tend to go with 'Source' and 'Target'.  I use 'Source' and 'Destination' when copying (programming thing, you know), but that might work.  'Projectile' and 'Target' would be more appropo, but only if we're talking ballistics. ;)

Hmm...  If I set up enough of a 'story' in the text, I could use

bulb and socket, which would fit the most likely use of the script,

or flower and pot.... 

There's a definite limit of good taste in this direction, though!  

This line of thinking 'snaps to' the lower realms only too easily.

Quote - How do you put a "point light" inside something...or for that matter, any light "inside" something?

I use point lights quite a bit now, the easiest way to find the point light is to  0 the translation dials. I used 3 point lights in my Elven Tabledancer render http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=1181201&Start=1&Artist=dasquid&ByArtist=Yes

I had originally used just the lights but  you couldn't really tell the origin of the lights very well, so I took someones advice and put the point lights in a high res sphere primitive prop made the spheres not cast shadows and also made them 95% transparent.

(nudity flag on because the image linked to has nudity)

Quote - > Quote - How do you put a "point light" inside something...or for that matter, any light "inside" something?

I use point lights quite a bit now, the easiest way to find the point light is to  0 the translation dials. I used 3 point lights in my Elven Tabledancer render http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=1181201&Start=1&Artist=dasquid&ByArtist=Yes

I had originally used just the lights but  you couldn't really tell the origin of the lights very well, so I took someones advice and put the point lights in a high res sphere primitive prop made the spheres not cast shadows and also made them 95% transparent.

(nudity flag on because the image linked to has nudity)

Well that was silly I  posted the link to the render before I changed it here is the revised image.
http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=1201034&Start=1&Sectionid=1&filter_genre_id=0&WhatsNew=Yes

(again nudity flag  set because  the linked image has nudity)

Re: How do you put a "point light" inside something...or for that matter, any light "inside" something?

Here is a scene with just three (3) Point Lights.

2 Point Lights are in the Lamp.

1 Point Light is outside of the window.

The Lamp Shade uses Translucence.

Cheers

DR