Quote - First the rendering question so I don't forget to mention it:

Carrara for some reason is absolutely refusing to let me render from any of the main cameras.  Keeps creating new cameras which are my only options to render from, if I delete one it just makes another.  Have I mistakenly checked some obscure setting that is causing this?

Now lighting.  In Poser if I want a dark part of a room, I create a black light.  Here when I create a black light it doesn't really make the room look any darker at all.  Spot light is not working because the edges are Way too crisp and I want a look as if a light is shining in through an open door.  At the same time I want to add a level of drama to the scene with darkness closing in around the subject.

It's important that I don't place the light right on top of the subjects because then I lose my doorway shadows.

It's been noted also that my lighting around the subjects is too even.  Is there a way to avoid even lighting or to add depth mapped shadows in Carrara?

hoping I explained and asked this all correctly.  If you feel you might be able to help me but need clarity - please ask - this is an important project to me.

Thank you.

 

You can't render from the Director's camera, I believe.  Just from Cameras 1, 2, 3, etc.

There is a plugin for negative lighting.  I'll have to check what it's called.

Set the effects properties of your lights for soft edges (this is for distant lighting).

For other lighting, set their fall-offs.  Make sure you use inches for the reach of your spotlights and bulbs if your scene is measured in inches, etc.  Otherwise, you are totally blasting your scene with a million suns.

You may not need a negative light plugin once your lighting doesn't reach across the room anymore.

www.youtube.com/user/ShawnDriscollCG