I would like to be able to position lights while looking out of them, but I don't see a "light view" in the viewport window. Does this mean Carrara won't let you view through lights, or is this capability located somewhere else?

Attached Link: Product page for S.W.A.P.

Actually, I simply use the "Point At" modifier and have the light automatically point at either an object or a target helper object. Mark

I tried to purchase but the link took me to a page that reads:

The page cannot be displayed

Mmmm. I bought Primivol yesterday, maybe they closed business for the rest of the week :) But seriously, it seems Plimus.com, who does the payments and all is off-line at this moment. Probably out for coffee or something... Should be temporarily.

Create a camera and place it at the exact same position and with the exact same orientation as the light, then group them together and view through that camera.  Note that if yo use point at with that light, you will need to manually reorient the camera.

Quote - I would like to be able to position lights while looking out of them, but I don't see a "light view" in the viewport window. Does this mean Carrara won't let you view through lights, or is this capability located somewhere else?

I see the page is back up, however I emailed support before I purchase as I have Carrara 6 Pro and everything they have for Carrara is for versions 2-5 as far as I can see.

I'll be sure to inform the group of their response in this thread.

what do you want to see? unlike Poser, there is no light's shadow cam which allows tweaking of the shadow cone, right?

so why not just use the director's camera and put it right where the light is? or the suggestion above to position a new camera with the light and group them.

hey that swap is a good idea, though. I'd LOVE to be able to swap between the director camera and the shooting camera with a click of keystroke.

::::: Opera :::::

Lots of good suggestions and workarounds here: The "point at" feature is useful as well. It hadn't occurred to me to parent the light with the camera. Thanks for pointing out the options.

Quote - I see the page is back up, however I emailed support before I purchase as I have Carrara 6 Pro and everything they have for Carrara is for versions 2-5 as far as I can see.

I'll be sure to inform the group of their response in this thread.

They have C6 links as well.  Download them first before buying your license.

Yes, the point at modifier works nicely with lights. If you use the technique above to set the position of the camera, you can then save that and return too it at a later date.

Here's an example of the PointAt modifier with 3 lights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGUkXZiCpE

I was origionally using Cognito to drive some hidden cubes. I've swapped to using looping NLA as it was easier to control the positions.

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Can someone send me the link you are talking about to the C6 stuff?

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This page contains all the latest updates of Inagoni's plugins.
http://www.inagoni.com/content.php?content.14

Quote - hey that swap is a good idea, though. I'd LOVE to be able to swap between the director camera and the shooting camera with a click of keystroke.::::: Opera :::::

You can do this with the mouse and you don't need swap, click on the menu top left of the viewport to switch cameras. I've setup some scenes with 5 cameras and then just change my director camera to take the settings from each of the others.

I do use the popup menu upper left to switch from shooting camera to directors; usually it is because I want to fly around, etc. so I have not gotten into making more cameras than that.

I didn't quite understand this, however:  

"I've setup some scenes with 5 cameras and then just change my director camera to take the settings from each of the others."

Can you explain it?

Thanks

::::: Opera ::::

Operaguy,

In the camera menu in the upper left-hand corner, choose the option "Set Position To".  You can choose so that the active camera assumes the viewpoint of any of the listed options.  You can also save view positions if you don't feel like using a multitude of cameras.

I purchased last week on the 17th and they still haven't sent the code to unlock or install. If I don't here from them by Friday, I'll call my credit card company and cancel.

Hmmmm, that's unusual. Did you get any e-mails back? Sometimes the serial number is buried towards the bottom. Also, if you log in to your DAZ account, the serial number will be listed there as well under Order History, Serial Codes.

No, no emails Mark. 

Maybe I'm way off base, even all the way to planet mars, but, I doubt that SWAP would issue its serial numbers through DAZ. 

Not sure, you know???

Didn't realize that you were talking about Swap!

Sorry. My bad....

Can I parent a light to an object so when the object is moved, the light moves with it?

Oh yes. Just group them.

**Thanks.
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It's now the 25th, and the folks at Inagoni still haven't sent me my serial number!

They sure want their money quick enough don't they? 

No offense to anyone here, but, I sure as heck wouldn't recommend this product if they don't plan on supporting it. I shouldn't have to wait three hours, let alone three days, as I did when I first emailed them, to get my serial number. It's now been a week. Ive sent them another request. We'll see what happens.

I know exactly how you feel.  DAZ made me wait a month and NEVER gave the the correct serial numbers for my Right Hemisphere Entertainment Bundle.  I hope you get yours sooner.

I just got it, they said they emailed it on the 18th and don't know why I didn't get it. 

Maybe I filled out the email addy wrong?

Either way, I got it.

Thanx