I am working on a scene with the idea that the camera is pointed at a bright light. In between the light and the camera would be an object that appears really as a shadow with a halo of light surrounding the edges due to the bright light behind it.

It seems that when rendered the scene clearly displays the effect of light on the walls of the scene but doesn't display the light itself at the point of the light source very well if at all.

I've done tests using distant, bulb, spot, and anything glows. I initially thought that anything glows would work, this being the first time I've ever experimented with it. It sort of works, but I used a sphere as the source of the light, and the seems to be coming from the bottom quarter of the sphere rather than the center as viewed from the camera. I searched the Cararra manual but the information there is rather sparse on the use of anything glows.

To further clarify what I am trying to create. Picture the scene of an interrogation room from an old movie. A bright light is shining in the suspects face, while the suspect can only see the shadow of the detective asking the questions because of the brightness of the light. Not the scene I am trying to create but the same basic idea.

If anyone has any tips or pointers, I would be much appreciative.

You need to use a glow coming from the object itself as well as the light source.  If it is supposed to have a shape, like a flourescent bulb, then create a transparent object with a very bright glow, and a bright color.  Then through an aura on it in the effects menu for it.  This is how I create bright light sources.  Just remember the aura / glow is what will create the halo effect you want, whereas the anything glows on the object will create actual shadows.

Quote - You need to use a glow coming from the object itself as well as the light source.  If it is supposed to have a shape, like a flourescent bulb, then create a transparent object with a very bright glow, and a bright color.  Then through an aura on it in the effects menu for it.  This is how I create bright light sources.  Just remember the aura / glow is what will create the halo effect you want, whereas the anything glows on the object will create actual shadows.

Thank you so much!

LOL, great minds thinkg alike. :)

Quote - > Quote - You need to use a glow coming from the object itself as well as the light source.  If it is supposed to have a shape, like a flourescent bulb, then create a transparent object with a very bright glow, and a bright color.  Then through an aura on it in the effects menu for it.  This is how I create bright light sources.  Just remember the aura / glow is what will create the halo effect you want, whereas the anything glows on the object will create actual shadows.

Thank you so much!

When you say "glow" are you referring to the setting in the objects shader?

That and the aura which actually makes the object glow.  I always use the object glow channel for the anything glows source. Then the aura to give it the, well, the aura. :)  Look at one of my renders of the Sparrow Hawk  class cruiser and look at the wing guns to see what I mean.

I'm not quite there yet but I am headed in the correct direction with your help, thank you!