Hey all :) Another script idea .... I notice int he Rhino group that they get a lot of use out of a "light globe" - basically a globe of light sources (spotlights) all pointing into the middle. I think it would rock to do that for poser - but why not generate it on the fly? Something that would take in how may lights I wanted, how strong, what color, and whether I want them 180 (half globe, above the 'floor' or full 360 (full globe) and how far from the "center" then generate the poser lights to do it - with the spots pointing into the middle. Options: Take a object for me to "point" them at, that object would be the center point. Options: Take an object for them all to "look at" so they stay pointing later. Ah well. Just a thought... cause I HATE editing lights by hand.

Interesting idea ... How would the positioning be handle given the number of lights? As an example, say you have 4 lights in half globe mode. You'd probably want one in front, one in back and one on either side. With 5 lights, the same as 4 but with the extra one pointing down from the top. In full globe mode, it would seem to me, the smallest number you'd use would be 6. It would be the same as the half globe 5 light set up with the extra one pointing up from below. Please give some examples of how it would use more lights in half and full globe modes. Such as, 7 lights in half globe mode. Would you have the two extra lights in front, to the sides, one in back and one in front? In full globe mode would you have one above the ground plane and one below?

Hey there :) Pardon my spelling :) You know, thinking about it arbitrary light numbers is probably not needed. I can see a few configs that are useful - the others probably just complicate it. Let's talk half globes here for a moment (domes). Let's talk about checkboxes, assume the NUMBER of lights is fixed in each "orbit". Each of the following sets could be toggled. 1) Top light (1 light) 2) cardinal halo. 4 lights in a tight orbit around the top of the dome. Assuming that 90 degrees 'down' the dome is the ground plane and 0 is the very top, these would be at about 15 degrees. They are at N/S/E/W 3) offset halo - just like halo but offset 'around' the dome 45 degrees they are at NE/NW/SE/SW 4) cardinal 'shoulder' lights. 45 degrees down the dome. 4 of them again. 5) offset 'shoulder' toggle for the shoulder ring 6) cardinal 'waist' - 4 lights that are ON the gound plane (equator of dome) 7) offset waist lights If you add the equivelent sets below the ground plane you get a globe with a LOT of flexability. If you let me put in color/intensity settings for each ring it gets even cooler :) Oh, I need a setting for each ring for shadows on/off :) Then I can make LOTS of variations: * top spotlight, waist lights and a bottom foot light.... * bright halo lights, medium shoulder and then weak fill lights at the waist Anyway - you see? The NUMBER turns out to be fixed, its the combination of "rings" or orbits that would give the flexability. If I dit top/bottom/shoulder/knees and left OFF the waist, then I get a globe with no equatorial ring. If I did top AND halo, I get a bright head :) If I do cardinal AND offset shoulder I ger 8 lights at the 45 degree level. See?

That limits the playing field quite a bit. For some reason, I was thinking that the possible number of lights would be much larger. Probably got hung on dome and sphere. ;-) The concept sounds good! Thanks for the nice, tight description of how it should work. It really makes putting something like this together much easier. I'll definitely put this on the 'to do' list. It has a lot of potential. I can't say exactly when I'll make it a reality though. There's another update of FaceShaper in the works and a script to aid in creating the new forms of .pz2 files. It's a good idea so I'll make sure it gets some play as soon as the other items are out of the way. Keep bring up those suggestions. It gets my wheels spinning too. Now if I just make a living doing this stuff. :-)

That tube looks really good! I have some Python behind me, I might take a crack at some of this myself for fun sometime soon just as a proof of concept thingie - is there any good examples of the poser API anywhere? BTW - I am trying to make a living with this stuff (poser/3d max/lightwave) - we'll see how I do :)

Best place to start are the scripts that come with the Pro Pack and the latest version of the documentation available at CL. There a couple of scripts up in the free stuff section you can also look at. The book I mentioned above had the scripts I used to generate the tube. I wrote a "Python for Artists" section and included some basics of the interface. Since there seems to be some interest, when I get five microseconds free I'll gen up a sample similar to the one above and post it. Go ahead and jump into the code and post to here if you have problems. Most fun I've had coding in years.

I just bought that book this last weekend I was going in for the 3D Artists magazine (they had a couple of scripts and effects for poser) On my way out I just happened to notice it. Finally someone else is writing about poser!! Thought it would read more like an FX book rather than the Poser 4 Manual (that was dissappointing ) But I am very interested in this scripting stuff. BTW - your script and three or so other ideas within the book was enough for me to buy it. Nice Job Thinking about the adding lights script and I know nothing about what Python can do or it's full potential but how about check boxes and dropdown lists. like 'how many lights' 'Spots?' 'Colors' or atleast intensity and fall off settings. You probably could come up with away to add a preset of colored lights to an excisting set on the stage? I better get back into poser now too many ideas floating around....... : )