I struggling to get that "volumetric sunlight through the trees" type effect - how is it done properly? And when I did get it Vue kep crashing during the render (V4.05) cheers, Poll

Hi Poll. First of all update to Vue 4.06. Vue 4.05 is a little buggy, 06 works great:-). To get the "volumetric sunlight through the trees" effect, just place your sun behind the tree, but at a place where the sun can be seen a little. If you hide it completely behind the leaves, it will not work. You need to choose an "empty" space between the leaves and branches. But... UPDATE! Guitta

ahhhh, always with the updates!!!!! I'll get it (the update) and do what you said, cheers, Guitta Poll

Actually... I've found that using a sunlight object doesn't work.. you'll need to use a spotlight and turn the volumetric option on in the light object options. Hope that helps.

That is not exact LrdSatyr, a volumetric directional light placed well works fine. See the same scene twice here. It is the same volumetric atmosphere in both images. Both trees have the sun made shadowless in front of them. Image 1 I added a volumetric directional light between leaves and branches. Image 2 I added a volumetric spotlight power 1. Both lights are white. One may like the spotlight better, but rendertime for it was 4 times longer then with the directional light:-). Guitta

Am I getting this wrong Guitta - In your image 1, the volumetric directional light, I can see no volumetric shadows. It seems to just have lens flare effects (random streaks). I have to agree with Lrdsatyr. I have on occasion managed to get volumetric sunlight or a directional light to show volumetric shadows in an image, but very rarely, and never through trees.

(volumetric shadows) No, of course not Adrien. But maybe there is a misunderstanding. Polld's question was how to create volumetric sunlight through a tree, not how to create volumetric shadows. (The random streaks are not necessary, I just did it with):-) Guitta

once I've made a decent scene Guitta, I'll post it. Thanks for the help, all :-)

Attached Link: http://www.derby-vi-service.demon.co.uk/pictures.htm

I went home and fiddled yesterday, and actually managed to get volumetric shadows in the air, through a tree, from sunlight. I've achieved this in the past with different objects, (see 'elidor' on my site, follow the link), and I 'think' its the case that sunlight volumetric shadows only appear with relatively large, distant objects in Vue, whereas spotlights can create vol shadows more readily. I presume this is because eon are trying to accuratley recreate volumetrics from the Sun, resulting in rather weak shadows. Following this reason I basically made a massive tree (in so much as there is scale in vue) placed it way off, and got shadows. Still had to fiddle a lot though.

Could not find "elidor" ??? Could you give a direct link to the image please? Thanks:-)

Attached Link: http://www.derby-vi-service.demon.co.uk/pictures/elidor.jpg

Hello Guitta - sorry, my web page is a bit linear - its there but you have to search through all the text. Here's the link.

Oh yes, this looks great. I knew this image already:-) (with other colors). Have to try that out. Thanks Adrien.