Hi,

I am working on an animation and when I move a character under a street light (spot light, shadows enabled), the shadows that are cast by the street light don't behave like normal shadows -- they do a flickering sort of dance that is very unnatural and distracting. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Are the lights moving in any way (translating, rotating)? Check your key frames and make sure they aren't. Also if you've pointed them at anything that moves you would have the same problem. If they are that would explain the movement of the shadows.

Unzipped

Message edited on: 05/27/2004 15:45

What is your shadow map resolution (assuming you are using Poser 4 instead of 5)? The default is a a very weak 256. If your system is up to it, notch them up to 1024. That's normally the deafault maximum. However, if you double left click the light name on the dial "board", you will get a screen allowing you to raise or lower your maximum and minimum rates. I often raise my max. to 4096! You'd think I were snapping images in a vacuum the shadows are so sharp, even zoomed tightly on a character's face! Be aware this will increase your render times. Sincerely, Bill

Tempt the Hand of Fate and it'll give you the "finger"!

Thanks. The shadow rez is set for 512. I'll try 1024. Don't want to go much higher because I'm animating very complex scenes at 30 fps.

Instead of increasing the shadow map resolution, try adjusting your shadow lite cams first. Dr Geep has a tutorial on that.

You should make sure that animating is off with the lights too.

Cool. When I get a chance, I'll check into your suggestions. Thanks!