Anyone really good with volumetric light effects?

Shown on image how light goes through the object (Prop). I am trying to scale it that is only stops behind the (4) image displays. Also trying to get beam rays of light, not dots. Although I could be satisfied with the dotty rays.

Anyone know how to scale light ray, also to stop going through the objects?

Message edited on: 09/28/2005 17:14

And this is my setup for Spotlight(s), and Atmosphere.

First of all, you have Shadow set to 0.0 on your spotlight parameters panel, and shadows are disabled in properties. This means the light will pass through everything, even if you have shadows enabled in your render options. Set Shadow to 1.0, and enable shadows for that spotlight. Second, you'll need something that isn't visible at render-time, but will still catch the light and prevent it from going any further. The holograms are transparent, so they might not be sufficient on their own. I'd recommend placing a square prop just behind the holograms, with the Shadow_Catch_Only option enabled in the Material Room. As for the dotty rays, try reducing the Atmosphere node's Volume_StepSize value.

Also make sure that (if using mapped shadows, which I strongly recommend for volumetric lights) you change the shadow map size to something greater than 0. 128 should already be enough, I guess.

Did all the advice here. Light, still going through Table onto floor. I didn't think the light would need shadows, that is why I had em at "0". I dunno, 'thinking' about redoing the (mesh) Video Comm displays to hard comm display panels, instead of light on glass displays. I thought this could be done. Will work on this for a while before I change my mind. Will do/show some more results, my efforts.

Message edited on: 09/29/2005 01:47

bm

For the light, you could set the Distant start and Distance end to a specific value, so it will stop at the middle of the props. They are both in the paramters palette of the light (in the main room, not the material room). By the way, excellent props !

"For the light, you could set the Distant start and Distance end to a specific value, so it will stop at the middle of the props. They are both in the paramters palette of the light (in the main room, not the material room)." Yes, I know. Been playing around with the light settings all morning, and other issues. Thanks for the advice.

Another trick would be to fake the cone(s) of light, by using a prop with transparencies. And, as said by Little Dragon, if you want the light to stop automatically at the (4) image, you must enable the shadow.

Ok, finally done. Did a lot of text from advice. Took all morning, and afternoon. Sample 1 (Renders took like hours each). That is why I changed the floor texture. The reflection and lighting from the floor was increasing render time(s). Since my problems are solved from the last render, I didn't feel like changing floor texture. The floor isn't my problem.

Other Render from another angle. Next pics will show my Setting results.

On this image, shows my 4 spotlights. I have em scaled down to 10% to help position em easier.

Now, in the material room, showing my Atmosphere. Although I will change trying to make rays. I did lower the Noise earlier, but I was having problems controlling the light from going through the props. I needed to see more first.

Now behind the hologram images "Visual # Back", I have all 3 boxes checked. I did have only "Shadow_Catch_only" checked in a earlier render. Didn't solve the problem, then the next render checked the other 2 "Mult".

Holographic image in the front, other side of light beam. I can use a video to help with communications from both sides (Front and back) for animations. The way I designed it. :-)

Message edited on: 09/29/2005 17:06

Now one of the Spotlight settings. If you can see the size of the spotlight at 10%. Every time I load up the file, the spotlight goes back to 100%. Will be nice when I load up the file, it will remain at 10% scale. A extra note: Always have a wall to help with Volumetric lighting. Never use the poser Background. Took a few renders to figure that out, why I wasn't able to see my volumetric lighting.

And finally this is my render settings. This setting is what I am most satified with.

That is one fantastic looking SciFi consol, I can't wait to see it when you've got it all sorted out. 8)

Frankly, I agree with semidieu. You'd probably be better off faking the atmospherics with some transparent cones or pyramid primitives. It'd speed up your renders considerably.

Every time I load up the file, the spotlight goes back to 100%.

Earlier this week, maclean pointed out a way to stop that. You'll need to open the file in a text editor, find the light's Scale dial, and set the min and max limits to the same value. Then set forceLimits to 4.

http://www.runtimedna.com/mod/forum/messages.php?forum_id=43&ShowMessage=161232