hello again! it seems i have a lot of questions ..sorry for that !!! Like i said before i'm using vue xstream in 3ds max. i'm having few problems. first the mental ray shadow map and raytrace shadow none of them is making soft shadows.   as you see under the car there's no shadows. I dont know why.... Is it from the directional light of the vue scene? or what?  Thanks in forward. M.

 anyone please?!!

I don't have 3DMAX or Mental Ray, but I think you use the wrong lighting model! Switch in Atmosphere editor to Global illumination or Global radiosity! In my little example a tree cast shadow on a cube. The cube is slight above the ground, but he did not cast shadow. I use here the standard light model.

Mazak

Here with global radiosity you see the cube casts shadow. You see the cube is above the ground.

Click on the pictures for bigger display.

Mazak

To cast soft shadows, you must setup your sun softness to 3-5%.

Mazak

 Man you saved my life! 
Thanks a lot .. that works same in 3ds max. 
thanks again!

*"that works same in 3ds max"

*That is god to know! :biggrin:

Mazak

 okey So i know u don't use xstream...but do you know if i use the GI of vue. can i save the photon map in anyway?? without turning on the GI of mental ray.
I feel that i'm not that clear but hope u'll understand what i mean.

Yes you can save the GI solution in render for the next time. (In render options.) If you save the scene, the solution is saved with. But this did not work for animations; it's only for stills. See more information in manual.

Mazak

Oh ja I forgot! Alternative you can bake Illumination to an object. The object must be UV mapped. You edit an object with right click and edit....
With Illumination baking I was never very satisfied, it need very long and result isn't that good. But it works well for animations!

Mazak