A very simple question... im embrassed to ask it really.

[Taoizm]

Actually, if you're asking about soft shadows then it's not as simple as it seems.

In MAX the first thing you can do is up the Sample rate and map size for the shadow map. This will help "blur" the edges and make it smoother. However this is not a true soft shadow.

For true soft shadows you really need to have a plugin such as Vray, Brazil, Final Render, etc... (there are quite a few with that feature)

There are ways to fake it, and there used to be a script/plugin around somewhere that would simulate soft shadows.

If anyone else knows of any good tricks, or specefic plugs chim in. I'd like to know too. :)

[Seven]

thanx for the reply.. i dont feel as stupid now :)

[road]

Well if you've got your shadows set to Ray Traced then I believe you will always get crisp shadows (I may be wrong on this) so you have to use Shadow Maps and mess with your sample rate and map size (as stated above)

[Diffused]

The key lies in max5. Area Shadows!

[visualboo]

Or this free script. Lightmesh

Just make a plane where you want your light and use this script. It puts an omni light at every vertex to fake area shadows.

Works like a charm :)

[Diffused]

Plugins, plugins and guess what.. even more plugs... *sigh* :hmm: :shrug:

[visualboo]

Try working in production sometime. Speed is VERY important.

Ok were gonna race.... on the count of three, we both will set up a scene that fakes a light with an area shadow.

1...2...3

click click...... I'M DONE. You?

My point is that whatever works.... use it, because everything in this industry is a hack or workaround. Why do you think ALL the big houses have in house programmers. :thumbsup:

It's ALL good :bounce:

[Iain McFadzen]

Originally posted by Diffused
Plugins, plugins and guess what.. even more plugs... *sigh* :hmm: :shrug:

Since Max is entirely plugin based I defy you to even open Max with using any. Every primitive, every object type, every modifier, every controller, etc etc in the basic install of max is a "plugin" (most of them being non-basic-install plugins from previous versions of the app).

Anti-plugin purists are as ridiculous as the "brazil will fix anything" brigade.

[Diffused]

Oh sure, i'm not against plugs, i'm entirely with them, i just would like all the plugs ever created on one webpage, FREE to download. Sure speed counts, but does the money? Cmon, you buy software that costs a few thousand dollars and you dont get 100% of what you expected, what do you do? you waste MORE money on PLUGINS that should have been IN the software in the first place, its pissing me off. Discreet, Aliaswavefront, and others should concentrate more on software development then on marketing, do you think max 5 is worth the upgrade? i think not... and the Price! :surprised holy CRAP! aliaswavefront is only 2k while max... oww my. I have been using max for 4 years now, and i though it was the best thing that thappened to 3D.. until i opened Maya for the first time.
Here is an example: Try making fire in 3dsmax WITHOUT using Pheonix or Afterburn or any other plug...
Realistic fire that is. Maya.. wow.. i looked a fire in maya and could not take my eyes of of it! But afcource it only comes with maya unlimited (i believe)

I understand that every software has it own way of achiving what you are looking for but the actual throuth is that they are all lacking in every area. The best way to model right now is through scripting and shader writing.


ow.. and brazil does fix everything .. (if you know what you are doing) --assuming you are talking about Brazil R/S :wavey:

[AnimBot]

That's the beauty of the software though. I think all software should lend themselves to being plugable. You never know what's going to be the "next big thing" It's very smart to make a program that can easily adapt by pluging something in. Max is a fairly old program and definately needs a facelift. However until it gets one I'm fine with people such as Peter Watje making my program more powerful, with those fine plugins and scripts. :thumbsup:

[Nahaz]

Do you mean area shadowing or lighting decay/falloff?

[Joel Hooks]

Originally posted by Diffused
Oh sure, i'm not against plugs, i'm entirely with them, i just would like all the plugs ever created on one webpage, FREE to download. Sure speed counts, but does the money? Cmon, you buy software that costs a few thousand dollars and you dont get 100% of what you expected, what do you do? you waste MORE money on PLUGINS that should have been IN the software in the first place, its pissing me off.

Well, just playing devil's advocate, but 3dsMax has made me a living for me in my short uneventful career. Certainly more than the cost of the application. Not to say with some of your points I don't agree with you, but usually the cost of additional plugins is rolled into the cost of the particular job you are working on. If you aren't getting 100% what you expected out of a particular piece of software that you dropped thousands for, I would say that it is your own fault for not properly researching the application. Any 3d app can be demoed simply by calling a local reseller.


Anyhow, here's a nice script by Andy Murddock (http://www.lotsofrobots.com) that works well for making a daylight sort of atmosphere...

http://forums.delphiforums.com/lotsofrobots/messages?msg=2.4

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