CGTalk - Glowing Clouds?...

mrliammm

11-03-2006, 03:02 AM

Hi, i am a painter who is very interested in the potential of 3d animation. At present I know very little about it. I am hoping to find out what software and consequently hardware I would need for creating moving, morphing clouds of light.
I apologise for my ignorance but the references to lighting i can find refer to lighting objects and ambient lighting, whereas i am interested more specifically in light as the 'object' itself.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated
thankyou, Liam

gringer

11-06-2006, 08:24 AM

To get the effect you're after, you could use what is called volume light. Most 3D applications have this feature. Also most 3D applications have a 'noise' option for this effect too, which would allow for the moving/morphing.

Do a search for volume light with google or with this site.

Also, creating some dummy geometry, making them 'non-renderable' and placing them in and around the volume light would give you the effect of rays coming from your 'clouds'. (the lights must have shadow casting enabled.)

As for the program and hardware... I'm not going to suggest a particular 3D application as to avoid a possible war over which is better. In my books, the bigger and better your PC hardware is, the better...that said...people have made some great work on slow, older machines...perhaps they're just more patient. :P

I hope that nudges you in the right direction.

Cheers :D

mrliammm

11-11-2006, 01:31 AM

thanks very much for the advice, It looks like a good start...
as to hardware, is it possible to work on a laptop? even, dare i say it, a mac?...!

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