soft shadows

[3DDave]

You have to increase the quality level of the area light to 4 or 5, also increase your AA passes.

If that doesn't work for you, try Shadow Designer.

[Tottebias]

Turning on Shading noise reduction usually helps.

[3DDave]

Originally posted by Tottebias
Turning on Shading noise reduction usually helps.


Yes, but be carefull as it also softens bump maps!

[Halsu]

Though i probably sound like a broken record... i suggest learning the spinning light technique.

There's a thread about it on this forum... wait a sec...


...here. (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92628)

[hobbit72]

thanks for the input.

Im rendering some tests now, using different techniques. radiosity (had to give it a shot and see) is taking forever!

will post the results when done

[hobbit72]

http://66.8.37.150/2.jpg
distant light enhanced low AA raytraced shadows - original render

http://66.8.37.150/1.jpg
quality 5 area light enhanced low AA raytraced shadows

http://66.8.37.150/3.jpg
quality 5 area light enhanced low AA raytraced shadows with radiosity

the last two are better, but they still dont look 100% right to me.

[Halsu]

Spinning lights - using my Overcaster setups

[hobbit72]

http://66.8.37.150/4.jpg
one spotlight spinning from -360 frame 0 to 360 frame 2
frame 1 rendered
raytraced shadows
motionblur on set to 120% dithered.

Thanks for the thread link. It is worth a try, but I dont understand this spinning light theory. It seems to darken and dirty the render. Would a much larger area light be the answer, or maybe multiple spotlights. In real life shadows are gradual because the light source is scattered and large (in the case of sunlight). Any ideas?

[telamon]

Have you ever tried to use shadow maps of high definition (3000x3000)

[Halsu]

The spinning lights don't darken or anything like that. There seems to be something wrong in the way you set up your rig... at least, the amount of spinning is wrong. If you e-mail me the scrnr / objects, i can have a closer look for you -

The trick simply uses LW's way of calculation motion blur to make a single light to appear to shine from multiple points.

Here's more reading...

Another thread (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93725)

The "original" spinning light tutorial (http://members.shaw.ca/phroggrafix/tutorials/spinning/spinning.html)

[pixelranger]

Hi.

The reason your area light shadows are so hard and crisp is either that your area light is far away or that is is very small relative to the logo.

Try to move it closer or to size up the area light (using the size tool).

[hobbit72]

Still no luck with spinning lights. Tried various movement ranges but the effect is not there, although the amount of "dirt" does vary. Will keep trying, I am intrigued by the principle.

http://66.8.37.150/5.jpg
pixelranger, that did the trick. scaled area light to 6 on x and y, and now I'm getting the results I expect. Fine tuning needed, but on the right road.

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