Anim8or Community

General Category => General Anim8or Forum => Topic started by: Blick Fang on September 17, 2012, 03:34:51 pm

Title: Shadows
Post by: Blick Fang on September 17, 2012, 03:34:51 pm

Hi All

I've searched the forum and tried different things and came up empty handed.  How can I make my shadows lighter?  I have tried the Advanced properties and change the percentage.  I have even changed the color of the light and the shadows won't tone down.  Any suggestions?


Thanks

Title: Re: Shadows
Post by: Raxx on September 17, 2012, 04:08:59 pm

Are you sure it's the shadows you're trying to change, and not the ambient property of the material? What renderer are you using?

Title: Re: Shadows
Post by: Blick Fang on September 17, 2012, 04:38:36 pm

Hi Raxx

When I use Scanline I get no shadows and the colors of one of my objects gets....."rainbowy"

When I use ART Ray Tracer I get heavy dark shadows; even if I try Ray Trace Percent 2

Title: Re: Shadows
Post by: Raxx on September 17, 2012, 06:23:51 pm

If using the Scanline renderer, set the light properties back to normal, and disable volume shadows if you're using them (use Ray Trace). If it still has that noise, you could always share the file and I'll play with it.

As for ART, all lights cast shadows 100%. So your best bet would be to add multiple lights so that it'll reduce the darkness of the shadows. The additional lights don't have to cast shadows, and can be placed in the exact same orientation as the shadow casting lights. Then adjust the intensities of all the lights to get the results you want. I don't play with ART much (read:never), so it's possible there are better solutions.

Title: Re: Shadows
Post by: Blick Fang on September 17, 2012, 07:26:22 pm

Raxx, it dawned on me:  You may have been right in the 1st place.  I was so caught up in the light properties I did not consider the MATERIAL it was hitting!!!!  I will report my findings but I feel it is the MATERIAL it is hitting!!!    Thanks for chiming in!  :-)

Title: Re: Shadows
Post by: Blick Fang on September 18, 2012, 11:13:52 am

Quote from: Raxx on September 17, 2012, 06:23:51 pm

As for ART, all lights cast shadows 100%. So your best bet would be to add multiple lights so that it'll reduce the darkness of the shadows. The additional lights don't have to cast shadows, and can be placed in the exact same orientation as the shadow casting lights. Then adjust the intensities of all the lights to get the results you want. I don't play with ART much (read:never), so it's possible there are better solutions.

Hiya Raxx

I am playing with extra lights and I am seeing some results I like.  Thanks for the tip!   :D  8)