Very many thanks Bernie and Mark for the particle shadows data. And thanks for the reminder about that Tutorial of Robert's, I had forgotten about it.
My shed is more or less finished, but such things are probably never completely finished. Client stuff is under control. This time away from my own drawings has been very useful and a fresh look at them has shown ways forward that I am very keen to get on with. Neil Cooke ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bernie @ VRgrafix" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 10:57 AM Subject: Particle Shadows > G'day Neil - > > > Question is that when I tried leaves from particles there were no shadows. > ?? They definitely cast shadows like any other object. Unless you set > them under object props / no shadows (sometimes useful in high particle > counts) they cast and receive shadows. This is obvious in this image: > > http://www.vrgrafix.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Gallery/15-GriffithUpdates/ View5.jpg > > > That's my question ... can particles be used as leaves and cast shadows? > yes. They even look great in wireframe - note the hedge to the > foreground is a particle "hedge". The shadows you see are from each leaf > casting shadows to the leaf below. > > http://www.vrgrafix.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Gallery/31-Senator2/VR_19-0 6-2006_View17.gif > > > > I accept that if they could then render times are probably going to be > > interesting. > They render exceptionally fast. Obviously you can increase performance > by turning off the "receive shadows" that way its casting shadows, but > not receiving it on all the millions of "sub" leaves. > > http://www.vrgrafix.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Gallery/08-MultiUnit/Courty ard01.jpg > > btw - I normally keep the 3d particle objects outside of the AO > rendering heirachy as it slows things down dramatically trying to render > a 3d particle hedge with AO (although it looks fantastic) > > > Currently, to solve the non-shadow thing I tried a basic analytic polyhedron > > within the leaf mass to do the shadow work but still not very satisfied. > Hmm.. I find the best way to make a hedge or any given shape is to use a > proxy object - eg a shape representing a hedge (analytical polyhedron > typically) then spray the 3d particles onto the object using the > "surface" projection. > > This is outlined in the tutorial by robert: > > http://realsoft.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=84 > > Hope that helps mate .. look forward to seeing some of your images ! :) > > Regards > > Bernie > VRgrafix.com.au >
