Spotlights with Volume Light

[TomA]

Hi,

 

I'm drawing a theatre in Max 2008.

 

I've modelled some 3D house lights and have put in some spotlights with volume light.

 

I've also excluded the 3d lights from the spolights so that the light still renders even though they are placed inside the 3d lights, if that makes sense.

 

My problem is that despite lining the spotlights up with the 3d lights in all viewports when i render they don't appear to be aligned in some camera views.

 

By the way this hasn't happened to me before with any other models, so it's pretty irritating.

 

The last view is a screenshot focused on one of the lights from 4 viewports.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

T

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/spotlight%20new/spot6.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/spotlight%20new/spot1.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/spotlight%20new/spot2.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/spotlight%20new/spot4.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/spotlight%20new/spot5.jpg

Edited March 16, 2009 by TomA

[Claudio Branch]

Are you using a Camera Correction Modifier? Your first image seems to indicate that you are.

 

I discovered that the CC Modifier will skew volume light cones and surfaces with a Hair/Fur modifier applied to them.

 

I never did find a solution... ...you may have to just remove the CC modifier and play with your camera settings to minimize the 3 point perspective that the CC modifier normally eliminates.

[bijoy]

Hi there,

Yeah i think i agree with the guy above. Camera correction does throw up some weird effects for lights. it happened to me once with photometric lights. but you said it has never happened before so im not sure. i normally align my lights at the tip of a light and not inside of it...and not exclude anything. hope you find a solution.

[TomA]

yeah sorted it exactly as you suggested. i removed the camera modifiers.

 

think i'm going to just add the volume light in photoshop post prod and use cameras without CC for animations.

 

i guess the reason it's never happened before is because i've never really used CC before.

 

thanks v mucho!

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/spotlight%20new/spot7.jpg

Edited March 16, 2009 by TomA

[Claudio Branch]

 

...think i'm going to just add the volume light in photoshop post prod and use cameras without CC for animations.

 

 

FYI, I also discovered that the CC modifier only seems to hold during an animation if the camera & target elevations remain constant...

[TomA]

how do u mean, remain static?

[Claudio Branch]

What I mean is that the 2 point perspective created by the CC modifier will stop working if you change the elevation of the camera or the camera target.

 

The 3 point perspective returns even though you have the CC modifier on the camera.

 

You can try it out on a simple box to see what I am talking about...

[TomA]

ah see what you mean.

 

seems like a pretty basic fault with the program. i'm suprised because i would've thought CC would allow for that.

 

anyway thanks for your help.

[markf]

Not sure if this would help but may be worth a try. Before the CC was available I used to add the skew modifier to the camera to correct for 3 point perspective. It worked great, but I'm not sure if it would have the same trouble with lights etc.

 

I recall that in the modifier options you would select either the Y or Z axis and change the value to 90. If you play with it for a minute or so you'll get the correct config. Then you adjust the amount spinner to visually correct the perspective.