Hidden light problem.

[niko3d]

Hello, i have a problem with my lights in my scene. Basically i'm trying to make a hidden light. In reality it's supposed to be a fluorescent light that is inside a hole in a wall. The viewer sees only the rays and not the actual light itself. One idea i had was to use a target spot and then put the effect Volume Light to it, that way i can see the rays (but not well). But the problem is that i want it to be shaped like a rectangle (and other shapes). Anyway im sure that there has to be a better way to do this, do you know? I don't use any renderer just the default renderer of max. Should i use mental ray to do this? Anyway i hope i make sense. Thank you

Edited July 2, 2008 by niko3d

[david.jones]

Is this for a still image?

 

If so, Photoshop the volumetric effect, its so much easier than tweaking settings.

 

If its for animation, i would again, fake it, ive created volumetric effects within combustion, but you could probably do it as a seperate image showing a mask for the effect, and comp in whatever you are using.

 

Hope the suggestions help.

[niko3d]

Thank you for the reply. Do you by any chance teach at Portsmouth University? I used to have a teacher who has the same name as you. Anyway, volumetric effect in photoshop? This may sound a bit stupid from me but where is it? I can't find it. Thanks

[david.jones]

Haha, no, David Jones is a very common name, i'm a differenty one.

 

Its not a specific effect called volumetric, its just creating a blended shape using a gradient fill of colour. Create a bounded area where you expect the rays to come out, gradient fill it with light yellow or something graded out to opaque, then use blurs and further opacity to perfect it.

 

i had a quick look for a tutorial but couldnt find one, im sure there is one out there though.

[niko3d]

Ok i have understood exactly what you said. Thank you i will do that! About the name, funny isn't it? you both work more or less on the same field. Again thanks