Problem with Archvision RPC shadows in max

[ross2280]

When i seem to enable the rpc's to have shadow casting, their shadows seem to start further away from the actual rpc, even if my shadow map bias is 0.001 for example. Is that because they are not supposed to be shadowed at all, or is it because of my area shadows?

I am using 3d max 6, with the latest archvision plugin and radiosity lighting.

 

Thanks!

[Ricardo Eloy]

Hum...maybe the area shadows. You know, RPCs already have a "shadow", but they only will cast shadows with raytraced lights. Since you're using area lights, they might be messing the shadows.

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Rick

[STRAT]

and i pressume the trees are actually on the ground and not hovering?

[ross2280]

Yes, everything is on the ground...

The shadows seem to be correct in shape, the only problem is the offset from the tree/person base...

And i think the same happens even when i have the raytraced shadow.

 

thanks for your opinions..

[Ricardo Eloy]

Well, RPCs are not 100% flawless, you know....As I said, they might be uncompatible with area lights (never tried, it's just a guess). Try a test with a raytraced spot and see if they behave the same as they do with area lights.

[]

Rick

[Vince Paske]

Try poking around the tips section at archvision, they have a few work-arounds to help you out. I've always had problems getting believable shadows from them, so I just map one to a plane that has a tree opacity map on it and link and allign it to the RPC. I have the RPC not cast shadows in the properties dialogue.

The shadows from RPC objects in animations is even stranger, then twist and grow like they're reaching for your camera. It's freaky. That's why a simple plane, or two in an "x" works so much better. It's just more work at first, but you can always re-use.