More Light

[Kaz]

Moved on from the Glow Lights to the Point Lights.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1034094230waa.jpg

:b4: One Main sunlight, light gray blue color, top left. ZMode shadows on. .72 intensity

:b4: Another sunlight, white, bottom right (Default light). No shadows, .27 intensity

:b4: Point Light, positioned right on the recessed light, Light yellow,ZMode Shadows on, 1 intensity, Radius of 1.04

:b4: Ambience set to 0

[DLee]

Kaz, you ARE the master of light. Beautifully done.

[Kaz]

Well, I added some objects to get more info and here are the results:

ZMode on for the Point Light:

:b3: A http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1034096926wss.jpg

ZMode off for the Point Light:

:b3: B http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1034096949oas.jpg

*Thanks DLee


:b3: C http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1034100011hqe.jpg
:b4: edit :b4: sorry, I just had to post one that fit into the page...

[WingedOne]

With ZMode on, you can usually get more convincing shadows, however sometimes you get some unusual artifacts with it too. In the ZMode example that you posted, I notice you get some light leaking through the backs of the shelves (which also seem to correspond with the positions of the baseballs) while with ZMode off, you no longer have the light leaks but on the other hand less accurate shadows. Of course, sometimes ZMode would be more appropriate in certain conditions while having ZMode off would be more appropriate in others.

Interesting lighting experiments, Kaz. :tu:

[DeeVee]

well done Kaz! thanks for the information :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Flycatcher]

I'm enjoying this lighting series Kaz - thanks a lot. :tu: :tu: :tu:

I'm still puzzled about ZMode though - the result in the example you posted looks rather odd for the reason already noted above. Can you or someone please explain exactly what ZMode is supposed to do and when you should use it. :confused:

[Kaz]

Well, here is an example of the first instance where it was evident to me:
Non ZMode:
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1034130686uki.jpg

ZMode:
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1034130700xnv.jpg

More intricate differences, I could not say. In the example with the baseballs, I did not even know there was going to be problem, till render. So, I just chnged the setting to see what heppens...

[DLee]

ahhh light bulbs go off. Blinded now ~L~ That's how you get the real trailing shadows rather than the plastered against the wall look. Thanks Kaz.

[rhom]

The baseball images are extra coolKaz
great work!

[NOITAMINANIMATION]

KAZ, is the total value of your light intensities greater than 1 or 100%? If so balance them to be 1, then try again. I've seen this before with Renderman stuff we do and certain depth effects, lights and shadows. Zbrush is a little different, and you don't have access to the controls as far as I know to fix this. However let me know the result, it might let me offer a solution.

[Kaz]

NOITAMINANIMATION,

Well, that's a good question. ZB light values go up to 2, so I am not sure how that equates to what you are saying. However, I did a test where I only used 2 lights and the combined intensity was equal to 1. I had the same results as picture A

[NOITAMINANIMATION]

OK. It shouldn't matter how many lights, but sometimes renderers do a little extra work, especially calculating various surfaces and shadows. We recently had one (under Renderman) that if we increased the light, it removed shadow as yours is doing.

Try setting the lights combined value to .9 or 90%. Also can you try everything with default colors and surfaces as a comparisson test.

Yes I'd do it, but I don't actually do anything other than texture objects in Zbrush at present.

[Jaycephus]

Hi Kaz,

Lighting seems to be a particularly weak area for ZBrush. Notice the shadows on the balls from the point light in either mode. The Shadow is U-shaped. Also, only the balls on the top shelf should have any point-light shadows. The lower shelves should be in the shadow of the top shelf, and the balls on the lower shelves should only have one shadow each, not two. I am glad to see that Pixologix is quickly improving all facets of the program, and I can't wait for them to get back to the lighting and work on it a little more. :)

[Flycatcher]

Thanks for the additional pair of illustrations, Kaz - they make it very clear what ZMode is. :tu: :)

[Stargo]

Great images, Kaz :tu: :tu: :tu:
You are really a master of lights :tu: :tu: :tu:

Stargo