Casting Shadows

[jaystansfield]

I've noticed a lot of images posted to this group have shadows cast along the floor, in perspective, like a real shadow.

I've tried to do this in ZBrush but can not achieve it. Do i have to use another render program to do this? Or is there a method to get a shadow as though it's cast along the floor.... HELP!!

[aurick]

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200311/user_image-1068578774loo.jpg

You mean something like this?

The key lies in the ZMode function within the Shadow properties. Skaven252 recently explained things (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=013024) very well.

[Fouad B.]

Matt too devoted to its work... it tears its Zbrush to explain to the others :D

[lm]

I'm having problems with cast shadows.
I made a flat plane and then added an elongated sphere. I enabled cast shadows but the shadows appear
weak and the sphere object has a square around it.

Also how do you show the wireframe as in the above post? http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200311/user_image-1068584075zdu.jpg

[aurick]

Is the sphere by chance still in Edit mode? If so, the Best Renderer will only render the area immediately surrounding it.

Regarding your shadows, there are things that you can do to bring them out more:

1) Turn off the Ambient light. You'll need to make the other lights brighter to compensate.

2) Increase the shadow Length.

3) As you increase the number of rays, you must decrease the Aperture. I generally do my first tests with about 50 rays and an aperture of about 30. When I get up to 100 rays or more I usually drop the aperture down to 15 or even less.

[jaystansfield]

Aaaaah!!!


Thankyou VERYmuch it's worked. However, the shadow isn't a true representation of the object really and it takes quite a while to render... Will this be sorted out in the new version?

At the moment i'm finding it much quicker and crisper to render in Cinema 4d....

[boozy floozie]

If you fancy trying a pictorial approach with greater artistic license and freedom to control the effect run the tutorial script posted here (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001484)

[lm]

Thanks Aurick, the rectangle around the elongated sphere WAS because I was in edit mode. The problem with the shadows was solved when I took a snapshot and then rendered(same settings but took snapshot first). Why would that be? Also is there any way to lessen the white artifacts around the edges of some of the objects? http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200311/user_image-1068668301wpb.jpg

[lm]

Disregard above post-I found all the answers on some of the links. Thank you to all of the people who post helpful tutorials and explanations.

[Frenchy Pilou]

Hi Im
Just work With the AA format
Menu Zoom and move the mouse over with Ctrl for obtain Info "On line" :)
And jaggies will be desapear :cool:
Pilou

[s o u t h e r n]

Try messing with light positions and strengths and make sure, as Aurick says, that ZMode is on. You really don't need to revert to a third part application for good shadows. Ask Z-Stevie, he has awesome shadow work.

Glen

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/graphics/gfx1a/gfx-zbrush21/img8.jpg)