3D Lighting in LightWave
Lighting can make or break your scene. It is probably the
most important real-world effect that you can bring into
your computer art. No matter how real you make your objects,
if the lighting isn't right your entire scene is going to
look fake to the viewer. On the other hand, your objects can
be slightly off but when put in the proper lighting the
viewer may never notice the small errors in the object.
This demonstration shows the five types of light using a
single light source. Each light type is shown with radiosity
turned on and off to give a good comparison. Radiosity is the
bouncing of light rays off of objects to lightup other objects.
In the real world all objects reflect some light. This is how
we are able to see them. That light that bounces off helps to
light up other objects in the scene.
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Distant Light, Radiosity Off,
Low Render Time
Distant light shines parallel rays to create straight
shadow edges from the edge of the blocks.
The shadow edges formed when using a Distant light
are harsh and don't seem very realistic. You can reduce
this by changing the shadow color from the default black
to gray but it won't soften the edge. This trick only makes
the shadows seem softer at a glance.
Withtout
radiosity, the H block hiding behind the S is hard to
see and the shadow on the right side of the blocks are
harsh.
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Distant Light, Radiosity On,
High Render Time
Distant light shines parallel rays to create straight
shadow edges from the edge of the blocks.
The shadow edges formed when using a Distant light
are harsh and don't seem very realistic. You can reduce
this by changing the shadow color from the default black
to gray but it won't soften the edge. This trick only makes
the shadows seem softer at a glance.
With
radiosity turned on, the H block hiding behind the S is
easier to see. Also notice the shadows on the right side
of the blocks are not as harsh.
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Point Light, Radiosity Off,
Low Render Time
A point light shines rays which radiate from a centeral point.
This can seem similar to distant light if the souce is very far
from the target objects. But when the light is closer to the objects,
you begin to notice that the shadows will stretch wide behind
the objects instead of staying straight as they do with a distant light.
The shadow edges formed when using a point light
are harsh and don't seem very realistic. You can reduce
this by changing the shadow color from the default black
to gray but it won't soften the edge. This trick only makes
the shadows seem softer at a glance.
Withtout
radiosity, the H block hiding behind the S is hard to
see and the shadow on the right side of the blocks are
harsh.
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Point Light, Radiosity On,
High Render Time
A point light shines rays which radiate from a centeral point.
This can seem similar to distant light if the souce is very far
from the target objects. But when the light is closer to the objects,
you begin to notice that the shadows will stretch wide behind
the objects instead of staying straight as they do with a distant light.
The shadow edges formed when using a point light
are harsh and don't seem very realistic. You can reduce
this by changing the shadow color from the default black
to gray but it won't soften the edge. This trick only makes
the shadows seem softer at a glance.
With
radiosity turned on, the H block hiding behind the S is
easier to see. Also notice the shadows on the right side
of the blocks are not as harsh.
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Spot Light, Radiosity Off,
Low Render Time
A spot light shines rays which radiate from a centeral point
much like a point light. There are two main differences. First
the light only goes in the direction the spot light is pointing.
This lets you change the size of the light cone thereby adjusting
the light circle at the target. Secondly you can adjust the softness
angle within the cone. This reduces the harsh edge on the light.
(notice the top left corner of the scene) Unfortunatly, this doesn
soften the shadows cast by the light after hitting an object.
You can reduce
this by changing the shadow color from the default black
to gray but it won't soften the edge. This trick only makes
the shadows seem softer at a glance.
Withtout
radiosity, the H block hiding behind the S is hard to
see and the shadow on the right side of the blocks are
harsh.
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 |
|
Spot Light, Radiosity On,
High Render Time
A spot light shines rays which radiate from a centeral point
much like a point light. There are two main differences. First
the light only goes in the direction the spot light is pointing.
This lets you change the size of the light cone thereby adjusting
the light circle at the target. Secondly you can adjust the softness
angle within the cone. This reduces the harsh edge on the light.
(notice the top left corner of the scene) Unfortunatly, this doesn
soften the shadows cast by the light after hitting an object.
You can reduce
this by changing the shadow color from the default black
to gray but it won't soften the edge. This trick only makes
the shadows seem softer at a glance.
With
radiosity turned on, the H block hiding behind the S is
easier to see. Also notice the shadows on the right side
of the blocks are not as harsh.
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Linier Light, Radiosity Off,
Medium Render Time
A linier light acts like a series of point lights stretched
out in a straight line. The light quality setting will determine
how soft the shadow edges are. Notice that the shadows are softer
left to right than they are top to bottom. This is a big improvement
over the point light.
Withtout
radiosity, the H block hiding behind the S is hard to
see and the shadow on the right side of the blocks are
harsh.
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Linier Light, Radiosity,
Very High Render Time
A linier light acts like a series of point lights stretched
out in a straight line. The light quality setting will determine
how soft the shadow edges are. Notice that the shadows are softer
left to right than they are top to bottom. This is a big improvement
over the point light.
With
radiosity turned on, the H block hiding behind the S is
easier to see. Also notice the shadows on the right side
of the blocks are not as harsh.
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Area Light, Radiosity Off,
Medium Render Time
A area light acts like a series of point lights stretched
out accross a plane. The light quality setting will determine
how soft the shadow edges are. Notice that the shadows are nice and
soft in all directions. This is the highest quality light.
Withtout
radiosity, the H block hiding behind the S is hard to
see and the shadow on the right side of the blocks are
harsh.
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 |
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Area Light, Radiosity,
Very High Render Time
A area light acts like a series of point lights stretched
out accross a plane. The light quality setting will determine
how soft the shadow edges are. Notice that the shadows are nice and
soft in all directions. This is the highest quality light.
With
radiosity turned on, the H block hiding behind the S is
easier to see. Also notice the shadows on the right side
of the blocks are not as harsh.
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You may notice that the scenes that have radiosity turned on seem
over all darker even though the objects in the shadow have become
brighter. I don't understand the exact math behind this but there
are two ways to correct the lighting. You can increase the global
lighting which is usually what I do. You can also increase the
intensity on individual lights. It really depends on the effect you
are after when choosing which route to go. Be careful when increasing
the intensity on individual lights because you can easily create
hot spots if the lights are too bright.
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