ScenicFX
11-30-2003, 12:13 AM
I am CPS student in my second year and a new-commer to 3D.
I've been using lightwave for about two weeks, I think I have come a long way by my self but I sure could use some help here.
I'm looking for some help with creating a planet or moon that is half lit and still illuminated.
The problem I'm having is this. I have been trying to create a distant planet with skytacer. I used a dissolve to cause the shadow surface of the planet to blend into the atmosphere. The problem with this is that I lose its Illumination as well. Any cloud cover in front of it also suffers, as it is only seen through the dissolve of the planet object.
In reality the only thing you should see of a distant surface like the moon is the surface that is reflecting light back. Shadows return null and therefore take on the color of our atmosphere, what ever that happens to be at the time.
I need lightwave to simulate that effect. With Skytracer as a backdrop the moon/planet should be behind any cloud cover and otherwise fully visible as a half, quarter or what ever is illuminated.
If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate it. :D
Attatched is a sample of what I'm getting so far:
I've been using lightwave for about two weeks, I think I have come a long way by my self but I sure could use some help here.
I'm looking for some help with creating a planet or moon that is half lit and still illuminated.
The problem I'm having is this. I have been trying to create a distant planet with skytacer. I used a dissolve to cause the shadow surface of the planet to blend into the atmosphere. The problem with this is that I lose its Illumination as well. Any cloud cover in front of it also suffers, as it is only seen through the dissolve of the planet object.
In reality the only thing you should see of a distant surface like the moon is the surface that is reflecting light back. Shadows return null and therefore take on the color of our atmosphere, what ever that happens to be at the time.
I need lightwave to simulate that effect. With Skytracer as a backdrop the moon/planet should be behind any cloud cover and otherwise fully visible as a half, quarter or what ever is illuminated.
If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate it. :D
Attatched is a sample of what I'm getting so far: