"Raymond C. Gilford" wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> I am having some trouble getting a cylindrical light source to simulate
> a laser beam. Has anyone worked with this particular light source
> feature?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> RG

  It is important to remember that a light source in POV-Ray is not visible
to the camera and that it only exists to produce light. Laser beams are better
simulated using a cylinder with a high color intensity and ambient value and/or
use the "looks like" light source modifier so that it actualy emits light.
That last option would not really work with a laser since their light is
coherent and only travels in one direction for the most part. Some here have
used "media" to to model teh star wars light sabers but I am unconvinced it
they had any improvement over just using the method I first described.

-- 
Ken Tyler

See my 1000+ Povray and 3D Rendering and Raytracing Links at:
http://home.pacbell.net/tylereng/index.html

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