"Carl" <car### [at] semisouthcom> wrote:
> I'd like to try and copy the game grid effect as seen in the movie TRON.
> Check out this example for those who aren't familiar with it.
>
> http://www.wwwmwww.com/Matt/Animation1.gif
>
> Here is one of my current POV-Ray renders...
>
> http://www.wwwmwww.com/Matt/hover2.png
>
> However reciently I've been pointed to this work done in Realsoft 3D
>
> http://www.matthias-kappenberg.de/index.php?id=165
>
> Can anyone here tell how he pulled off this effect?  And better yet can it
> be copied in POV-Ray?
>
> Thanks,
> Carl

An alternate solution to those already posted is to try to reproduce the
process used for the original TRON images.  The gridlines are 2D objects
pasted onto the image plane (i.e. your computer screen), not onto the floor
plane. As a result, the gridlines don't become "flat" as they approach the
horizon. So, why not use physical 2D objects (clipped planes?) for the
gridlines, and rotate them so that their normals are always perpindicular
to the camera?  I'm not sure how easy this is to accomplish, but this would
maintain thier "thickness" as viewed from the camera for the horizontal
lines, while the lines leading away from the camera would decrease in
thickness as required.  The problem with patterns is that they sit on the
ground plane and have zero "height" as they approach the horizon.

Or, you may just have to settle for something that looks "close enough" as
many of the posted solutions do.

Mike

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