"Colin" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> I'd like to use POV-Ray to evaluate light positioning and reflector design, and
> thus would like to be able to map relative light intensities on a flat surface.
> How might this be accomplished?

I'm not quite sure whether I understand what you mean.

What comes to my mind is designing a car headlight, and an attempt to simulate
the pattern of light (a) created on a wall at a distance of whatsoever meters,
and/or (b) the pattern of light created on the road.

Does this come close to what you intend to do?


If that is what you're doing, I guess you're looking for is...

(1) PoV-ray's "ortographic camera", which allows you to render any surface
without perspective distortion;

(2) PoV-ray's "photon mapping" feature, which does forward raytracing (i.e.
shooting light rays from a light source) and is specially designed to simulate
lighting effects involving light being reflecting and/or refracted
("caustics").

Note that the so-called "fake caustics" will probably not get you anywhere for
your purpose.

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