Neil Mercer wrote:

> Hi there,
>
>     I'm trying to model (amongst other things) a LED.  Building the shape
> has not really been a problem, but now I want to be able to include a light
> inside it so I can make the LED light up (obviously).  I'm having trouble
> getting the light to look right.  So far it either floods the scene with
> light (i.e. too intense) or merely makes the LED structure look like it has
> a shiny surface texture.  What I would like is that nice glow that looks so
> simple and easy!
>
>     Also, at this stage I've been colouring the LED itself and using a white
> (or near-white light).  Would it be better to have a clear LED and a
> coloured light?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Neil.

  Instead of thinking of it as a light source think instead of it as
a glowing object. One trick you might try is making your LED
texture semi-transpearent. Then inside of it plant a seed that
will be the glow source. If you add a very high ambient finish
to it it will more realisticaly model a glowing effect than a light
source will.

example:
assumes your LED is 1 unit in size adjust accordingly.

object{LED
 pigment{rgbf<1,0,0,.8}}

sphere{<0,0,0>,0.1
 pigment{rgb<1,0,0>}
  finish{ambient 3}// adjust to desired effect
}

Ken Tyler

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