I think I got more confused after reading your answers <wink>. Here is my
cone of light. It actually works but its not that great.

#declare Cone_Light =
   material  // Cone Light
   {
      texture
      {
         pigment
         {
            color rgbt <1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0>
         }
         finish
         {
            ambient 1.0
            diffuse 0.8345
            reflection 0.194233
         }
      }
   }

I have re
As you can see its got a pigment but the color of that is white since
R=G=B=1.0.

I find that reflection must be on for this to work at all, you can see I
have it set to a low value.

And it makes sense for reflection to be on otherwise what would the light
bouce off?

I found turning shadows off was needed or the cone will block the light from
hitting the surface it is shining on.

With ambient up to 1 that should make it glow but it doesn't make it glow in
the air like I had hoped. I don't see a fuzz aroudn the light which is what
I want.

thanks for your help

PS is there some place I can upload my final image so everyone can see it?
"Dearmad" <dea### [at] applesnakenet> wrote in message
news:3C422C3F.3C967128@applesnake.net...
>
>
> Mitchell Waite wrote:
> >
> > Do I need a pigment? If so what color? And should I be able to see it
when I
>
> Yes you need a pigment.  COlor?  Depends on what *your* light
> looks like.
>
> > click on Preview in the Materials Editor? And do I turn Reflection on?
How
>
> Light does in and of itself reflect, correct?  So your light
> should probably not reflect either... although that might be an
> interesting effect- if the particles you are simulating reflect,
> then... maybe, but NO is the quick answer.
>
> > about shadows on the cone object, should it be on or off. I find that
with
> Off, right?  Just try to imagine what your light would look like
> shining through dust.
>
> > it on and the value set to .20 it is begining to look like a cone. Its
not
> > glowing however.
>
> Not unless you make it glow.  You need to pair it to the actual
> light it is trying to make apparent, so that it illuminates at it
> shines.  Does that make sense?
>
> A lot about raytracing is thinking of the effect you want, not
> how to simulate reality, but the appearence of it.
>
> >
> > "Dearmad" <dea### [at] applesnakenet> wrote in message
> > news:3C41F9AA.81B46EDB@applesnake.net...
> > > I'm not sure what would work specific to your needs.  For what I
> > > needed in Fireflies:  Try a simple high ambiance and high
> > > transperency.  With the latest stuff in POV (I used POlyray)
> > > maybe even some glow.  Kill specularity to 0.  It should be a
> > > very simple texture.  Make sure the cone is as long as you want
> > > the light to be.
> > >
> > > If you want fade-off, try a gradient texture along the top to
> > > bottom axis of the cone that fades color from high values to
> > > black... add a *little* noise to it if you like.
> > >
> > > HTH
> > >
> > > -Peter
> > > --
> > > Current obsession: "Ballet pour ma fille."
> > > http://www.applesnake.net
>
> --
> Current obsession: "Ballet pour ma fille."
> http://www.applesnake.net

Post a reply to this message