"Tim Nikias v2.0" <tim### [at] gmxde> wrote in message
news:3f2075f0@news.povray.org...
>
> recursion_limit (specified in global_settings{})
> POV-Ray ships with a default of 5, which
> may be too low for two sides of glass plus
> several refractions and reflections. The same
> applies to photons, you can set a recursion_limit
> there, too.

Ahem. Tim, it's max_trace_level still last time I checked, not
recursion_limit (which is for radiosity).  ;-)

I've made a lava lamp before, too. I can't see what the inside is doing in
that image; so, if there's lava stuff, it sure is blending with the rest of
the lamp--- wait... now I can. I'm using a LCD screen here and tilting it
back I can see the lower and upper globs now.

What you are wanting to do, obviously, is lighten areas and also have
shadowy areas of the lava. Correct? You'll probably end up needing
scattering media, if you haven't used that already. That way the light
source should interact much better than just placing a light within a
semi-transparent blob object.

I suggest that you try test renders without the glass and photons until you
get the lava illumination adjusted the way you like it. Helps if the tests
are speedier as you go back and forth with changes. Then afterward you can
work on the refractions of the glass and liquid, as well as any final
placements of the lava/light combination.

Bob H.

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