> Ahh, I see the flaw. The "shadow map" from the light and fitting is an 
> approximation, but from your experiment it sounds like it's not a close 
> enough one to actual photons...

   No, in fact it is very close to the photons effect, in some aspects better
looking, although not correct, of course. See attached pics...

> Hmm, perhaps a no_area_light object modifier added to the SDL? That would
>  probably be useful in general to be honest.

   Yes, I think that would be the only solution: the sphere with the
"photon map" could be flagged as "no_area_light". But I cannot think of any
other situation where it will be useful such a modifier...

> I can't think of a multiple light solution that would work, and even if 
> there was one it wouldn't be a general solution to a scene.

   Well, lets wait... we all know POV-Ray unexplored possibilities are
endless, and perhaps there is already a clever way to do it, waiting for
someone to discover it.

> Sorry my idea wasn't a winner in the end!

   It was a very good idea, and just in case, I will archive it under my
/stalled folder...


--
Jaime

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