Cineversity

Hi,

I am using spot light to create shadows of an object on a surface. However, I can’t seem to create soft shadows no matter how much I change the distance of the light source from the object. Can someone recommend me a solution?

Thanks,
Arjun

Hi arjun118,

As I had pointed out, here…
https://www.cineversity.com/forums/viewthread/4632/#18852
… light has two key features that will dominate anything else, size and distance. If you use a Spotlight, this spotlight is pretty much a point with no dimensions. In other words, it has a size equal to zero. This works only in virtual environments. A small Halogen light source might come close to it.
To get a shadow that would resemble a Fresnel Spotlight, with a lens diameter of ~10 inches, we need to switch the shadow from Raytracing to Area and then go in Light>Attribute Manager> General> Shadow Area. Then go to Details> Area Shape> Disc, and set the size accordingly.

With this, we have not only a certain distance, given by the Light object’s position, but we also have defined the size.

Please have a look here:
https://www.cineversity.com/forums/viewthread/4632/#18852

The larger the disc, the softer the shadow will be. There will be a point where only a small area behind the object will have a shadow. Look up umbra, penumbra and antumbra.

(I would avoid the shadow quality of the Soft-Maps (Soft) settings, as this is not anything that really produces a shadow, it puts “probes” out and samples from these probes a “shadow” simulation. This can produce artifacts., This light source is especially bad in handling contact shadows.)

All the best

Hi Dr. Sassi,

First of all, thank you so much for your replies, they have been very helpful!

I have placed a light object behind some plants in the screenshots attached. I want the shadows of these plants to be created in the background and my 3d character. Right now these are hard shadows that are being created. As you mentioned I have changed the shadow>area and created a disc area light with a large radius. However, I still can’t see to create sift shadows. 

Can you please help? Can I share my files with you if you can have a closer look?

Hopefully, your link will be up and running soon. I really appreciate your help. I am trying to learn C4D on my own and it’s been frustrating but a lot of fun!

Thanks,
Arjun

Hi arjun118.

You’re very welcome.

Please check your Cineversity Private Message, You will find it here, up in the middle of the interface.

I will have a look at it.

All the best

Thanks for the file, arjun118.

I have recreated the scene as far as needed to get the plants casting a background shadow that is not overpowering the scene. Yet, it should create the mood you are after. I have ignored the shadow drawing on the floor, not my interest here.

I have set the “plant” light to Details> Shadow-Caster!

Please open the scene file and render the view:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/WZEtzH4M4xc9LjNlgcktXtL5Cuc4AWrLrtag6DxMArV

Please note that the Area Shadow size (the light for the wall shadow) is set instead of 300 (your scene) in diameter to 12, following the size of the plants.

Again: Size and Distance, this needs to be the main mantra when setting up lights. It is the relationship to anything in the scene. Forget for now all other things about light and shadow; just focus on this. When it has become a clear concept, explore more. You will see that it will give you a lot of power over your scene.

Anything else is undoubtedly secondary, but all plays in a concert of course.

All the best