How to cast shadows on objects?

GOD00007 · Post by **GOD00007** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:52 pm

Very nice program!

Question.
I have a ball on a table and I want some shadow at the bottom.
How do I cast shadows on objects ? I mean real shadows.
COOL3D can add a drop shadow behind the object but it doesn't give a perspective.

rwernyei · Post by **rwernyei** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:19 am

GOD00007,
Shadows are applied globally. Other cons is that they take the shape of the facing camera. Cannot be distorted or slanted. Color-oriented and do not allow for transparency. So how do you use it effectively? Sometimes one has to render two versions: one project with shadow and the other without in 32 Bit RGB AVI. This way you can overlay them in video editor with alpha channel intact. Sometimes, even a program like MSP's Video Paint module is needed for post work. Or one can do this labor-intensive task of post in a photo editor frame by frame.
Here's a sample I did that follows the abovementioned advice.
http://media.putfile.com/The-Wonkavator/320

Hope this helps.

GOD00007 · Post by **GOD00007** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:24 pm

I'm not doing any animating so that's not a problem. I'm doing an icon actually. I read the manual about how to do that effect in the video you showed me. But I want the shadows move when I move the lights.
something like this :

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:11 am

Object-based shadow is not supported in C3DPS. Also, the ray-tracing rendering effect you show in the picture is also not supported in C3DPS.

C3DPS is good for simple 3D animation, but if you want some more powerful 3D effects, you need Shade or 3D Studio MAX to make those effects.

Sorry if I cannot help.

H.T.

GOD00007 · Post by **GOD00007** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:16 am

ahh ok.
Is there any plan to implement this in future versions ?
That's the only thing I miss in COOL3D now

GOD00007 · Post by **GOD00007** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:42 pm

Hey htchien,
Is it possible to export to a format (maybe 3DS and then import that into 3DMAX and add shadows ?

I have never used 3DSMAX. I love to model in Cool3d beacuse its easy and fast!. So if there is any other way to apply nice perspective shadows using other software please let me know.

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:46 pm

You can export 3D models in C3DPS by selecting the objects you wish to export and then select File->Export 3D Model to the 3D file format you want.

C3DPS supports to export to DirectX (.X) or 3D Studio (.3ds) file format for 3D models.

After you export the 3D models, you can import those .X/.3ds files into 3D Studio MAX or other 3D rendering softwares such as Bryce 3D, Poser 3D, Shade 3D or Maya. You can use Google to find information about these programs and how to add shadows in them.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

GOD00007 · Post by **GOD00007** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:33 pm

Thanks for the advice. I would like to know which software is easy to add shadows. I don't want any complicated procedures just to add a shadow.
Could you please tell me which software is best for this ?