Different types of light do what?

SteveM17

I've been using DS4 for a while now, but still consider myself a new user as I still have LOTS to learn! I'm using a fairly old computer that does struggle with the demands of DS4, so I use fairly basic settings (quality setting 2- open GL with shadows, using deep shadow maps). Anyhing more intense and my machine will probably not cope. I've only used spotlights and distant lights so far, but am interested in moving forward a bit, so:

1. Whats's the difference between spotlights, pointlights and linear pointlights?
2. Will pointlights/linear pointlights cast shadows at detail level 2?
3. What are uberlights and would they also be useful at detail level two? Also where can I find them in my library? As they no longer show up in my smart content for reasons I won't presume to bore anyone with.

Thanks for any help/advice.

Szark

Rendering with Open GL is very limiting with what you can do and use. There is an Advanced Render Settings Tab in the Render Settings Pane which would allow to more control when using the 3DL render engine and not OpenGL.

Render settings http://forumarchive.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=144303

Spot light is just that a spot light emitting light from a single point outward in a cone shape.
Point lights emit light sphereically from a single point.
Linear Piont lights give you control over when the light Falls Off to nothing compared to normal points lights the fall off is governed by the intensity.
Uber Area lights http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/14536/

Point, Linear Point and Uber Area lights only work with Ray Traced shadows.

SteveM17

I'm sure I've used raytraced shadows in the past, but as time has gone on my computer has become more sluggish and prone to DS just suddenly vanishing if taxed too much.
Thanks for the links, it seems lights are a much more involved and complex topic than I thought! Clearly to get the best out of DS I need a better computer - lottery tickets, here I come!

Szark

Look at my render thread and many of those were done with Vista on a Dual Core 2.6 mhz with 2GB of Ram and I never used Deep Shadow Maps, always opting for Ray Trace shadows. Granted this was using DS3A which I still use now as my specs are even lower than before, same amount of Ram but lower powered dual core processing. I leanrt how to render in layers and composit in Photoshop/GIMP. And never in OpenGL mode.

Do you defrag your drive/s often? How big is/are your drive/s? Do you have a lot of software installed that you do use?
Do you maintain a clean computer?

I am very anal when it comes to what software I install and how I get Windows Updates...I never let Windows Update install updates apart from my Anti Virus Updates, all other updates I go and download and install manually if I deem it important.:) I never let Windows update my drivers either...I alwasy go to the source like ATI for the Graphics Card etc.

SteveM17

I have no doubt that my computer needs some maintainance and defragging. In fact I've been very lazy when it comes to stuff like that! I should probably clean things up, and that could make things go more smoothly.

I don't try for photorealistic renders, I go for a more comic-book style. I'll try lights with raytracing and see how my machine reacts (it'll probably explode!).

Szark

why I mentioned the Advanced Render settings is because adjusting the Max Ray Trace Depth down from the default of 2 to 0 will save you a lot of memory. But you won't get any reflections just like OpenGL. You want one reflection increase it to 1. Also the Shading rate plays a bit part on the quality so depending on your surfaces you could try 0.70 - 0.50 and still great good results.

Yes when it comes to CGI and clean computer is a happy computer...generally. :)