Point lights cast shadows?

tom_bf4025f165

Any way to turn point light shadows off (while keeping a spherical emitter shape?)  Example:

 

DrunkMonkeyProductions

Unless i miss my guess, you've got the 'Light Geometry' set to something other than Point.

Changing it back to Point will get rid of the shadows.

You can reduce the size of the geometry, by changing the Height(Diameter) and/or width, which should reduce/eliminate the shadow.

 

I'd be interested to know what you're trying to accomplish here. Might be able to provide a few suggestions on lighting usage.

 

tom_bf4025f165

DrunkMonkeyProductions said:

Unless i miss my guess, you've got the 'Light Geometry' set to something other than Point.

Changing it back to Point will get rid of the shadows.

You can reduce the size of the geometry, by changing the Height(Diameter) and/or width, which should reduce/eliminate the shadow.

 

I'd be interested to know what you're trying to accomplish here. Might be able to provide a few suggestions on lighting usage.

Daz should probably call them something other than "point lights" sinceyou can set the geometry to be a disk, sphere, line, recangle, etc. in addition to "point."

What I'm trying to accomplish is to use a "Point Light" with the geometry set to "Sphere" so that the illumination is softer snd more diffuse, rather than the harsh illumination that comes from a point source.   I used to work with some boudoir photographers and they were militant in their hatred of point source lights and the harsh shadows they cause.   Light setups on a set can include multiple "fill lights" with diffusers so that important areas of the scene are lit properly.    

Here's a diffuser:   https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1cmJKNVXXXXXAXpXXq6xXFXXXJ/33-Inch-Photography-Studio-Flash-Diffuser-Translucent-Soft-Light-White-Umbrella-Camera-Accessories.jpg

I have one of these for nice diffuse fill lighting:    https://www.adorama.com/glsbqb20.html

There are also "key lights" and "eye lights" for lighting specific parts.   You can spend an amazing amount of time and money on studio lighting.

But in Daz, it seems silly that you can hide a Point Light but it will still cast a shadow.   I guess the best thing to do is just use a Spot Light with a long throw and move it out of the camera frame.   Ah, technology.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishtales

Because you are using geometry the light becomes an object and they cast shadows, you will also see it in a mirror or the glass in a window. It happens with all lights using geometry.

lilweep

Would you be able to use instead a sphere primitive with emission on (and then make it a ghost light)?

I forgot the process of making ghost lights these days.  Apparently there is some random script you have to find buried on the forums.

felis

lilweep said:

Would you be able to use instead a sphere primitive with emission on (and then make it a ghost light)?

I forgot the process of making ghost lights these days.  Apparently there is some random script you have to find buried on the forums.

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/609556/creating-a-ghost-light-daz-studio-4-21-1-26#latest

 

tom_bf4025f165

felis said:

lilweep said:

Would you be able to use instead a sphere primitive with emission on (and then make it a ghost light)?

I forgot the process of making ghost lights these days.  Apparently there is some random script you have to find buried on the forums.

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/609556/creating-a-ghost-light-daz-studio-4-21-1-26#latest

 

The ghost light thing sounds like a plan.    I will try that!   Thank you all.

 

Tom

 

 

tom_bf4025f165

In retrospect, this is not much different than lighting in the real world, where lights have to be moved up, or moved down, or hidden behind potted plants, and so forth.