3D Animation for the Raw Beginner Using Maya

396 ◾ 3D Animation for the Raw Beginner Using Maya

With the light selected, we hit Control+A once or twice until the Attribute Editor of the

light appears. We set the shadow Resolution to 512 and choose Depth Map Shadows. Depth

Map Shadows, as we have seen, are sharper than the alternative, Raytrace Shadows. en

we render with mental ray; our scene, which consists of a glass bottle sitting on a counter-

top, is shown in Figure15.45.

We see that the shadow of the bottle is quite jagged. So, we change the resolution to

4096 in Figure15.46. We render the scene again (see Figure15.47). e shadow is much

smoother now.

ADDING RAYTRACE SHADOWS

AND MENTAL RAY SUN AND

SKY TO THE BOTTLE

The mental ray Sun and Sky can do a lot

more than provide a nice, gradual blue

horizon. It is a significant light source

and we can use it to create powerful

effects.

In Figure 15.48, the attributes of a

Directional light are shown, with Raytrace

Shadows checked. e result is shown in

Figure 15.49, and we see that raytracing

FIGURE 15.44 Resolution 512 with Depth Map Shadows.

FIGURE 15.45 (See p. CI-10 of Color Insert)

Render with jagged shadow.

Advanced Light and Materials Properties and Effects ◾ 397

FIGURE 15.46 Changing resolution.

FIGURE 15.47 (See p. CI-10 of Color Insert) Depth Map render.

398 ◾ 3D Animation for the Raw Beginner Using Maya

FIGURE 15.48 Raytrace Shadow settings.

FIGURE 15.49 (See p. CI-10 of Color Insert) Raytraced Shadow rendered.

Advanced Light and Materials Properties and Effects ◾ 399

creates so shadows. Now, we go into the Options settings of the Render View window and

click on Physical Sun and Sky (see Figure15.50).

e result is shown in Figure 15.51. Notice that the added light from the men-

tal ray Sun and Sky material is completely washing out the table on which the bottle

sits, giving the scene a hot feel.

FIGURE 15.50 e mental ray Sun and Sky.

FIGURE 15.51 (See p. CI-10 of Color Insert) A bottle in the Sun.