Posted by Gary V on August 30, 2000 at 13:40:17:In Reply to: Advice on making textures show up well? posted by Jerud Crandall on August 29, 2000 at 13:23:59:
Jerud
I have learned upon experimenting with many interior models that lighting in this application is not really aboout real life application of true light sources. That is to say that if a room is normally illuminated by a 100w incandescent bulb, it doesn't necesarily mean that one little cube in the center of the room will make your model look accurate. Similarly, a retail environment with two-tube florescent fixtures at 8' oc (in real time) absolutely bathes the model and doesn't really work. The problem I have is that often these light sources are, in fact, part of the look and feel of the space and it would be nice to get them photmetrically correct. this leads me to a minor tangent and an idea I have been talking to Artifice about for some time. If anyone sees any advantage of this please respond here and respond loudly! ;-)
I believe it would be of some merit to allow the program to _accurately_ map lighting to models. Therefor I have asked for the inclusion of different lightling sources to built into the program or as an add-on that would map the assciated amounts of light. In my mind there would be selectable material defintions or library items that would have some sort of lumens and wattage and light type associated with them. Most importantly it would be beneficial if the light sources accurately represented real time light output and their effect on the enironment. this would then be photmetrically correct and would be a time saver when adding lighting. (Think about how much time you have spent tweaking that model!)
I do know this is huge and maybe there is not an overwhelming need. This is not lighting analysis program but it would be nice to step up the level of features which would allow one to design and render accurately.
Lastly, Jerud, please do try RenderCity. There is a *bit* of a learning curve especially with custom textures but it isn't too bad. Lastly if you stay in DW, my suggestion is to start with _very_ few lights and work your way from less light to more light and ignore your perception of what it would take to illuminate the room in real time becasue you probably only need about 25% ( a guess) as much as you think!
Good Luck.
G