Exclusive lights question

[zorak33]

am i correct in thinking that objects in an exclusive light's associated models group still affect the shadow casting of that light.. so the object is not lit but still blocks the light rays?

if so, is there some way to make a light completely ignore the object? please excuse me if i'm overlooking something really simple!

thanks for any replies...

[geoath]

hi!
when an object is in a exclusive light's associated models group, then it is completely ignored from this light..this means it's not lit and no shadows too.
check if there is another light in your scene that casts shadows.

[zorak33]

hmmm, i think the excluding is working as it should in relation to that object, but i still have an issue.

the light itself is inside a light shade, which is the excluded object. so i guess then it cant reach the objects beyond...

it's illuminating things a bit from behind the shade, the scene renders black when its hidden but definately not illuminating as if the shade wasnt there, and no shadows are cast in the scene.

i thought i could combat this with excluding, but maybe not? should i just put the light outside it's shade and pretend?

i deleted every other light in the scene to sort this one out.

[woah, sorry about the longwinded explanations!]

thank you for your help ...

[geoath]

hi again!

i got a little confused with what u want to do!
do u want the light shade to cast shadows in the scene ,but still the scene have an "indipendent" brightness ?

one thing u can do is to use a "shadow" light.
create one light that will not cast shadows and adjust it's intensity untill u r happy.
duplicate the light (let's say it shad_light) give it a pure white color and duplicate again (shad_light1). select the shad_light1 and uncheck "cast shadows". change it's value to an exactly negative number (if it was 1 do it -1) and here u r.
shad_light and shad_light1 add no illumination in your scene, they simply cast shadow and the illumination is controlled from the first light only..

now in case that the only thing u wanted was the light shade lit but not cast shadows this could be easily done by going to it's rendering properties and uncheck "shadows".
i don't know if this is what u want..if it's not then could u please explain me what your goal is?
best regards
george

[zorak33]

sorry about the confusion!

okay. my scene is lit just how i want it, with everything in the right place and all the shadows just peachy, but only when the light shade is hidden. how can i unhide it (keeping in mind that the light is behind/inside it) and have it not affect the lighting of anything?

or am i being pedantic - should i just move the light outside the shade so the shade doesnt interfere. perhaps my head is stuck in the conventional scheme of things for this one...

thanks again for your effort, the shadow light seems a tasty trick!

[geoath]

@@how can i unhide it (keeping in mind that the light is behind/inside it) and have it not affect the lighting of anything? @@

the only thing the light shade can affect is to cast shadows as it blocks the light rays..simple select the light shade go to it's rendering properties (EDIT>PROPERTIES>RENDERING PROPERTIES) and uncheck shadows..this way it will not cast shadows (but it can receive) in the scene and everything will be ok.

[zorak33]

oh dear. back to fundamentals for me.
thanks for your help, it works perfectly now.