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[Question] How would I create moonlight in 3ds Max 2012?

Started by Barroco Hispano, May 31, 2019, 04:53:52 PM

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Barroco Hispano

I have no idea how to illuminate the ships because in the first and second world war the lights were not turned on at night...

Barroco Hispano

matias93

What about rendering them with and without lights? I'm sure many players will want to have one of the ships on their cities as a floating museum, not to recreate a battle necesarily.

"Lets be scientists and as such, remember always that the purpose of politics is not freedom, nor authority, nor is any principle of abstract character,
but it is to meet the social needs of man and the development of the society"

— Valentín Letelier, 1895

mattb325

Two options immediately spring to mind for creating a 'moon' in your scene.

1) As you already need to change the ground color instance for the day render:




  • Once inside the material editor, locate the 'after dark' setting
  • Change the color to something similar. You can see the effect on the procedural metal material in the render

That is the quick and dirty method, OR

2) Create a Free light in the photometric light setting




  • Give it a high number like I have
  • Make sure the shadow settings are on.

This gives a more subtle moon effect and is the one I would probably use as you can see the shadows and subtle moon glow effect on the bat. I would also experiment with the near and far attenuation settings to get the details to show, but I'm this will start you off.

Barroco Hispano

@mattb325  :thumbsup:





I will try to do something like this:



It is not historically correct but I think it will work.
Barroco Hispano