Sun study floor plan with only sun light

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm trying to create a 3D document where the sunlight is shown and no other shadows so that you can see how far the direct light reaches into the building.

Parallel projection from above. The cutting plane is set to just above window level hence the sun lights up the whole floor plan not taking into account that there should be a roof. I have tried to create a transparent roof using a slab and setting the material to glass, placed just below the cutting plane. This doesn't change anything. What am I missing? What settings should I use? I've tried reading several similar threads but cannot figure out the solution.

I'm using ArchiCAD 16 on a PC.

[Anonymous]

A Staahl

Unfortunately you can't create a 3D document that shows internal shadowing as they are linked to the internal engine.
You can however create a 3D view using OpenGL for it though.
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=187845&highlight=#187845

Hope that helps

[Karl Ottenstein]

There is no solution within Archicad... except for viewing each room one by one.... because AC does not have the level of shadow control that advanced renderers have. You want to have invisible elements (ceiling/roof) cast shadows... and AC is not capable of that.

The cutting planes in Artlantis, for example, affect visibility but not shadows and radiosity. Cinema 4D, etc have similar features.

But, none of these rendering packages will give vector sunlight/shadow contours like a 3D Document, so I'm not sure what to suggest. Edit: Kristian was posting while I was typing... perhaps his solution will work for your situation.

[Anonymous]

okay it worked out with OpenGL method. I also found a solution for getting shadows from the environment that might interest people.

So instead of using a cut plane you use 3D View filter. Set the home story of the surrounding buildings/environment on a story that will be equal or lower to the story that you want to make a sun study for.

Set 3D Filter to show up to the story you want the sun study for. Set it to not trim at story height. Now the surround will be casting shadows onto your building hence you will get the true direct light into the building because when you use cutting plane the shadows of surrounding buildings are not taken into account if the building is higher then the actual cutting plane height.