Sun & Sky Objects

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering what a good height above project zero is good for sun and sky objects.

Also, in one thing I read it said make the sky object big enough to cover the whole model. In another example it just showed a sky object placed outside the model. Which is better?

[Anonymous]

The height or physical size of the sun and sky objects makes absolutely no difference to how they render. Basically they are just markers that access the built-in lightworks code. Leave them at the default size, and position them off to one side where they won't be in the way or print. I also find it useful to turn on the 'show on all storeys' option, so you don't have to keep changing storeys to adjust the lighting.

Just be aware that if you marquee off an area of the floorplan to render in isolation, the sun and sky objects have to be within the selected boundary also for them to work.

Hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

Peter wrote:
The height or physical size of the sun and sky objects makes absolutely no difference to how they render. Basically they are just markers that access the built-in lightworks code. Leave them at the default size, and position them off to one side where they won't be in the way or print. I also find it useful to turn on the 'show on all storeys' option, so you don't have to keep changing storeys to adjust the lighting.

Just be aware that if you marquee off an area of the floorplan to render in isolation, the sun and sky objects have to be within the selected boundary also for them to work.

Hope that helps!

It does help. Brings up another question, though. If it doesn't matter where or how big they are, what do you have to adjust?

[Anonymous]

Wrathchild wrote:
If it doesn't matter where or how big they are, what do you have to adjust?

The light comes from everywhere in the sky, they 'simulate' how the real sun and ambient sky light a model.

Have a look at the setting. Under the parameters tab you will typically find the controls for the colour of the light, the intensity (strength), the quality level (more samples = better quality = slower render time), diversion angle (the longer the shadow the 'softer' the edge) and so on. The bulb buttons, next to the slider, temporarily turns off the light, but keeps the settings, so you can have multiple on the floorplan plan for different purposes but just switch them on when needed.

To be honest, the built-in sun found in the render settings does a better job now than the sun object, which has been relegated to mainly undersun usage.

Do a search (and/or get Dwights Book) and you may find more detailed explanations and recommended settings for the lights.

[Anonymous]

Indulge me in just one more question, please. If I don't use the sun object and use the rendering sun instead, should I still use a sky object?

TIA

[Anonymous]

I have never used the sky object! So, you can do without it! Images come quite nice (for AC) with only the built-in sun! And you ave rendering time!

[Anonymous]

Wrathchild wrote:
Indulge me in just one more question, please. If I don't use the sun object and use the rendering sun instead, should I still use a sky object?

Try it and see! I find the sky object set to realistic mode adds a nice sense of depth and helps define surfaces better. It does slow rendering down though, so try it set to 'quick method' and see it the result is acceptable.