Re: [Algorithms] It looks terrible (was: Lightmap Terrain)

[Mark W. <mwi...@cy...>]

Hi Niki,

You could also try the trick that many people used when
making outdoor levels for Quake based games.  They create a
2D grid of lightsources on a plane in the sky.  The
brightness of each light is adjusted based on the sun
position.  This method approximates an area light source
(sky/clouds) instead of just a point light (sun).  Search
around the Quake modeling sites for more details.  By the
way... I think your lightmap looks fine.  Lightmaps never
look very good when viewed alone.  You have to blend them
with a noisy base texture to get a decent effect.

-Mark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Klaus Hartmann" <k_h...@os...>
To: <gda...@li...>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Algorithms] It looks terrible (was: Lightmap
Terrain)


> Kim,
>
> it sure is worth a try to let the 'anti sun' shine from
above :) Curious to
> see what it looks like, but can't try it right now.
>
> The reason why I chose to place the 'anti sun' to the
west, and the sun to
> the east is, because I saw our artist model terrain. The
results looked way
> great, and he placed the 'anti sun' to the west, and the
sun to the east.
>
> Also, I was thinking about something completely different:
Create an
> invisible sphere that represents the atmosphere and
encloses the whole
> terrain. Then light the 'faces' of the sphere so that it
is brightest where
> the sun is. Then for each ray/surface intersection point
compute the normal
> at that point and use it to cast a ray towards the sphere.
You'll hit a more
> or less bright on that sphere, and this point is then used
as a light source
> (the color of that point on the sphere then represents the
color of the
> light emitted from the 'virtual' light source). I'm not
quite sure what will
> happen to the shadows, but it's possible that they'll be
correct (including
> penumbrae).
>
> Maybe I'm wrong, but I have the feeling, that this can
look more than just
> good.
>
> Everyone: What do you think?
>
> Niki
>