[Visualpython-users] point source?

[Lew R. <lr...@ur...>]

Hi Folks,

I have two feature requests (unless I've overlooked things that already 
exist).

1) It would be incredibly useful to have a point source of light (with 
1/r^2 intensity dependence) in addition to the "off-stage" lighting.

2) I would find it helpful to be able to set the camera position 
directly in addition to the indirect influences of display.forward and 
display.center.

I am working on animations of the Ptolemaic and Copernican models of the 
inner planets. I would like to show the phases of the inner planets. 
Feature 1 would allow me to use the Sun to illuminate the planets 
without needing to place the Sun off-camera. Feature 2 would provide me 
an easy way to place the camera on the Earth.

Feature 2 would also be helpful to anyone illustrating reference frames. 
That is, one could easily place the observer in various frames of 
reference to show how observations differ.

Finally, would someone please explain how display.mouse.camera is 
calculated from display.forward and display.center (and what else)?

Thank you for maintaining an incredibly useful tool.

Cheers,

Lew
-- 
___________________________________________________
Lew Riley        http://webpages.ursinus.edu/lriley
Ursinus College Department of Physics and Astronomy
(610) 409-3000 ext. 2293       (610) 409-3660 (FAX)