What sharder settings would I apply to a sphere primative to create a single large transparent bubble. Thanks, Jim

Just click on the image to see it larger and read the shader. The magic of bubbles is in their reflection. So, try the settings shown above. Just as important is the environment that is reflected in the bubbles. Having an object that is nearly transparent, yet reflective, makes it disappear sometimes. Mark

Edit:  Ok, I just saw Mark's and its a billion times better than mine!!  Also, I don't seem to have a "Fake Fresnal" option, is that from a plugin?

I don't know about other versions of Carrara but I am using v5 and it come with a bubble shader under the miscelaneous shader section.  I didn't like it though so I modified it a little by adding an alpha channel with a cellular setting.  Also I lowered the reflection alot.  This is what I got.

Fake Fresnel is a component of the Shader Ops plug-in from Digital Carvers Guild (www.DigitalCarversGuild.com) Next to EnhanceC, Shader Ops is my most used plug-in. Mark

Quote - Just click on the image to see it larger and read the shader. The magic of bubbles is in their reflection. So, try the settings shown above. Just as important is the environment that is reflected in the bubbles. Having an object that is nearly transparent, yet reflective, makes it disappear sometimes. Mark

Thanks for the info; few questions: What is "Fake Fresnel?" I don't see in list of options. What step/s did you use to create the "Source 2 / Shader" combo under "Reflection?" I can see what you have in the "Source 2" part of the shader but, of course, no other values are visible at the level of your screen capture. What are numbers are you using that I can't see? Thanks, Jim

> Quote - What step/s did you use to create the "Source 2 / Shader" combo under "Reflection?"

See previous post for Fake Fresnel. At any point in a shader tree, you can change a node to "mixer" and build out the structure you see there. For the actual color gradient, simply click on the color bar and it will open an edit window where you can build your gradient. Mark

Quote - > Quote - What step/s did you use to create the "Source 2 / Shader" combo under "Reflection?"

See previous post for Fake Fresnel. At any point in a shader tree, you can change a node to "mixer" and build out the structure you see there. For the actual color gradient, simply click on the color bar and it will open an edit window where you can build your gradient. Mark

Thanks; will experiment. I also located the Soap Bubble shader mentioned above that came with Carrara. I've not tried your bubble yet, but with the Carrara one, when the bubble is in front of or surrounding a glowing 3d-aura object, the light from the 3d glow does not shine through the bubble. The object itself is visible through the bubble, but not its 3d glow. What's up with that? Jim

Quote - > Quote - What step/s did you use to create the "Source 2 / Shader" combo under "Reflection?"

See previous post for Fake Fresnel. At any point in a shader tree, you can change a node to "mixer" and build out the structure you see there. For the actual color gradient, simply click on the color bar and it will open an edit window where you can build your gradient. Mark

Exactly which node am I changing to "mixer?" If I change any of the existing subcomponents of the Reflection portion of the tree then I no longer have all the components in your tree as shown in your image; the extensions of the tree I tried with "mixer" create a different looking tree branching system from yours. Jim

Hi Jim, Ahhhh, language is so imprecise - and sometimes I'm quite unclear too, especially when rushed at work. By default the reflection channel has a value stuck in there. So, select the value and the change it to Operators => Overlay from the pull down menu. Once Overlay is selected, you get two channels below it. Select channel 1 and then use the pull down menu again: Operators => Mixer. This will give you the structure you see in the image, i.e. two source channels and then a mixer element to combine them Now, that takes care of the first node under the original Overlay option. All that's left to do is convert the second channel to Color Gradient and build your bubble colors. Like all things, once you go through the the process you'll suddenly think, "Well that was easy. How could I have had any trouble at all?!" ;-) Mark

Thanks much, I'm working with your suggestions. Any ideas about the 3d issue I mentioned above, that is, when the bubble is in front of or surrounding a glowing 3d-aura object, the light from the 3d glow does not shine through the bubble, but renders the glow invisible like it is not there. The object itself is visible through the bubble, but not its 3d glow. Jim

Quote - Hi Jim, Ahhhh, language is so imprecise - and sometimes I'm quite unclear too, especially when rushed at work. By default the reflection channel has a value stuck in there. So, select the value and the change it to Operators => Overlay from the pull down menu. Once Overlay is selected, you get two channels below it. Select channel 1 and then use the pull down menu again: Operators => Mixer. This will give you the structure you see in the image, i.e. two source channels and then a mixer element to combine them Now, that takes care of the first node under the original Overlay option. All that's left to do is convert the second channel to Color Gradient and build your bubble colors. Like all things, once you go through the the process you'll suddenly think, "Well that was easy. How could I have had any trouble at all?!" ;-) Mark

Hi Jim, Unfortunately, 3D Aura won't do what you're asking - remain in effect when viewed through transparent objects. (or alpha planes for that matter) The only work-around I'm familiar with (besides retouching during post) is to embed a bulb light in the object with Light Sphere enabled. You still need to have an active glow channel on the source object to make it look believable but the Light Sphere on the bulb light completes the effect. Smoke and mirrors...it's all tricks of the trade. Mark

Thanks for that irridescent shader suggestion Mark. Had fun getting a particle generator to spew soap bubbles. (color is a little exagerated from your settings).

Fun stuff Holly. Mark