Hello,

I'm trying to create a wall light or sconce but I'm having a lot of trouble figuring our transparancy and glow properties and I was wondering if anyone knows of a good tutorial either from screenshots or videos. Thanks!

Some references about what you want to do??

it's an electric light with a clear glass or frosted glass fixture?
or is it a torchiere that has to be animated?

To experiment with getting transparency, etc. Make any old object and give it one of the carrara glass shaders. Then put a tiny light on one side of it, just opposite the camera. This will show you some of what the different shader functions can do for you.
BUT: this may not be the best way to do a wall light. There may be a better way than through transparency to do what you want. For instance, take a torchiere model and give it an "anything glows" light (found in the edit menu). All done in one step!

Well to be honest I don't really have many references or attional information. I've just been experimenting unsuccessfully as I indicated. I have included below some of the inspirational material I've been looking at. Additionally what I was more hoping for were some walk throughs or tutorials on how other people made any lights/lamps etc. Thats how I've taught myself Carrara so far.

www.allmodernlighting.com/asp/show_image.asp

www.allmodernlighting.com/Estiluz-021816602-021813702-ESZ1164.html

Here is a look at the wall light collection
www.allmodernlighting.com/asp/show_collection.asp

Almost all those object looks made of simple polygons... To light works fine trhough transparency you will nee dto turn this option On in the Render Room (Light through tranparency). The glow effect can be done right in the surface or using another light source just for this... maybe this is a good idea for a new tutorial at Carrara Lounge...

Attached Link: building-progression-01-24-2009-morning

I really want to understand what is your problem with the transparency... the light effect through transparent objects?

The problem is transparency in general. I havn't been able to make anything even remotly transparent. I created a hollow cube with the back removed. I stuck a bulb and at one point a spotlight inside and set a camera on the other. Now I'm very about about not understanding much to do with textures or shading but I am able to find the shading section along with the transparency section. I've also fiddled with the sliders and check boxes within transparency but nothing seems to actually change anything.

Quote - The problem is transparency in general. I havn't been able to make anything even remotly transparent. I created a hollow cube with the back removed. I stuck a bulb and at one point a spotlight inside and set a camera on the other. Now I'm very about about not understanding much to do with textures or shading but I am able to find the shading section along with the transparency section. I've also fiddled with the sliders and check boxes within transparency but nothing seems to actually change anything.

Correction. I have been able to using the glass shader however it doesn't look anything like what I'm shooting for. I tried cloudy glass however that isn't transpartent at all. I can't seem to find a happy medium. EIther its totally transparent or not transparent at all.

Give the Alpha channel a value and adjust to suit---may be your solution.
And make use of the Caustics setting inthe Render.

Brian

Can you post your render?

In addition to showing can you tell me what you did? In my case the bulb is not illuminating through the box. Only out the back of it.

I will put this scene at Carrara Lounge so people can download... but basic the glass shader was changed to color black, index of refraction to simple glass and the transparency to about 87% nothing more.

WOW! Heres what I have now. HUGE Improvement. Could someone provide a greater explaination of "Index of Refraction"? Additionally I didn't see "Simple Glass" so I tried "=== glass". In the end I'm trying to make the glass "frosted" which is why I was selecting cloudy glass. Any thoughts?

Mark,

Exactly! I plan to line some of the hallways in the image toward the top of the post with these lights.

Index of refraction: light speedy variation when it hit solid objects like glass, water and other objects, for the air the IR is 1:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/geoopt/refr.html

Some more IE for simulate better surfaces:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Tables/indrf.html

For the cloudy glass just change the color to white, I thin will work better.

Brian

light rays will refract very differently thru frosted glass (both sides with rough, granular surfaces)
than thru clear or coloured glass IMVHO.  however, said refraction calculations would be prohibitive
in regard to render time, hence a light source of appropriate size would likely be good enuff.  but not
a point source.  in case anybody asks.

Brian

Brian

Brian, I'm not trying to make the two tone as it seems in your render. I'm more than likely going to attempt two different lights. One metalic that reflects the light and the other more lampish looking where the light shines only through cloudy glass.

I did not attempt to make any "two tone" effect?  (think I am a bit lost at what you are trying to achieve maybe?)

That render is naturally about what happens when a light shines through the glass material and when it shines directly down where there is no glass between.

Brian
(The .car file attached)

I don't see a file attached? Additionally I understand what your saying. I misunderstood the example you were trying to provide.

Brian
(The zip is still not loading---will try again later)

Car or Zip file?

Brian

Sorry--won't load.  PM me if you want it.

Uleepera

NOW it is all coming good!

Great

Brian

Not sure exactly where you are trying to head---BUT--obviously a great learning curve--and thats what counts!

Good work.

Brian

Thanks! I have no perticular heading. Just playing around till I find something good. The only downside to the one on the left is it does take quite a while to render in comparison to the other. I plan to use MANY of these in a scene to light hallways and such so it might be a better idea to use the less detailed one?