Just switched to 3Delight, but where did my shadows go!?

SFAM

Thanks to mjc1016's helpful direction, I switched to 3Delight (for some renders), but I can't find a way to see my shadows or the 'floor' anymore!

How can I see the 'floor' (items disappear when going below where the floor would be) or any shadows using 3Delight render engine?

Thanks!

MelanieL

What lights are you using?

If you are using any of the basic DAZ Studio lights, I think they all load with shadows switched "off" - you need to select the light in the scene tab, go to the Lights pane and open the shadow tab and set shadows to something other than None - Raytraced is usually best. You can also set shadow colour, intensity and softness there.

Second point: you say "where the floor would be" - in 3Delight you generally actually need a floor in the scene to catch the shadow. (Unless you are using a shadow catcher, but that's a little more complicated.)

SFAM

Ah, thank you MelanieL!  I haven't noticed any floors in marketplace or freebie listings.  To make a floor, do you just create a primative and form it into a floor shape?  If so, then will the primative show when rendered, 'cause all I really want is the shadow itself, as I assemble my renders in PS?

Thanks again!

DrunkMonkeyProductions

SFAM said:

Ah, thank you MelanieL!  I haven't noticed any floors in marketplace or freebie listings.  To make a floor, do you just create a primative and form it into a floor shape?  If so, then will the primative show when rendered, 'cause all I really want is the shadow itself, as I assemble my renders in PS?

Thanks again!

If all you need is a flat floor for catching shadows, the easiest is to create a primitive plane. Usually a 10m is sufficient.

SFAM

Thank you, DrunkenMonkeyProductions!

scorpio

Yes it will show in render as MelanieL says in DS if you want to just catch shadows you need a shadow catcher this product does it

http://www.daz3d.com/pwcatch

but I think theres a free version somewhere

here

http://www.sharecg.com/v/70391/gallery/21/DAZ-Studio/Shadow-Catcher-For-DAZ-Studio-4.5%2B?interstitial_displayed=Yes

MelanieL

Sorry I had to drop out last night (turned midnight here), glad DrunkenMonkey and scorpio stepped in - I was planning to hunt down that shadow catcher freebie this morning but they beat me to it!

SFAM

Wonderful, Scoprio!  Snagged that Shadow Catcher, and it appears to work like a charm (with a little fiddling)!

And thanks again, MelanieL!

Ya know, besides the helpful tips you folks supply, there is a wealth of info to be found "between the lines" of many of these answers!  Thanks so much!