Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

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Audiologist
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Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Audiologist » Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:23 am

Hi

This is my first post here, I have a question regarding Volumetric Light Beam, and I would like to specifically ask this to Fletch.
I am on Mac, Sierra. Sketchup Pro 2018. I downloaded the Volumetric library, also the skp file.
Now the skp file should be ready for just render and I should be able to see the light beams right? But I don't.
I imported the library and I am seeing Volumetric at the material list, but I am not sure if I imported it right.
on the list of my library of Volumetric, I saw three materials, which are Volumetric Light, Volumetric Medium and Volumetric Heavy. Are these the right library?
I have tried many times, and read the thread carefully, but still don't have a clue.
I have practiced this with build a box, I do see the light but not seeing the light beam.
What have I done wrong?

Desmond
Attachments
Light Test.jpg
Light Test.jpg (21.6 KiB) Viewed 8896 times
Screen Shot 2019-01-10 at 1.19.29 PM.png
Screen Shot 2019-01-10 at 1.19.29 PM.png (305.27 KiB) Viewed 8896 times

Fletch
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Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Fletch » Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:18 pm

Welcome Audiologist,
:welcome:

Click the Twilight Material tool and choose the box to which you want your volumetric material applied.
In the Templates pull-down menu do you see the "volumetrics" heading? If so - apply one of those.

Render with Easy 01-Easy 07 only.
Attachments
template-volumetric.jpg
template-volumetric.jpg (69.87 KiB) Viewed 8878 times

Audiologist
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:28 pm
OS: Mac Sierra
SketchUp: 2018 Pro

Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Audiologist » Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:56 pm

Hi Fletch, thanks for your reply.

OK, I have selected the box's material to: Volumetric, Light. Here are the settings.
Screen Shot 2019-01-12 at 5.42.14 AM.png
Screen Shot 2019-01-12 at 5.42.14 AM.png (299.87 KiB) Viewed 8869 times
But I got this, still don't see the light beam.
Screen Shot 2019-01-12 at 5.44.48 AM.png
Screen Shot 2019-01-12 at 5.44.48 AM.png (193.14 KiB) Viewed 8869 times
Desmond

SpookyChick
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Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by SpookyChick » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:12 pm

I'm certainly no expert on Volumetric materials, as these guys could tell you, but as I understand it, from struggling with volumetrics in version 2.xx, the box you have around your object would need to be substantially larger, and need to have the Volumetric template applied to that. If you're trying for a hazy spotlight look, Volumetric: Lightis probably best. The smaller box that is, I assume your object, that should just have it's regular material.

I'm not certain if it matters, and I may be wrong, but I think the light source needs to be inside the volumetric box.
There are a lot of factors which seem to come into play with this sort of thing. I eventually gave up and found ways to do it in post pro (Usually GIMP. I'm a cat person, I don't get along with Adobes). Other people seem to have good luck with it, so keep trying.

Fletch can tell you more. Much more.

Practice, patience, and not being afraid to play with things. That helps too.

Audiologist
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:28 pm
OS: Mac Sierra
SketchUp: 2018 Pro

Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Audiologist » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:19 pm

Hi Fletch, sorry I forgot to set the material for the ground and the two sidewalls.
Here I set the ground and two sidewalls to "Flat", changed the background colour to grey.
Now I see the light spot on the ground.
The box was made to group, with Volumetric : Medium selected. Still no beam.
Screen Shot 2019-01-12 at 6.15.31 AM.png
Screen Shot 2019-01-12 at 6.15.31 AM.png (250.32 KiB) Viewed 8865 times

Fletch
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Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Fletch » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:24 pm

So the volumetrics appear to be working now - as SpookyChick mentioned - it's the size of your object now that matters.
So you need to build things as they would be in real life - Build a rectangular room. Build a box that is 99% size of the rectangular room that is just barely offset inside all inner surfaces of the space and apply your volumetric material to that box. Now put some spots in the room. Render Easy 03 for testing at 900x600 for quick testing results.

Audiologist
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:28 pm
OS: Mac Sierra
SketchUp: 2018 Pro

Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Audiologist » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:30 pm

SpookyChick wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:12 pm I'm certainly no expert on Volumetric materials, as these guys could tell you, but as I understand it, from struggling with volumetrics in version 2.xx, the box you have around your object would need to be substantially larger, and need to have the Volumetric template applied to that. If you're trying for a hazy spotlight look, Volumetric: Lightis probably best. The smaller box that is, I assume your object, that should just have it's regular material.

I'm not certain if it matters, and I may be wrong, but I think the light source needs to be inside the volumetric box.
There are a lot of factors which seem to come into play with this sort of thing. I eventually gave up and found ways to do it in post pro (Usually GIMP. I'm a cat person, I don't get along with Adobes). Other people seem to have good luck with it, so keep trying.

Fletch can tell you more. Much more.

Practice, patience, and not being afraid to play with things. That helps too.
Hey thanks for reply and advise. So you mean the "BOX", which is the ground and sidewalls? Also need to be in Volumetric? Not just only the smaller box that the spotlight on it?
If so, that means I need to create a huge box, put every light source in it to create the beams? I'll try that.

Ya, I know this is not that easy, and have been tried this for a week and almost give up. The post about this Volumetric light beam has been 10 years, I frankly I don't see many post their works about this. Cause there wasn't much details about this.
And here I am, talk to Fletch to get this work.

Des

SpookyChick
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Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by SpookyChick » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:37 pm

Woops! Almost crossposted there with you Fletch!
@ Audiologist: Build a room, normal size. Then make a smaller box, one centimeter smaller in all directions. Make that one volumetric. Leave the room itself normal materials. Then, make the the tiny box in your room (the brown one) normal material also.

For an in depth explanation go to this thread, if Fletch hasn't directed you there already: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=10623&p=47194&hili ... ing#p47194

I hope that helps.

Happy Renders!

Fletch
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Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Fletch » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:41 pm

try this scene for learning. ;)
Attachments
Volumetric-space-sunlight.skp
(109.33 KiB) Downloaded 452 times
Volumetric-space-sunlight_Scene 1.jpg
Volumetric-space-sunlight_Scene 1.jpg (140.31 KiB) Viewed 8857 times

Audiologist
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:28 pm
OS: Mac Sierra
SketchUp: 2018 Pro

Re: Question to Fletch About Volumetric Light Beam

Post by Audiologist » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:31 pm

To SpookyChick & Fletch

Bingo!!!!!
Light Test.jpg
Light Test.jpg (121.69 KiB) Viewed 8852 times
Now, how do I add "GOBO" to that beam?

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