How to illuminate a glass object - Polyloop

Markku · 20th February 2006, 14:17

Hi all!

I'm somewhat newbie to 3D and especially so when it comes to shading lighting.

Could you give me some pointers on how to illuminate a transparent, coloured object be it glass or plastic? You can think of my scenario being similar to a situation in an elevator where there are buttons for each floor and you press one of them and the glassy parts of it become illuminated by a led light or similar. The atmospehere is again similar to an elevator, not bright but not complitely dark either.

Should the glass material have some special characteristics in order to glow?
Should there be a light source underneath the glass button and what should it be like? Is it possible to achieve my goal with the basic library materials or must I edit them somehow?

My experiments so far have failed to produce illuminated effect strong enough in contrast to the non-illuminated coloured glass buttons. I've tried different glass materials from the browser and a spotlight behind the button. I've even tried using a light cone with the spotlight, but the glass itself did not gain any benefit of that, I just got a white light cone though I was expecting to see some colour tint in the light coming through a coloured glass.

I'm afraid I cannot include a picture of my project and hopefully the elevator example is enough for you to give me some tips. Any help is appreciated.

- Markku

Nichod · 20th February 2006, 15:05

Apply the desired color into the glow channel of the shader for the glass material.

You might also get a nice effect by duplicating your "button", uniform scale it, position it slightly behind the "button" and remove the glass properties (make sure to make the new shader on the duplicated object its own master), then give it the desired color in the glow channel rather then using the glass object.

Markku · 21st February 2006, 09:39

Thanks Nichod, I'll try the glow channel.

So you think no light is needed?

20th February 2006, 14:17	#1 (permalink)
Markku Studying 3D at nights Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 86	How to illuminate a glass object Hi all! I'm somewhat newbie to 3D and especially so when it comes to shading lighting. Could you give me some pointers on how to illuminate a transparent, coloured object be it glass or plastic? You can think of my scenario being similar to a situation in an elevator where there are buttons for each floor and you press one of them and the glassy parts of it become illuminated by a led light or similar. The atmospehere is again similar to an elevator, not bright but not complitely dark either. Should the glass material have some special characteristics in order to glow? Should there be a light source underneath the glass button and what should it be like? Is it possible to achieve my goal with the basic library materials or must I edit them somehow? My experiments so far have failed to produce illuminated effect strong enough in contrast to the non-illuminated coloured glass buttons. I've tried different glass materials from the browser and a spotlight behind the button. I've even tried using a light cone with the spotlight, but the glass itself did not gain any benefit of that, I just got a white light cone though I was expecting to see some colour tint in the light coming through a coloured glass. I'm afraid I cannot include a picture of my project and hopefully the elevator example is enough for you to give me some tips. Any help is appreciated. - Markku

20th February 2006, 15:05	#2 (permalink)
Nichod Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 612	Apply the desired color into the glow channel of the shader for the glass material. You might also get a nice effect by duplicating your "button", uniform scale it, position it slightly behind the "button" and remove the glass properties (make sure to make the new shader on the duplicated object its own master), then give it the desired color in the glow channel rather then using the glass object. __________________ Email Me. Visit my blog! Get hundreds of shader presets! Get Art of Shaders! And a preview for Art of Skin is now available. AMD Turion(TM) 64 ML-40 (2.2GHz/1MB L2 Cache) 1280 MB DDR 333mHz RAM 128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM) 60 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer Support 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800) I use.

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21st February 2006, 09:39	#3 (permalink)
Markku Studying 3D at nights Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 86	Thanks Nichod, I'll try the glow channel. So you think no light is needed?