creating a realistic pendant lamp/light

[jeffroyer]

I have been experimenting with creating a realistic pendant type light fixture with somewhat limited success. Does anyone have a formula they wouldn't mind sharing?

I have created a glass tube wherein I placed a point light source which worked fairly well except that the glass tube did not have enough presence.

thanks

[Dave_Donley]

Hello jeffroyer:

Try the electrical lamp symbols in the Libraries->Objects Imperial->16_Electrical_Accurate_Lamps.mcd file. There are pre-made bulb symbols in there that will help you.

The easiest way to get a lampshade that will glow is to use the Translucent reflectivity shader in a texture resource; also turn off cast shadows for the texture. Surfaces with this texture will light up from behind.

This same setup is used to make the electrical accurate lamp symbols' surfaces light up.

The bulb symbols use color temperature, so you should go to the Layer or Viewport Lighting Options dialog and set the white balance temperature to 3400K (Electrical). Also, if the bulbs are too bright you can either use auto exposure in the render mode or turn the brightness down using the symbol's brightness multiplier slider in the Object Info palette.

HTH!

Edited March 5, 2007 by Dave_Donley

[jeffroyer]

Thanks Dave. That was exactly what I needed!

Once I placed an accurate lamp that material was available in the oip for the lampshade