#Flashing Lights
10 messages in this thread
I needthe help of someone a little more experienced than I. I am trying to
simulate flashing lights on the wing tips of an airplane for use in ana
animation. I've created self – illuminated G-Spheres for the lights, but this
gives a constant light. i also placed an omni light in each sphere to provide
the illumination of the surrounding wing area. But how can I create lights that
flash? The only way I can think of would require me to basically create a new
light for each frame of the animation – about 1200 total! – which obviously
isn't gonna' do! Any suggestions?
Thanks
Craig Fries
Craig…
In the keyframer, use the "hide" keys (a bunch of times) for the object your
using for the lights.
In other words, hide, then unhide, hide, etc. If you're still confused, call me
back.
Kev
Hide Keys for your self-illuminated spheres and animated Omnis should help you
with the flashing lights, Craig.
-Alan
I've done a similar effect by making a small flic (100X100 I think) 60 frames
long (or however long the period of the light is), the first half of the
frames were pure white and the last half were pure black. Then I used this
flic as a Self Illumination Map for the light material. It saved me from
having to mess with the Hide keys, and it allowed me to have alternately
blinking lights just by creating a duplicate material except turning on the
negative button in the Self Illuminating Map Setup. You can also use the same
flic on an animated spot light to flash on the surrounding object fairly easily
this way.
Alden, if I could just add a little "tweak" to your "60 frames FLC, first half
pure white last half pure black. If you look at a light when it goes off, you
will noitice a glow-down right after the click and a shorter glow-up when it is
turned on. So in my opacity masks for lights going on to off I have a brief
drop off from White to Black through a grayscale, the length of which I
determine depending on the kind of light that is going off. The resultant
glow-down is appreciated by the viewer, particularly if the light is a blinking
one. Also, depending on th ekind of light, I sometimes put a little up-ramp as
well, naturally much shorter. Jeffrey
Yup, that sounds even better.
Great idea!! I'll try it today, see if I fully grok what you are suggesting,
although it seems pretty straight forward.
Thanks ALOT for the help, it's really cool to be able to get realistic,
intelligent answers to questions that just plain got ya' stumped!
Caig Fries
Why not morph materials on two spherical self-illumated objects? You can to a
repeat in key info to repeat the morph, this will allow you to do a ramp-up and
down. This way if you decide to change the color of your light's it is only
necessary to change the material colors.
Ken
Also seems that the material morph would make it easier to change the frequency
of the flasher. No?
– gruhn
Morphing materials for a flashing light gives me the best control in most
situations. From changing the frequency, light color, ramp-up/down time, etc.
It is probably the easiest method also. You can also put a little reflection
in the materials to give a star-burst effect. -Ken