What makes ground object cast shadow?

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Strava
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What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Strava »

I have 5 objects in the same area. Barra tower , 3 different hangars and 2 fuel tanks.
The tower and one of the hangars casts shadow. The other objects do not.
I searched the forum and found the NOSHADOW parm but I have the opposite problem.
I want a shadow and don't have one.

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Re: What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Flake »

Shadows for all objects are generated by the COLL file. Make sure your collision file is not an empty SRF. ;)
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Re: What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Strava »

I'm sure that's not true for aircraft. Note the notch in the wing's shadow and the prop shadow.
I am using the original eclipse_col.srf in the aircraft folder for this model.
Take look at the col in an editor and you will see how different it is from the shadow.

Image

Back to the ground objects...
I thought it may be related to the coll object so I have tried a few different coll models, including the full object, with no effect :?

I have compared the dat's & gob entries and see no significant differences.
The gob's are grouped together, so I guess they have the same "parent".


edit -----------------------------------
here's the same hangar with the coll removed...
Image


edit2 ------------------------------------
Got it! dnm's cast shadows. srf's do not. :)
Last edited by Strava on Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Neocon »

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that when you're at normal graphics settings, shadows are made by the model, not the collision file. Does the shadow appear if you get close to the object?

Could you use "NOSHADOW FALSE" to force a shadow?
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Re: What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Strava »

I tried NOSHADOW FALSE ... no effect.

The answer to the riddle is...
DNM's cast shadows, SRF's do not.

AND... if you don't want the floor of the hangar black, raise it up 0.03m
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Re: What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Flake »

To turn the shadow OFF, NOSHADOW TRUE.

Maybe the shadow comes from the visual model itself? Strange... I could have sworn that was different.
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Re: What makes ground object cast shadow?

Post by Owl »

Shadows are cast from collisions models at distance and dynamodels at close range.

Shadows are projected on a) surface level b) terrain c) decks of carrier type ground objects.

C) has interesting implications; if you overfly a ground object and your shadow climbs it; the GOB is landable (e.g. Makoto's bridges but not Careme's)

B) has a catch; if the map creator uses the advanced technique of moving elevation grids upwards or rotating them in pitch and roll, shadow casting (and collision with terrain) will be calculated as if the terrain base, pitch and roll angle are zero.

AFAICT, same works for GOBs.
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