Introducing Maya® 2011

Raytracing Soft Shadows

One interesting feature of shadows is that they can diffuse or soften as the shadow falls from its casting object. This small detail can greatly enhance the reality of any render. In Figure 10-33, you can see the still life rendered with sharp raytraced shadows.

However, softening shadows even in a small scene like this can help the look of the render. In Figure 10-34, you see the same render but this time with softening shadows. Notice how the shadow softens more toward the edge of the shadow; the shadow is still sharp at the point of contact.

This gives a much nicer feeling of depth to the scene. There is an increase in render time—it’s important to evaluate how much softening you need so you don’t overdo the look or ...