--- December 1995 "Lamps, Lights, and Lighting" Raytrace Competition --- Name: jglamp.jpg Size: 105707 bytes Date: 22.12.95 Author: Jaco Geldenhuys Email: geld@mort.cs.sun.ac.za Hardware: SUN SPARCserver 1000, Solaris 2.3 Software: POV-Ray 2.2 Command: povray +a0.0 +r8 -w800 -h600 +ft -ilamp.pov -olamp.tga Render Time: 68 hours 6 minutes The scene contains what appears to be an infinite number of very simple lamps, but in reality, there are only four lamps and four mirrors. The mirrors form a square except for the south-east corner which is missing to allow for the camera. This causes a serious imperfection: a black rectangle in the center ot picture. Each lamp is a wooden stand, a textile translucent shade with two golden bands at the top and bottom, and a area light as light source. (The shade is magically suspended around the bulbless light --- I don't know why I call this a lamp.) The lamps are arranged on a green agate surface. An extra light-source is set close to the camera to throw a little light on the stands. I am new to raytracing (this is my first entry) and am still being struck by ideas (how would this look...?, what is the effect of this...?). I can't tell you where I got the idea, but once I got it, I couldn't think of anything better. I worked on it at home (on an 80486) refining the shape, distances, and angle. When I thought it was ok, I set it going on the SUN. The 68 hours render time is wall time --- unfortunately, the processor time was not recorded. Next time... I am not completely satisfied with the picture, but I only learned of the competition around the 18th. Anyways, there are lamps, there are lights, and there is lighting, so it qualifies. -- jaco