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hi ..


what are the most useful world coordinates to feed to maxwell for maximum control over the sun position by "eliminating variables" ?

i'd like to render the sun precisely coming from (let's say) 13 degree angle vertically and coming from (let's say) 8 degs east.

what date on what coords gives me the absolute easiest control with "just" those two parameters left ?

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let's discuss the systematic approach ..

Mate if you have sketchup there is a neat sun path ruby that positions the paths set on your location where then you can. As it plots the intervals you set (hr / .5hr etc) with a disc representing the sun I thought this could be a great way to play a days sweep in multilight if each panel was given an emitter!

I just eye it...

Within some small fraction of a degree, sun directly overhead would be:

location: latitude/longitude zero
date: March 21
time: 12:08

Most likely though, using 12:00 noon on either equinox would be close enough. From here, degrees north/south may be set directly using latitude. Degrees east/west may be set either using longitude, or else by time of day, figuring 1/4° per minute (or 15° per hour). Note that your plugin may work against you a little bit here, if it automatically figures GMT offset based on the current location; that's why you may want to use time to set the east/west direction.

So, in your example, March 21 and longitude 0 with:

latitude: -13°
time: 11:36 (i.e. 12:08 - 0:32)

...should result in the sun being ~13° to the north and ~8° to the east.

thanks for those replies ..

i tried with the 21st of march and coords of longitude zero, but i couldn't nail the values down. but the idea was at least going in the right direction.

thanks JD for the input.. i'll try that !

Bubbaloo wrote:I just eye it...

-> sometimes in arch-viz, the sun most come from a certain angle that isn't natural at all, so eyballing that is kinda difficult...

but now i'm on the right track ! yay !

Richard wrote:Mate if you have sketchup there is a neat sun path ruby that positions the paths set on your location where then you can. As it plots the intervals you set (hr / .5hr etc) with a disc representing the sun I thought this could be a great way to play a days sweep in multilight if each panel was given an emitter!

Where can we get the ruby script?

Some Maxwell plug-ins will allow you to specify the sun direction using a light or similar object, which gives you the kind of control you are looking for.

some do, the one for c4d doesn't have that feature yet ..

but i guess JD's working on it ..
the sun indicator does a pretty good job though.

but thanks for the input ..

bubbaloo - I just eye it... Wink

lol like schwarznegger smelling the enemy down wind?

NathanDan wrote:

bubbaloo - I just eye it... Wink

lol like schwarznegger smelling the enemy down wind?

Exactly!