All posts relating to Maxwell Render 1.x
User avatar
By deadalvs
#296269
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 ?

--> :roll:

let's discuss the systematic approach ..
User avatar
By Richard
#296297
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!
By JDHill
#296307
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.
User avatar
By deadalvs
#296357
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... :wink:
-> 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 !
User avatar
By Leonardo
#296476
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?
User avatar
By Mihnea Balta
#296479
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.
User avatar
By deadalvs
#296481
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 ..
User avatar
By NathanDan
#296649
bubbaloo - I just eye it... Wink
lol like schwarznegger smelling the enemy down wind?
Sketchup 2025 Released

Thank you Fernando!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hwol[…]

I've noticed that "export all" creates l[…]

hmmm can you elaborate a bit about the the use of […]

render engines and Maxwell

Funny, I think, that when I check CG sites they ar[…]