mental ray Shadow Map Rollout

Choosing “mental ray Shadow Map” as the shadow type tells the mental ray renderer to generate shadows using the mental ray shadow-map algorithm.

• Create panel > (Lights) > Create a light. > General Parameters rollout > Shadows group > Choose “mental ray Shadow Map.” > mental ray Shadow Map rollout
• Select a light. > Modify panel > General Parameters rollout > Shadows group > Choose mental ray Shadow Map. > mental ray Shadow Map rollout

The scanline renderer does not support “mental ray Shadow Map” shadows. When it encounters a light with this shadow type, it doesn’t generate shadows for this light.

Note: mental ray shadow-mapped shadows are always “2-sided”; in other words, mental ray shadow-mapped shadows do not take face normals into account while rendering.

Interface

Map Size

Sets the resolution of the shadow map. The size of the map is the square of this value. Greater resolutions require more time to process, but produce more accurate shadows. Default=512.

Sample Range

When greater than zero, generates soft-edged shadows. This value specifies the area of the map to soften, by removing portions of the map as specified by Samples. Default=0.0.

If you set Sample Range to be greater than zero, you must also set Samples to be greater than zero, to obtain a soft shadow effect.

Directional lights require Sample Range to have a greater value than spotlights require.

Samples

Sets the number of samples to remove from a shadow map when generating soft shadows. Default=1.

Use Bias

When on, changes the shadow bias. Increasing the value moves the shadow farther away from the shadow casting object. Default=10.

Transparent Shadows group

Enable

When on, shadow maps are saved with multiple Z-layers, and can have transparency. Default=off.

Color

When on, surface color affects the color of the shadow. Default=on.

Turning off Color saves memory at rendering time.

Merge Dist.

The minimum distance between two surfaces for them to be considered “distinct.” If two surfaces are closer than this value, the shadow map treats them as a single surface. When set to 0.0, the mental ray renderer automatically calculates a distance value to use. Default=0.0 (automatic).

Larger Merge Distance values reduce memory consumption, but can reduce shadow quality. Low Merge Distance values increase memory consumption and slow down rendering speed.

Samp./Pixel

The number of samples used to generate a pixel in the shadow map. Higher values increase the quality and detail of the shadow, at a cost of render time. Default=5.

If a mapped shadow appears to be aliased, increase the value of Samples/Pixel. This setting is especially useful when shadows are cast by finely detailed geometry.