IRender Soft Shadows
Soft Shadows is a feature of IRender which re-samples the sun and lamps to create soft shadows.
Contents
Lamp Size
Larger lamp bulbs will create software shadows - see the examples below.
Small lamp placed in front of chair. 30 rendering passes. Note harsher shadows
Large lamp placed in front of chair. 30 rendering passes. Note soft shadows
Notes
- The shadows are softened with each rendering pass, so you need to allow enough rendering passes to see the soft shadows.
- The wall on the left has Auto Bump enabled.
Another Shadow Example
Here is another example using a 0.05" lamp on the left and a 2" lamp on the right.
500 passes with the Path Tracer Engine
Soft Sun Shadows
There are several things which effect the softness of shadows from the sun.
Sky
If the Sky is turned on, or turned on for illumination even when off, then light from the sky will soften the shadows from the sun.
Cloudiness
Even with no sky, the Cloudiness Setting will make the shadows software by adding a cloudy effect.
Sun, Sky and Cloudiness settings
Default for Sun, Sky and Cloudiness
Sky turned off - Cloudiness still at 20
No sky or clouds