So are soft shadows a 'for sure' option in the final release?

[moodflow]

Hi Oshyan,

Do you know if soft shadow support is 'officially' planned for the final version of TG2?  I wasn't sure if this was a rumor or not.

I think soft shadows (along with the other planned capabilities - like subsurface scattering, and transparent water), would be the final element that would cause me to lock myself in my office for days on end of image-creating madness!

Currently, TGTP's renditions, though amazing, seem abit on the flat and thin side since there are no soft shadows to soften things up a bit. 

Good examples of soft shadows in action can be seen at here at Greenwork's Xfrog News site:
http://www.xfrogdownloads.com/greenwebNew/news/newStart.htm

Some of the Vue and Pov-Ray renders of the foliage, have soft shadows enabled, creating a softer image with more depth.  As stated this is only due to soft-shadows being enabled in these apps.  Of course Luc Bianco's image (rendered with TG2) looks amazing there as well.

As stated, TGTP is still amazing now with soft shadows, and I use it everyday.  When/if it becomes an option, it will be only more so.

Anyway, thanks for any inputs you may have...

[rcallicotte]

What I've heard is - yes.

[RealUser]

Yap, soft shadows add greatly to realism, though they are not necessary for the far distance where fake soft shadows (shadow maps) are just enough.

Shadow mapping wikipedia Germany: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Mapping. Sorry couldn't find an English article in wikipedia about it.

[Oshyan]

Yes, soft shadows are definitely planned for inclusion in the final release.

- Oshyan

[moodflow]

Yes, soft shadows are definitely planned for inclusion in the final release.

- Oshyan

Good to hear Oshyan - many thanks for letting us know.