2D Billboard Object - no shadows rendered

[rcallicotte]

I just downloaded what you have here, Ben, and it didn't work.  I get nothing.  Just a blank terrain.  I have all of the files in place.

[bigben]

I just downloaded all of the files at work and get the same result.

the tgd, 2d card.tgo, 2D-tree.tif (from moodflow's first post). Here's a zip with everything in one file.

[rcallicotte]

Thanks Ben.  This one worked.

[moodflow]

I'll check this out when I get home.  Many thanks BigBen and Calico.

[rcallicotte]

Thank you, Moodflow.  This is brilliant work on your part and the collaborative effort of others (not me by much) has made something that has lingered as just too much trouble a reality. 

Here is my small contribution - http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=5218.msg53986#msg53986

[rcallicotte]

Here's a problem.  Rendered by itself, I get that beautiful bright green image.  The same TGO in a population renders those ugly dark things.  Any ideas or is this a population bug?  This is consistent behavior moving from an object to a population so far. 

[moodflow]

I got the same.  I'll take a look.

[moodflow]

OK, as BB had stated, it IS the smooth normals option.  Its on by default, but needs to be turned off. 

[rcallicotte]

Moodflow, let me know what you find, but I wouldn't tear your hair out if you see nothing.  I haven't seen any differences in the TGO.  Anyway, if you want, let's put this into the Support group, unless you understand what the jump from good to crap is.

[edit - spoke too soon.  Removing the Smooth Normals is the fix.  Cool. ]

[moodflow]

Here is a test image I created using this "fixed" method.  It shows the power of this option for distant foliage.  This image rendered without a hitch and this was a pretty sizeable population.  The closer up foliage doesn't look as good, but still, this will work perfectly.  I disabled the "front" face, so this is only a 2D object, with all facing the camera.  It should look better with more variation.

[moodflow]

...but I wouldn't tear your hair out if you see nothing.  

Well if I had hair, it would be a problem, LOL.

[moodflow]

Keep in mind, this method would work just as well up close, but at a micro-scale, like tiny weeds and such (and you wouldn't have to use a memory intensive 3d model).

[rcallicotte]

Moodflow, this is perfect in my estimation.  Thank you so much for contributing to our ability to do this.  As a matter of fact, I had just forgotten about this and your work on 2D objects has opened up a whole lot of doors I hadn't been thinking about.

Thanks.