Q: I have made an shaft with an ventilator, but i need a smokelike dust coming out of the shaft. I am lost right now. Can it be done?

A: Sure.

Please note that this newsgroup has to handle two different programs: 3DS for DOS and 3DS MAX. These are not versions of the same product and have only the "3DS" in common ;o)
Please next time state the program you are asking about.

  • If you are using MAX, you can use voulme light with noise. Consult your manuals, it is quite simple.

  • In 3DSr2/3/4 you have to model the light cone. In 2D Shaper, create the shape of the shaft. Create a 2D projection of the ventilator. Loft the whole on a simple path with Steps=0. You have now a cylinder. You can scale the one capped side on Vertex level anytime you like to get a Cone. (You could also use the Deform/Scale while lofting.)

    You have to use the SMOKE.SXP from the Yost IPAS Disks (if you have it) as opacity map for the smokelike dust.Leave Color 1 black, set Color 2 to about (50,50,50). Set Transp.Fall-off to about 80%. Set the basic color settings to the color you need for the smoke, and slide self-illum. to 100%. (These are only guidelines, you can experiment with any settings :o)

    Assign the material to the light cone. What you get is a very subtle effect of light rays that let you feel the presence of the ventilator in the shaft without having a solid shadow like the one in MAX volume light. You have to link the light cone to the vent in the Keyframer to let it follow the rotation. The SMOKE.SXP is automatically animated, you can only change the speed...

    It is a nice idea to have normal or ground fog with a similar color and about 10-20% far density for the whole scene - it wouldn't be very realistic to have fog only in the light cone... Be sure to adjust the Camera Ranges, too :o)

    I created a similar effect in R4 and put a picture on my webpage: (in RenderwOrld/Drafts&Quickies).

    This technique is used also for the light cone in the CHAPPEL.JPG (C) By Pyros Partnership that comes with 3DS. On the 3DS Demo Reel it is animated,too...