Sunshader - independent shadows
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 10:39 pmWe've been experimenting with DataCAD's shadow options using Sunshader and Quickshader where the resultant shadows are inserted behind the smart entities. Some example below:
shdw1a.jpg (31.15 KiB) Viewed 3807 times
Sunshader
shdw1b.jpg (16.18 KiB) Viewed 3807 times
Quickshader
It appears easier to get a white(r) background with Sunshader and it also supports the auto insertion as a background image with all the scaling done when it's created. The current drawbacks are both options combine the shadows onto the ground plane in the output image. This still works if the CAD floor plan doesn't include any colour fills as these are then over the top of the shadow image and block out parts of the shadows. Sunshader does allow the output of an outline line drawing of the shadow but this needs editing to cleanup missing/stray linework and is time consuming on elaborate plans.
Wishlist 1 - allow DataCAD to generate shadows on their own layer independent to the background/ground plane the shadows are cast onto. In the case with Sunshader, the output image would just be the shadows generated allowing the JPG image to sit over the CAD drawing therefore allowing colour fills etc. without the shadows being hidden. The same feature could also be added to Quickshader.
Wishlist 2 - increase Sunshader's crispness with anti-aliasing applied so the shadow has less rough edges. Quickshader already includes this option.
Sunshader
Quickshader
It appears easier to get a white(r) background with Sunshader and it also supports the auto insertion as a background image with all the scaling done when it's created. The current drawbacks are both options combine the shadows onto the ground plane in the output image. This still works if the CAD floor plan doesn't include any colour fills as these are then over the top of the shadow image and block out parts of the shadows. Sunshader does allow the output of an outline line drawing of the shadow but this needs editing to cleanup missing/stray linework and is time consuming on elaborate plans.
Wishlist 1 - allow DataCAD to generate shadows on their own layer independent to the background/ground plane the shadows are cast onto. In the case with Sunshader, the output image would just be the shadows generated allowing the JPG image to sit over the CAD drawing therefore allowing colour fills etc. without the shadows being hidden. The same feature could also be added to Quickshader.
Wishlist 2 - increase Sunshader's crispness with anti-aliasing applied so the shadow has less rough edges. Quickshader already includes this option.