distant light vs sunlight

[FarbigeWelt]

2.get rid of distant light and give user a checkbox saying "direct light control" enabling color controls.

I agree. Even stars are in real intersectable, aren‘t they?
How else would you find exoplanets?

[FarbigeWelt]

Does this mean one can replace sun by a circle faced object?

No, because a circle shaped meshlight won't emit parallel light rays over the whole scene.

Why not if set to laser and larger than scene?

[B.Y.O.B.]

Why not if set to laser and larger than scene?

The laser light source is not a meshlight.
In Blender I have only put it in the area light settings because you can then use the area light size to judge the laser radius visually.

[lacilaci]

Is there anyone finding distant light useful? I agree with what Dade said that there is no point for 2 of the same lightsources, but there seems to be no purpose for distant light either. So make the sun more flexible, or make a copy of it with the ability to change the temperature directly and call that one a "distant light".

[Sharlybg]

does this look like a blue sun to you?:

suncolor.jpg

no, sun color is right now some sort of counterbalance to actual sun color which depends on it's angle... this is as counter intuitive as it gets imho...

What kind of color isn't possible for a realistic purpose ? i don't catch you.

Red

Blue

[lacilaci]

does this look like a blue sun to you?:

suncolor.jpg

no, sun color is right now some sort of counterbalance to actual sun color which depends on it's angle... this is as counter intuitive as it gets imho...

What kind of color isn't possible for a realistic purpose ? i don't catch you.

Red
red sun.jpg



Blue
blue sun.jpg

I'm not talking about possibilities, I'm talking about convenience!

Setting sun color isn't setting sun color, it's a counterbalance to actual sun color at given angle.. that's all

So to answer your question, everything is possible.. but how hard it is to get there...?

[kintuX]

Is there anyone finding distant light useful? I agree with what Dade said that there is no point for 2 of the same lightsources, but there seems to be no purpose for distant light either. So make the sun more flexible, or make a copy of it with the ability to change the temperature directly and call that one a "distant light".

yes, modern civilization, society and i find it extremely useful
it's basic element for simple architectural sun study models
it is also very important element while learning, studying descriptive geometry, a very base in architectural illustration (& architecture, engineering, design, art...)

learn some

[lacilaci]

Is there anyone finding distant light useful? I agree with what Dade said that there is no point for 2 of the same lightsources, but there seems to be no purpose for distant light either. So make the sun more flexible, or make a copy of it with the ability to change the temperature directly and call that one a "distant light".

yes, modern civilization, society and i find it extremely useful
it's basic element for simple architectural sun study models
it is also very important element while learning, studying descriptive geometry, a very base in architectural illustration (& architecture, engineering, design, art...)

learn some

But wait,

you need to elaborate on that my friend.

How is distant light more useful for architectural sun study than actual sun?

[kintuX]

really? here & now?
please do yourself a favor, study first and you shall understand
it's just a year long curriculum, subject of matter in Descriptive Geometry on University of Architecture

btw
maybe i'll get some explication together when i get back from the cruise

[FarbigeWelt]

Why not if set to laser and larger than scene?

The laser light source is not a meshlight.
In Blender I have only put it in the area light settings because you can then use the area light size to judge the laser radius visually.

Correct. My mistake.
But if you enlarge a round meshlight enough you get a light source all over the scene, you may set the distance quite far from the scene too, set camera border accordingly and you get an intersectable sun like object, despite the fact of lights count.
Did I miss something?