No shadows for Planes object in Forest Pro plugin ?

[paraganek]

Hi,

while rendering in Vray (light with Vray shadows) Planes objects do not generate any shadows. Forest objects generate shadows properly. As soon as I convert the Planes objects into Editable meshes, they start casting shadows properly. Is anybody else experiencing the same problem ? Is it a bug ?
We are using max 7.5, Vray 1.47.03 and Forest Pro v.2.0 (Itoo software).

[RErender]

the only reason to use planes objects is to cast proper shadows using shadow maps...

[paraganek]

the only reason to use planes objects is to cast proper shadows using shadow maps...

RErender : The main reason of using Planes objects to us is the ability to place the individual planes at the places we need them which you can not do with Forest objects.
How do you create for example street trees along city streets using Forest Pro with Vray shadows (no Xshadows) ? I did not find any better way than using Planes but I am just not getting any shadows from them

[RErender]

as far as i know the only solution is as you said, collapse them.

I've talked to them about the possibility of maxscript access to some of the inner workings, I wanted to be able to color the verts for some variation in their colors, but I was told it was not possible.

[paraganek]

Problem solved

OK, it was sort of my fault.
It works just fine with Planes when you manually assign a specific light for Raytraced shadows in the Planes Look modifier settings panel. It appears this is some way automated for Forest objects.

[tonymacdonald]

hey is the forest product supported? we were looking at buying forest but i havent been able to contact anyone at itoosoft? i have emailed them and have had no reply? all emails undeliverable?

any help would be appreciated.

also how does the plugin work with network rendering? can you buy 1 licence and use it over multiple computers for rendering? or do you have to buy a licence for each rendering node?

Thanks
TonyM

[paraganek]

hey is the forest product supported? we were looking at buying forest but i havent been able to contact anyone at itoosoft? i have emailed them and have had no reply? all emails undeliverable?

Forest works just fine in Vray. After sending email the next day Itoosoft promptly advised what to do to make the Planes work so I can not complain

also how does the plugin work with network rendering? can you buy 1 licence and use it over multiple computers for rendering? or do you have to buy a licence for each rendering node?

We only have one licence and render on multiple machines with no problem.

[tonymacdonald]

ok that sounds good. would you mind giving me the email address you use to contact itoosoft as the ones on their web dont seem to work.

Thanks
TonyM

[paraganek]

would you mind giving me the email address you use to contact itoosoft as the ones on their web dont seem to work.

sure, here it is: support@itoosoft.com