User Manual

Alpha Detail
When the Alpha Detail slider is set to 0, the non-zero portions of the alpha channel of the
diffuse color are ignored and the opaque portions of the object casts a shadow. If it is set to 1,
the alpha channel determines how dense the object casts a shadow.
NOTE: The OpenGL renderer ignores alpha channels for shadow rendering, resulting
in a shadow always being cast from the entire object. Only the software renderer
supports alpha in the shadow maps.
The following examples for Alpha Detail and Color Detail cast a shadow using this image. It is a
green-red gradient from left to right. The outside edges are transparent, and inside is a small
semi-transparent circle.
Alpha Detail set to 1; the alpha channel determines the density of the shadow.
Alpha Detail set to 0; a dense-colored shadow results.
Color Detail
Color Detail is used to color the shadow with the object’s diffuse color. Increasing the Color
Detail slider from 0 to 1 brings in more diffuse color and texture into the shadow.
TIP: The OpenGL renderer will always cast a black shadow from the entire object, ignoring the
color. Only the software renderer supports color in the shadow maps.
Chapter – 76 3D Compositing Basics 1565