Hello,
 Anyone know why I loose the stars and planet detail when Raytraced? Picture on left is just a snapshot-right is raytraced.
KB

Are the stars objects or a backdrop ? Are they too far away to see (don't know what kind of scale we are talking about here) ? Are you using fog - this could cause problems ?

Of course it's a simple matter of exporting to .pov, but I don't know what this means- :-/

KB,
I've had problems with Pov seeing images that I would use for backgrounds, etc.
If you were working in Pov you would have to make sure that the image file(s) are in the PovRay/Include folder, so I believe that when raytracing a scene in 3D Canvas, you may need to do the same thing. I'm not absolutely sure about this but it would make sense to me. Just copy and paste any image file that you are using to the Include folder in Pov and see if it makes a difference.

Also, I'm not sure that I can explain this properly, but the line of code at the bottom of your post shows how PovRay interprets what you give it. If you use an image that has a bump map included then Pov will read the bump map and translate it into its own values(I think). Pov will show you the "bump_size" and "interpolation" values for the image. This information is used by PovRay as a "normal" when creating the scene. As I said this may not be totally correct. It's mostly a guess as I have not yet re-installed Pov on my machine and can't give you anything more accurate right now.
If you are getting an error on this particular line of code, then it could be as I said above, that the image file needs to be in the Include folder.

TIP:
If you want stars, planets, comets, etc. in your scenes in Pov, check out files like "Galaxy.inc" and others at the PovRay site. They are fairly easy to use and will produce more realistic results than images.

Hope this is of some help,

Les

You're always a help, Les. I know I moved the file but now not sure if it was to the include file. I'll have to check. Had the same thing with Rune [nice water animation] but couldn't figure out hot to start the animation in POV. More reading on it needed. :-/  Thanks for the tips! ;D

Hi Les,
 Copied all my textures to POV include file just to make sure. Took a cube, put the bmp on it, exported it in .pov, ran it in POVray, got the same error for the bmp.
 Just took a png. from POVray's include file, [thought it might have to be a png. ] , put it in 3DC texture file, put it on a cube and exported to pov. When I ran it in POV the cube looked to have a texture, but not the color. [ insert emoticon with crossed eyes and tounge sticking out]
 Just tried it as a background in 3DC, didn't show up. Have to work on it latter, let me know if you have another idea. BTW-"Galaxy.inc" seems to be gone.
 KB

KB,
Well that's got me stumped.. ??? When you get a chance, show me the Pov code with two or three lines above and below the line where the error occurs. That might help, not sure.

Since v3.5 of PovRay has included support for a few different image types, it may take a little work to figure out the problem. I do know that .bmp's are seen as sys(system) files in Pov, or at least they used to be.

Anyway, post the code again and let's see if I get any brainstorms....ha ha.

Les

P.S.
I should still have a copy of Galaxy.inc somewhere(still haven't re-installed Pov on my machine). I'll try to locate it and if you will email me, I will send it to you.

Hi Les,
 We are having power outages quite often, I'm reluctant to run the computer off the generator, so I'm in the dark more than usual.
 This capture is with the bmp. in the include file-when I run it without the file in place it produces a blank [all black] render.In place, it appears to show a "texture"- but not the colors.
 Thanks, and [font=Verdana]Happy Holidays[/font][color=Red][/color]

KB,
Send me the "falltree.bmp" image if you don't mind. I have an idea but would like to see the image first.

Les

Hey Les!-
 I stumbled on it- reading the hint when accidentally clicking the translucency button- then in a state of confusion, applied a second image over the bmp. Even a plain 1st layer worked. Don't fully understand it but it is a start.
 The only cube that came out blank has one layer.
 Merry Christmas, KB ;D ;D

End product-quick test. All systems go.
 Thanks for hanging in there with me, Les, I hope this isn't one of those "I thought you were doing that all along" things. ???
Let the fun begin! ;DKB
  Sure wish we could do more than 80kb.