shadows

Scripting Issues
1

ive been trying for about 4 hours to get shadows to work
with no luck. idk if its the type of light im using or something else. If i could get a reallly basic example of shadows or maybe some help with my code i woukd be grateful :smiley:

import direct.directbase.DirectStart
from pandac.PandaModules import *
from direct.gui.OnscreenText import OnscreenText
from pandac.PandaModules import WindowProperties 
import sys

class Main(object):
	def __init__(self):
		base.disableMouse() # disables the default mouse camera controls
		base.accept( "escape" , sys.exit) # quits when escape is pressed
		self.loadPlayer = Player() # Calls up the Player() class
		self.addWinProps()
		self.addlight() # load the light
	def addlight(self): #create the light
		#create a directional light to give a sense of 3d ness
		dlight = DirectionalLight('dlight')
		dlight.setColor(VBase4(0.8, 0.8, 0.8, 1))
		dlight.setShadowCaster(True)
		dlnp = render.attachNewNode(dlight)
		dlnp.setHpr(0, -60, 0)
		render.setLight(dlnp)
		render.setShaderAuto()
	def addWinProps(self):#defines the windows properties aka title and hide cursor etc
		props = WindowProperties()
		props.setCursorHidden(True)
		props.setTitle('Space Fighter')
		base.win.requestProperties(props)
class Player(object): # controls the Player
	speed = 250 # controls the speed of the ship
	FORWARD = Vec3(0, 2, 0) # sets direction and speed of forward direction
	STOP = Vec3(0, 0, 0)# sets the speed and direction of stop
	walk = STOP # makes walk = stop
	def __init__(self):
		self.loadShip() #calls up the function to load the ship
		self.loadWorld()
		self.createControls()
		self.setCamera()
		taskMgr.add(self.updatePos, 'update position')
		taskMgr.add(self.mouseUpdate, 'update mouse')
	def loadShip(self): # just loads the ship model
		self.ship = loader.loadModel('ship')
		self.ship.reparentTo(render)
		self.ship.setTwoSided(True)
		self.ship.setScale(.5)
	def loadWorld(self): # loads world
		self.world = loader.loadModel('level')
		self.world.reparentTo(render)
		self.world.setPos(-1, 30, 3)
		self.world.setScale(80)
	def setCamera(self): # sets the camera lense
		place = base.cam.node().getLens()
		place.setFov(70)
		base.cam.node().setLens(place)
		base.camera.reparentTo(self.ship)
		base.camera.setY(-30)
		base.camera.setZ(5)
	def mouseUpdate(self,task): # updates the mouse and changes ships P and H accordingly
		md = base.win.getPointer(0)
		x = md.getX()
		y = md.getY()
		if base.win.movePointer(0, base.win.getXSize()/2, base.win.getYSize()/2):
			self.ship.setP(self.ship.getP() -  (y - base.win.getYSize()/2)*0.1)
			self.ship.setH(self.ship.getH() - (x - base.win.getXSize()/2)*0.1)
		return task.cont
	def createControls(self): # changes the value of walk to either STOP or Forward depending on the keypress
		base.accept( "w" , self.__setattr__,["walk",self.FORWARD])
		base.accept( "w-up" , self.__setattr__,["walk",self.STOP] )

	def updatePos(self,task): # task to move the ship and camera
		self.ship.setPos(self.ship,self.walk*globalClock.getDt()*self.speed)
		return task.cont
Main()
run()
2

Try with spotlight, it’s easier.

3

Yes, the builtin shadows are only good with spotlights. But scenes that use spotlights arent much as well.

Youre gonna have to use a custom shader if you want shadows with other types of lights. But then you basically break the whole shader generator.

Proper shadows is something I think Panda3d is really lacking.

4

Thanks :slight_smile: I’ll try a spotlight and see what happens. If it doesnt turn out well looks like I’ll have to go with custom shaders :confused: