How Do You Create a Sun?

GOD-sSs-END

Hey, all:

So I can't use the default sun because my project is built using scene and dome. But the dome light is problematic for me as well. 

I can't animate it, apparently.

So, I need a powerful light to act as a sun. As an actual light, I should be able to animate it.

Any thoughts?

BeeMKay

Use a distant light. They behave like a dostant light and can be used to simulate the sund. You'll probably have to adjust the light temperature to simulate sunlight.

GOD-sSs-END

BeeMKay said:

Use a distant light. They behave like a dostant light and can be used to simulate the sund. You'll probably have to adjust the light temperature to simulate sunlight.

Thank you.

I'll play with it. I did goof around with each of the lights. None seem to have the intensity or spread of the dome. But I'll try working with the temp more.

Fishtales

Try a distant light at 4500 or 5500 temperature, start at between 10,000 and 50,000 Lumen at cd/cm2 and see how that does. You can choose the light and look through it in the viewport to make sure it is pointing the way you want it.

JonnyRay

Seeing the subject line, I wanted to answer ... "First, gather several trillion trillion hydrogen atoms..."

Bee's advice is good though. A distant light is intended to mimic the sun. It bathes your whole scene equally with the light it's emitting. You may need to add a LOT of intensity to the light though as Iray is strange that way. Also, if your scene has a physical dome, it may not do any good. The light from a distant light is always from outside the scene (no matter where the emitter is actually placed); so the dome may block that light.

Alternatively you can try playing with ghost lights to add light where you really need it. These are basically transparent planes that emit light but aren't visible. I use KindredArt's Ghost Light Kit extensively in most of my renders to fix lighting problems.

abhijnansaraswat

I actually want to make the sun appear. Can anyone tell how or what should I use so that the source of light seems bright?

areg5

Fishtales said:

Try a distant light at 4500 or 5500 temperature, start at between 10,000 and 50,000 Lumen at cd/cm2 and see how that does. You can choose the light and look through it in the viewport to make sure it is pointing the way you want it.

Many thanks! Worked like a charm!