Can't get my shadows to work? - HELP!

Hi guys,

I'm trying to generate some backdrops for a green-screen interview we shot. I was playing around with motion for this building a virtual set and setting up some cameras and lights. I only need to export still pictures so there's no animation going on.

The problem is that I can't get my structures to actually have shadows. I'm not talking about a drop shadow but about "real" shadows due to the lights I put. Tried all different light sources and moved them around. Put a hook to "receive shadows" on all elements. It just doesn't work.

I have no clue where I took the wrong turn. Can anyone help?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Sebastian

PS: I attached the motion file for further investigation...

Hm. Can't attach the file, it doesn't show up. Any ideas?

I found a solution! My cameras were all set at 0° rotation. I now gave them a y-rotation of just 1° and the shadows show up. Must be a bug I'd say?

No bugs about that I know of. Be sure about the Intensity of those Spot Lights in relation to distance. The Falloff and Cone Angle settings can effect this. As well as the Soft Edge. Set correctly, these can make huge differences with only 1 degree of rotation. Especially when they're far away from the objects.

Be sure when doing lighting to switch to a perspective view, rotate around, zoom out enough, so you can very accurately see where the Spot Light's actual cone is falling. I often put a huge, white rectangle behind and/or under everything so I can get a better idea of where it is.

Thanks Ben, that sounds like a good advice!