Diffusing shadows

[Grazman]

I'm using Max 5.1 and have a standard spot light lighting a plane with a partial obstruction (space ship) in the lights path. Thus the plane exhibits a shadowed shape of the obstruction.
The attached image show the scene.

The problem is trying to soften up that sharp light/dark edge on the plane.
I've messed around with the light parameters but can't soften the shadow at all. (even when I move the plane far away from the light sources there is still a crisp line where the ship blocks the light.

Please help

Thanks all
Graz

[haim_i]

what kind of shadow do u use ?
try to change to area shadow ....
take a look at the pic that i add .

[Grazman]

Thanks. I'll try the "area shadow" and post a pic of the result!

[Doc1524]

You could just go to the modify panel and under the Shadow Parameters change the sample range- works pretty good. To heighten the effects, you can try chaanging the value of the shadow or the color of it.


Later
Doc

[Grazman]

Sorry been busy and forgot about the post. I tried the Area shadow effect but could get a nice clean shadow to render within my mortal life-span so I dicided to go back to shadow map, grab a pic of the shape of the light on the plane and gaussian blur it in photoshop. Then put it back into max as a projected image (controls found under the modify tab for the specific light).
I havn't posted the pic cos to be quite franc it's boring to look at at the moment! but the soft shadow is there and it renders suuuuuuuuuuuper fast.
Me happy now!!
thanks for your comments haim_i and Doc1524

and Doc1524 I will look at your suggestion as soon as I can, (I'm tangle up in another project right now! litterally tangled! using Maya Texture editor, trying to sort out 7000 UV's) eeeek.

thanks all
Graz

[Doc1524]

7000 uvs - you glutten for punishment or what

better you than me - good luck all the same

Doc