ray trace goes black @ 70%

[Goldenbreeze]

Here is a new one for me. I am in X4 and raytracing a simple street scene.
no matter what size I make it, it seems to go completely black @ around 70% complete. I tried with/without photons, a size down to 250x500, you name it. The biggest dilemma is that I raytraced this scene at least 5 or 6 times in the past week and it always worked. I am at a loss. Hope someone can help. The only thing that was different between the two is that I removed a traffic light pole.

Anthony

[Joe Carrick]

No Light. Is the sun turn on?

[Joe Carrick]

Another thing to check is if you have at least one room. If there's no room in the plan Chief might not be able to figure out what kind of light to provide and lacking any light source that you place it might not have any at all.

[perryh]

What are your computer spec's and video card?

[Goldenbreeze]

Ill check sun. I do not have a room either so I will look into both. My rendering is of a road, sidewalk, trees, and polygon solids that make up existing buildings. The issue I have is that last week it worked. In fact when I do a low res rendering I can see the raytrace on the screen until around 70 %. then it goes black.

Anthony

[Joe Carrick]

It worked before because you had at least 1 light.

Scott had a challenge a year or so ago with a very similar situation. It was in fact a "Night" scene and even with spotlights it was a problem. I believe that the solution was to create room (either out of camera or with "Invisible Walls" - which told Chief that the camera was outdoors and to use the lights in order for the Ray Trace to work.

I might not have this exactly correct, but that's what I remember.

[Goldenbreeze]

WOW I feel embarrassed. I forgot to realize that all my street lamps are defaulted to "ON". Being there was nothing to bounce off of I guess it showed as black. I shut them all off and now it works. So sorry to take up your time.

Anthony

[dshall]

It worked before because you had at least 1 light.

Scott had a challenge a year or so ago with a very similar situation. It was in fact a "Night" scene and even with spotlights it was a problem. I believe that the solution was to create room (either out of camera or with "Invisible Walls" - which told Chief that the camera was outdoors and to use the lights in order for the Ray Trace to work.

I might not have this exactly correct, but that's what I remember.

I think you are right Joe, I had to create a room, thanks for the reminder. Now I forget if it mattered if the outdoor scene was in a room or whether the room could be five miles away.