Tractor Beam Problems MAX4

Great great troubles creating a tractor beam.....seems that I am stugling with the maps NOT the lights......what shape should I create?...in Photoshop?

then....if creating a cone and NOT a volume light how to make it animate correctly...it does not work


I just want to make some freakin' Tractor Beams~

EBOLII:

What I would suggest is that you make a material with a noise map in it - adjust it properly and render it out on a plane fitting the entire image (top view) and test it on the volumelight. Once you have a look you are content with then animate the noise map and render out the animation. That will work fine!

Yes but mapping to a volume seems to be a problem?

Banner
noise map - adjust it properly and render it

This is the whole problem!....

EBOLII:

Listen, you can't use a noise map for a tractor beam using a volume light - it would seem logical yes but a noise map is procedural and that means it's 3d not 2d so when you apply a noise map to the volume light you'll get a visible cone with noise in it instead of beams. But if you render out the map on a plane (animated would be best) you'll then be able to use this map on the volume light to cast that particular map and get the beams you want. Make sure shadow casting is on!

You're welcome