Metal lamp, shadows, lighting? realism?

[Tenly]

Im learning and Im trying to create a simple light the old fashioned way...inworld. when I apply the metal texture Im not getting it the way I want. Ive tried rotating the texture but its not the way I want it. For example Id love it if the darker part of the texure were above instead of on the side.

I wish that light could affect the shadows on it...so lighter on one side than the other. but Im just getting the same effect as if Id drawn static colors onto the stem for example.

It might be I am asking to much for old fashioned prim creation..or..I simply do not know enough about what I am doing. 

I dont know blender all that well but Id be willing to try it in blender if that would give me better results. Am I looked for too much? Simple metal that reflects shadow and light depending on where the sun or moon is, as well as what its own light casts?

here is an image of what I am working on:

[Drongle McMahon]

First - Do you want to have baked-in effects, which will be visible without advanced lighting, or do you want dynamic effects, that will only be visible with advanced lighting on? You can also aim for both, but they tend to conflict, which makes that difficult to get right.

[markkemp]

To me it sounds like you're looking for some kind of ambient occlusion effect. You won't achieve this even with advanced materials turned on and the use to the right material textures.

You'd need to use materials AND make a model in blender with the ambient occlusion baked in. 

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but the "good old way" is not necessarily the "best looking way" anymore :matte-motes-smile:

[Ivanova Shostakovich]

   You might try playing with texture rotation on that shade part of the lamp. Also, experiment with planar texture mapping versus default.

[Ohjiro Watanabe]

Drop down the box that says Texture (diffuse) and select Shininess (specular). Then in the box below it which says None drop that one down and try the differrent options.

Also experiment with projected light to get a cool effect for your light

[Chic Aeon]

OK. I have been building with prims over on OpenSim so perhaps I am a bit more in tune with this since you said in your post "old fashioned way" and I am guessing that using mesh and ambient occlusion maps is NOT what you are looking for.

I think your problem is likely that you have been using path cut instead of dimple. Here are some screen shots that should help. The first is taken with advanced lighting ON. The second with it off. You could get more variation by having your texture with more contrast.

 

[Tenly]

OOO thank you chic! I didnt know what I was looking for as Im such a noob even with the old way...but I think this might solve my problem.

Thanks to everyone else too. I am playing around with all the advice. :-)