Complex UV Layout in Maya
Over the last couple of years UV layout in Maya has changed for the better. In this course we're going to be taking a look at some of those changes as we UV map an entire character
# 1 15-11-2012 , 06:57 PM
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Flickering Flame Light

Hi all,

I've searched the forum and how to create a flickering light has been answered a few times, resulting in this expression that I'm currently using...

pointLightShape1.intensity = rand(0.5,1.5);

Unfortunately, generating a new value every frame looks unnatural (and is epilepsy inducing!). So, I'm after an expression which generates the new intensity value every random number of frames (between 5 and 15, say).

I've come across expressions which will change the value every set number of frames (e.g. every 5 or 10), but this looks unnatural. So is there a way to do this?

I'm fairly new to Maya and struggling to get my head around the MEL stuff!

# 2 15-11-2012 , 09:47 PM
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# 3 15-11-2012 , 10:00 PM
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Thanks for the reply!

I did try using the noise function at one point. The effect was very smooth, more like a dimmer switch reducing and raising the light, not really a 'flicker' a flame would produce.

Still, thanks for the suggestion, I'll have an experiment...

# 4 16-11-2012 , 03:33 AM
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You can try nesting noise inside of rand, or vice-versa.


Imagination is more important than knowledge.
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