Lightsaber Shadows

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2004-05-12 05:56pm

I know that Bob Brown said that it makes sense for lightsabers to have shadows, and I know that they canonically do have shadows, but I also know that there are a bunch of people on the net that regard the saber shadows as effects errors. The recent Jedi Knight video games even go out of their way to show that lightsabers don't have shadows.

The seems to me is that as long as the lightsaber isn't brighter than a room's light, it'll cast a shadow, since it's opaque. And considering that lightsabers aren't terribly bright (although the blade is bright, objects only feet away from the blade only have a slight coloration due to the blade...it's not like, say, a fluorescent tube), they should cast shadows in most situations.

So what do you smartiepants think? Are there any good reasons for lightsabers to not cast shadows, or vice versa?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-05-12 06:15pm

I don't know, but ILM doesn't seem to have a problem with them being there, since they're still in the OTSE, and I remember seeing some in AotC recently.

As to why they have them in the first place, I haven't the slightest.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-05-12 06:17pm

Well, as long as the lightsabre's a weaker light source than whatever's the main one (like ceiling light) I suppose it can cast a shadow.

If it casted one in a completely dark room, I'd be worried.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2004-05-12 06:17pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:As to why they have them in the first place, I haven't the slightest.

Most likely it's because they filmed the scenes with a physical blade prop, and didn't feel like fudging out the shadows in post.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-05-12 06:23pm

No, I meant that I have no idea why they're there in reel life, not real life.

I know that they use wooden and metal poles for filming.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2004-05-12 06:25pm

Shinova wrote:If it casted one in a completely dark room, I'd be worried.

So would I. But then again, I'd be worried if anything casted a shadow in a completely dark room. (Hint: completely dark rooms are 100% shadow)

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2004-05-12 07:05pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:No, I meant that I have no idea why they're there in reel life, not real life.

I know that they use wooden and metal poles for filming.

Probably cause the blades are opaque and don't cast a lot of light?

Really now, it isn't rocket science. Hell, it ain't even sandwich repair.