OpenGL lighting alternatives

[blazko]

Hello all,

Some days ago I read something here on lighting, but am not able to find it right now. That is not so bad cos the question I have was not answered there :-)

Okay, I am doing a 3D space game and thought that adding quite simple lighting by using glLight. Over the other thread I read about some entirely different lighting approaches that I have never heard of.

Thus, is using glLight adequate for new projects? I am in the lucky position that I do not require lighting effects that are required in ego shooters; e.g. I do not need sophisticated shadowing etc.

So, are there alternatives? If yes, are they worth the effort or are they simply too much overhead in a 3d space sim? Is glLight extensible enough for some other "extended lighting FX"? Such as glowing/aura or blurring etc?

Thank you for any advices or hints,
Timo

[Fool Running]

glLight will just provide basic lighting.  That should be enough for what you want.  However you won't be able to do glowing/aura or blurring with it.  These require other things besides lighting (i.e. you don't get it for free).

[blazko]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. From what I have read I feared using glLight was completely obsolete :-) So I will stay with the good old one and other things I mentioned, as you said, have to be implemented another way.

Thanks and regards,

Timo