Skip to content
Learn MikuMikuDance – MMD Tutorials – Free 3D Animation Software

Learn MikuMikuDance – MMD Tutorials – Free 3D Animation Software

Download Free Animation Software – Let's Learn How to Do Everything!

  • Step-by-Step MMD instructions
  • DOWNLOADS
  • Troubleshoot, Fix MMD
  • Site Contents
  • Reggie Replies Q&A
  • Homework!
  • What IS MMD?
    • Download MikuMikuDance Newest Latest Version of MMD
  • “HOW TO”
    • Raycast RAY-MMD Effect Tutorials
  • BONUS PAGES
    • Why convert PMD models to PMX?
  • HALL of CHAMPIONS
  • Tutorial Categories
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Toggle search form
  • Introducing MikuMikuMoving … MMM! Kazuki Matsuoka
  • Speech Synthesizer gives MMD Models a voice! Making Soundtracks
  • Making POV Camera Shots in MikuMikuDance 8.03+ Camera Motion
  • Beamman’s BeamCharge MME Effect Beamman's BeamCharge
  • New MMD Video Taught Awareness of Camera Angles and Motion Quirks! "the making of" my video
  • Reggie's Adoration of FIVE MMD Models
    Reggie’s ADORATION of FIVE MMD Models -Downloads and Instructions "the making of" my video
  • Make MMD Background AVI using WAV and AviUtl
    Make MMD Background AVI Using AviUtl WMV Files "the making of" my video
  • Download/Install DirectX 9 Update to fix the Missing DLL Error Dealing with the Missing DLL Error

Rotate stage to allow ground shadows MMD MikuMikuDance

Posted on August 8, 2014July 30, 2015 By Reggie_Dentmore 2 Comments on Rotate stage to allow ground shadows MMD MikuMikuDance

A Feature Article by Reggie Dentmore on LearnMMD.comWhy won’t the ground shadows show on my stage floor? How do I get my model’s shadow to show? My model casts a shadow until I remove the grid.

Adjust the stage to allow MMD to make ground shadows!

One of the powers of the 3D animation software, MikuMikuDance, is that it will generate ground shadows in your animation … but it will do so only at the precise level of the Coordinate Axis grid. If you have the grid positioned ABOVE your stage floor, the shadow (and the model) will seems to float above the floor. If you have the grid positioned BELOW your stage floor, the shadows will not be visible … and your model’s feet, standing on the grid, will look to be sunk into the floor.

Position your stage to allow MMD to cast your ground shadows.

You might be tempted to use the Y axis control to raise (or lower) your model to make it “look right” as it stands on your stage. If you DO … the ground shadow will stay with the Grid … and probably will not show in your animation.

The “MMD Batokin Island” stage provides an extreme example of this shadow issue since the area I wanted to use was on a slant!MMD Batokin Island has many nice scenarios. I had decided that I wanted to create my animation using that section of “grass” on the MMD Batokin Island stage. My first attempt found me moving Miku up and into the grass area of the stage. The problem was … how can I get Miku to cast a shadow?

Move the stage to your model …

For ground shadows, rotate the stage until the grid sits flat on the stage floor. I decided to “show” the grid, attach the stage to a dummy bone, and then move the stage into a position that “worked” with the grid. You can see that the horizon line is rotated away from the horizontal in an effort to get the grid to sit flat on the grass. The landscape was not “flat” … and so I couldn’t get the grid to sit flat on the grass over its whole surface … but … close enough …

The MMD ground shadows show when the coordinate grid sits flat on the stage floor.

Perfect ground shadows ... success!

YOUR situation …

… will probably not require this much action … most stage models are designed to work well without needing this kind of adjustment. But … if you decide to “go off-road” … this technique may help you to cast shadows.


– SEE BELOW for MORE MMD TUTORIALS…


— — —


– _ — –


Visit the LearnMMD.com Homepage! Plenty of Mikumikudance instruction and info!

More MMD Tutorials...

Apply Multiple Effects on an Entire MMD Model Using M4Layer Effect

How can I apply multiple effects to an MMD model? Can I use more than ...read more

MMD Plugin Manager... I Found a Treasure!

What sorts of MMD Plugins are there? MMD Plugin Manager? MMD Plugins. Plugin MMD. More ...read more

2023: Hatsune Miku is 16 Years Old by design and in reality!

Finally, in 2023, Hatsune Miku is 16 years old! When did Miku make her first ...read more

SEARCH LearnMMD.com... it's Easy!

Search LearnMMD.com to find your answers! With the posting of this article, LearnMMD.com has 758 tutorials ...read more

Introducing MMD model 1052C China Qipao Miku

Where can I download MMD model 1052C dancers? I want the 1052C China Qipao Miku ...read more

Download Jomomonogm's Snow Miku 2019 for MMD, a most unusual model!

Where can I download Jomomonogm's Snow Miku 2019? What is so unusual about this Snow ...read more

Accessory Manipulation/Adjust, MMD Stages, MMD Tutorials, Reggie Dentmore, Shadows & Edge Lines

Post navigation

Previous Post: MMD Batokin Island stage is MORE than a beach
Next Post: My new “Ring Around the Moon” MMD video is on YouTube

Related Posts

  • askY Dramatic Anime Style Sky Domes for MMD created by Meme "the making of" my video
  • See my new YouTube MMD video “She’s So Hot!” Making Soundtracks
  • The Zombie Song download for MMD is a lot of fun!
    Zombie Song download easily makes spooky MMD videos! "the making of" my video
  • Build Your Own Stage For MMD Using SketchUp Google SketchUp and MMD
  • Behind the Scenes insights into my newest video "the making of" my video
  • Keep The Faith MMD
    Growing Concerns Amongst Japanese MMDers Downloading New Models

More Related Articles

The Power of Beamman’s Post Movie Effect Beamman's Post Movie effect
Close Up of Sph File with Text Create Sph Files in Blender Without Drawing Anything! Blender
The K Lite Mega Codec Pack 995 – The Ultimate HD Video compressor! HD Videos in MMD
Learn to Edit MMD Effects by Editing Raycast Materials Bandages
An MMD town stage: Making Kerorin Town Great Again – Part 2 MMD Stages
New to MikuMikuDance? LearnMMD is The Instruction Manual for MMD! MMD Tutorials

Comments (2) on “Rotate stage to allow ground shadows MMD MikuMikuDance”

  1. hg says:
    February 2, 2020 at 5:46 pm

    Here is a rare problem which can also cause models to not cast any shadow: If the camera motion data includes self-shadow key frames, your models may not cast any shadow.

    Fix: In MMD select edit, select all self-shadow frames, delete.

    Reply
  2. hg says:
    October 14, 2019 at 7:25 am

    1. If you don’t see a model casting a shadow, this is usually a problem with the materials of the stage. Open the stage in PMD/PMX editor. Turn OFF (uncheck) “ground shadow” for all of your stage’s materials. Also, if the ground material(s) of your stage have a Refl (specular reflection) color of black, they will not be able to receive any shadow. Change those ground material colors to white and save a copy of the edited stage.

    2. You may need to open up your character model in PMD/PMX editor and turn ON (check) “ground shadow” for its materials for the character to cast a ground shadow.

    3. Other possible fixes for a “no shadow” problem: adjust the camera angle or light angle in MMD. Change the model draw order in MMD. Avoid having an edge line alpha of zero for a character model in PMD/PMX editor.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the latest version of MikuMikuDance!
See the MMD Step-by-Step instructions page!
Learn how to make your own MMD motions!
LearnMMD.com
  • Hitogata Brings Face Tracking to MMD Animation Resource
  • ColorShift Effect Dances using VMDSpectrum Analyzer ColorShift 3D Effect
  • Different Eye Textures in one model using PMXE JuneTarzan
  • Extreme S Curve 02.
    Using the Interpolation Curve in MikuMikuDance. ARIZONA
  • Luka with Body Pane with Vignette
    Hair Falling through the Body in MMD Models and How to Fix It Fixing Broken Models
  • About changing models skirts using PMD Editor PMXE KillerBeer
  • MMD Model Noodle smiles while carrying the weight of the modern world on her shoulders!
    Download MMD Model NOODLE by vasilnatalie Downloading New Models
  • KiraKira-sparkleV2 beautiful colored sparkles.
    KiraKira-sparkleV2 MME Effect adds COLOR to KiraKira! KiraKira-SparkleV2

Copyright © 2022 Learn MikuMikuDance – MMD Tutorials – Free 3D Animation Software and Instructions..

Powered by PressBook Premium theme

Go to mobile version