Global Warming City Lights

better Working without depending on ambient expression of the materials for visibility requires us to find other ways of bringing real light into the scene. As I switch back and forth between the two versions I must admit that the city itself really does look better without ambient expression. The buildings themselves look more like real objects submerged in water, as I can follow the shadows to street level light sources. Ambient gave them an alien glow before, diminishing their range of color contrast, and "flattening" the apprearance of the buildings. They actually look like miniature models of a city now.The golden material itself is a matter of taste. With no ambient expression, the bridge now needs a light source or two so we can see it and appreciate all those shadows from the support wires. Maybe lights along some of the support wires? In real life most bridges this size are lit. Okay, the mountians, I'm still not convinced they are millions of years old. I would go alot further with the erosion, or maybe start with a less pointy fractal mode in the terrain editor. Over-all, more "real" as the lighting is more genuine. I have a love-hate with the sky you've chosen. The dismalness of the sky proves your point about warming though, so I must accept it. Thanks for trying my ideas on looking for ways to use ambient expression only when necessary.