rays from uneven surface

[ndrangesh]

G'Day mate
on HBO i recently saw a movie called "Manticore" the creature was done by a Lightwaver.
i would like to know how you make rays of light emitted from an uneven surface.
i can make streak of light rays emmit from a flat surface using spot light ,
but how do you make volumetric light radiate out from a surface of a sphere or as in the Movie "Manticore" how to make Volumetric light radiate out of a crack on the surface.

like in the movie matrix the rays come out of the agents face
i use lightwave 8

please help

[Sensei]

Something like in this thread?
http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58437&highlight=volumetric
I attached there example scene..

[ndrangesh]

hi Sensei
but that effect is made by punching a hole and using volumetric point light to do the trick
but what i need is how to use a texture to mask the the way the volumetric light is emitted
like light from a crack on a subdivided object

[Ztreem]

Put a volumetric light under your surface and use a texture as clipmap and the light will shine through the texture.

[ndrangesh]

hi Ztreem

thanks it worked as you said it.

the rays came out of the cracks

thanks