I need studio file! - Help

[Anonymous]

I need simple "studio file" a scene where I put some text in Chrome reflective metal material, which I hardly can make, cause I just started learning 3ds Max. Default 3ds Max white studio file I don't like, so I stripped it a bit to simpler look.

 I need a simple virtual studio to can make nice renders of metallic chrome letters, like on back of the cars.

Please help!

[kennyj]

Hello Gorgoyle9,

3D Text is one of the more basic tasks in 3ds Max; there are several simple, beginner tutorials available online.

To that end; in 3ds Max, under Create, select Shapes.  Then from the selection list, choose Text.

The Text will show the default "MAX Text" when you place it.  Change this to say whatever you want.  You can also change the font, size, etc.

From there, choose modify and Extrude.  You can add other modifiers to smooth, chamfer, etc to make the final product as you want.

Materials for chrome exist, or modify one as you need.

I would then suggest you place a camera in your scene (to control what your render area will be).  Add three lights (keep it simple with (2) Omni and a Spot.  Place the spot near the camera as your main light, move the Omni lights to create the shadows, high lights as you desire.

You can set a background color, or just add a few planes to create a "room" if you want to control shadows from your text.

Hope this helps!

-Kenny

[Anonymous]

Yes, thank you but my light is waaay too strong! How to control my spot
light better? I wanna reduce some power from it.

[kennyj]

Sure.

Select the light, then under the Modify tab look for "Intensity".  I recommend for a simple scene like this to use standard lights and not photometrics.  When you get more comfortable with 3ds Max the Photometric lights will give you more realistic renders, but they take longer and need more tweaking/experience to play with.

Under Intensity, the Multiplier is your light strength.  Reduce the number as needed; I also recommend changing the color from the default white to a more off white to yellow.  For your Omni lights, play around with making them more blue/white (if outside more blue, than white).

Also play with your hot spot and fall off under Spotlight Parameters.  For chrome, make the hot spot small and put the target on the letter(s).  then have your fall off large (off scene) for a gradual light fade.

Hope that helps!

Kenny

[Anonymous]

I played with lights but in any angle I did renders,... text front side is always too dark or darker! I don't wanna that! How to fix that?

Materials gone? How to fix it?

[kennyj · Accepted solution]

Hello Gorgoyle9!

I recommend you do materials last.

Set your items all to WHITE, matte.  Get your lights set up so the shadows and shading show up the way you expect.  You can select each light and exclude objects from shadows and/or the light affecting it.  Get your scene lighting set up perfect, then add the materials with test renders as you go.

Your material in the example shown above is not missing; it is over exposed.  I suspect you have tried to make the material highly reflective, and what you are getting is a reflection of your background (behind the camera), which of course is nothing (or black).  So I recommend you focus on the lighting with no materials, then focus on each material.  As for the materials, I recommend after your scene is lit properly, that you use default materials of similar qualities (use the default metal/chrome for example).  Once that is showing up well, then start adding your custom materials.

This process will help you pin-point what materials are interfering with each other, etc.  I suspect when you ramp your metal material down, you will get better results.

Also, the angle of the camera to the lights and the distance from the object will have an affect, so make sure you have set your scene and have the camera where you plan to make final production from as you work.  Do not work from a perspective views; use a camera to limit your field of view.

I hope that helps,

Kenny

[Anonymous]

Your advices are great! I did something but now I wanna better render in
3dsMax. How to make better renders using 3dsMax rendering options and/or
modes?

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