Is simple lighting too complicated?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to evenly illuminate a scene without placing specific lights all around (I usually do that at the end of my process).  Is there an easy way to create a good general lighting where there are no hotspots, or super harsh shadows - making everything easy to read.  I tried to brighten the ambient lighting in the scene, but can't get the right effect.

I've attached an image of a "white model" that has a single omni in the center, but is really blown-out in spots, and too dark in others.  I am rendering in mental ray.

-Ralph

[PROH]

Hi. You can try to use a standard skylight. It'll give you a more evenly distributed ambient light. If you think it makes the model look a bit "flat", then add a light source more, and balance them together.

Hope it helps

[Anonymous]

Hi PROH,

Thanks for the response.

I tried a MR Sky Portal on top and on two of the sides, for a total of 3.  The effect is better, but the top MR portal seems to be lighting the floor more than the top of the model (which is closer to the light source - in image attached)  I've spent a lot of time tweaking the MR portal settings, and it isn't that quick for tests.  Any other quick lighting tricks?

[PROH]

Hi. Just to make it clear. I wrote skylight - not sky portals. The first model you showed was an exterior, and here's the simplest solution is a daylightsystem or a standard sky + standard sun. Interiors can use the same, but can also benefit from other setups.

There's many different ways to do this, depending on your needs and skills and the wanted result.

PS - Don't set white as 255, 255, 255. This will give burnouts. Set it lower like i.e. 235, 235, 235 (depending on your light set up).

Hope it helps

[Anonymous]

Hi,

When you use a skylight, it automatically changes the Exposure control, right?  I'd have to change the settings back when I am ready to do final lighting....this could get tricky.  Here is an example of the effect I am looking for (this is NOT my work - I just like this soft lighting look)

[PROH · Accepted solution]

No. It only changes the exposure control if you add a Photometric daylight-system - not when adding a Standard Skylight. Default in "create light" is "Photometric", so select "Standard" in the roll out instead, and pick "Skylight". That's the reason I suggested a Standard Skylight - no need of exposure control.

I believe image you attached is using IBL (Image Based Light) as light source. This can be done I v2014+ (what version are you using?). Easiest way to do this, is to put a spherical HDRI into the Standard Skylight ("map"), set final gather to use IBL, select FG "draft" preset, and hit render. It will however render slower than normal FG setup.

You can achieve a result close to the picture by using a Standard Skylight + FG (minimum 1 bounce) + a mr material with AO turned on, and it'll render pretty fast. No need for exposure control.

Hope it helps

PS - Will see if I can get some time to do an example.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am running v2014.

So, I finally downloaded a free HDRI map (are there any in the 3DS library?)

The results look pretty good for both methods..!  

So, the only difference is that for the "Standard skylight" option - all of may materials would have to have AO turned on, and for the "IBL" version, they dont?  If so, having to check all of my materials would be time consuming (unless there is a global override...?)  

This is perfect for what I am looking for.  Thanks for "sheding some light" on the IBL technique....I never knew of that.

Attached is a test rendering...stil a little too white, so I'll have to tweak it a bit more.

Thanks again!

-Ralph

[PROH]

Hi. Glad you found out how to do it.

Regarding differences in setup, then the FG setup are also a bit different. When using IBL setup is as mentioned earlier, but when not using IBL "Skylight Mode" should set to "... From FG", and FG shall have at least 1 bounce, no matter what preset used.

Regarding AO, then a simple solution for test-renders with white/grey is to use one test- material with AO enabled, or you can put a test-material with AO enabled in the material override slot (Render Setup dialog - Processing panel - Translation Options rollout).

The non-IBL solution is quicker to render than the IBL method, but IBL gives the best visual result. Note, that if you find the coloring from the HDRI to strong (typical blue) then put it into a "Color Correction Map" and adjust it (try setting it to monochrome). You can also alter the strength of the "White" if wanted.

Once again, glad it helped 🙂

[eodeo]

If you have a midrange GPU from 2009+ try using quicksilver for rendering. It will give you very simple renderer to setup, very clear results, if you use white clay rendering with skylight and it will be blazing fast- compared to mr. QS uses mr materials and lights so you dont need to change anyting but render enginge to try it out.