How to make light visible in a render

[kapetanovicvanja]

is there any trick that can make lights in maya visible in the scene ? Like a stream of light ? Is there some fancy filter or how is that done?

Thanks

[kapetanovicvanja]

Also ARNOLD doesnt even render Maya lights. Its all black. In this one particular session I have hdri sky as a sky shader. so any other light i add to the scene doesnt work...i dont get it. Cant I have hdri and other lights in the same scene. I think i saw people doing that but maybe not...idk.

[kapetanovicvanja]

So basically I figured that for some reason Spot Light and Point Light weren't working with chrome material. Have no clue why. If chrome is main material I am trying to light up they won't work. So that's that I just won't use chrome. But still I can't figure out how to do those fancy GodRays or whatever they call them, like when you can see strream of light. Can maya do that within the light system ? Thanks

[damaggio · Accepted solution]

You need to search for volumetric llighting in Arnold....that will produce god rays.

Use arnold lights only.

[mspeer]

Hi!

1. There is no chrome material for Arnold, you are talking about the chrome preset for aiStandardSurface? If yes, this works physically correct with lights in Arnold. Take a light/lamp go to the Bathroom and try to light up the mirror.

2. Please read Arnold for Maya User Guide for more details.

[kapetanovicvanja]

@mspeeryes indeed I was talking about chrome preset which was a chrome material in Arnold. Ok I see what you're saying it needs to be a ton of light in. a scene for that to be visible. Makes sense thank you

[kapetanovicvanja]

Thanks @damaggio I didn't know what it was called but I knew people refer to it as God Rays. Thanks for sharing that now I can read up on it and  learn it. Awesome. Thanks man.

[mspeer]

Hi!

"it needs to be a ton of light in. a scene for that to be visible".

No, a perfect mirror is invisible, regardless how many light you use, you can't see the mirror itself, you only can see the reflections.

Don't use a perfect mirror for objects that need to be lit up (or work with reflections).