Using AI Car Paint

[A.osman6]

How can I get a shade similar to this picture using ai car paint?

Thanks in advance. 

[mspeer]

Hi!

What's wrong with the default setting?

Make sure to create a proper geometry + environment + lighting and then if needed you still can edit the settings of the car paint shader.

[A.osman6]

I see you've used a hdri skydome but what are the other appropriate steps that need to be done? What do you mean by environment?  Did you just click on aistandardsurface and then go on preset ai car paint and not change the values? Mine is not showing up like that after adding a hdri.

This is how mine is showing up:

And thanks for replying.

[mspeer]

Hi!

I used the default aiCarPaint shader, but it's the same as the aiStandardSurface with the "Car_Paint" preset.

(I just reduced the saturation of the red color a bit).

"What do you mean by environment?"

- The look of objects with reflective materials highly depends on the reflection, which is dependent on the environment (everything that will be reflected).

Based on your image I guess the main problem is your object. It looks like a low poly object with just flat faces (no roundings and smooth corners). The second problem could be the HDRI itself, but that's hard to tell based on the provided screenshot.

For further help, please provide a Maya scene-file and the HDRI.

[A.osman6]

I will come back to this because I want to improve on my model is that alright?

[mspeer]

Hi!

That's OK.

Please provide a scene-file, so I can check the model.

A screenshot showing the wireframe could help, but with the scene I can directly show you how you can improve your model.

[A.osman6]

Here is my up to date scene. I have been trying to add more details to model. Thank you.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Here your current mode rendered with the Arnold car paint shader.

I recommend to model all parts so they work with subdivisions  / Smooth Mesh Preview like polySurface9 which provides smooth edges and corners.

You can also try a different HDRI, but at least it does not look like a problem of the car pain shader or the related presets in aiStandardSurface.

[A.osman6]

Sorry can you clarify about the subdivision? 

[mspeer]

Hi!

Please check the Maya online help for further information about Smooth Mesh Preview.

There are also many online tutorials free available in the web about subdivision surface modeling.

[A.osman6]

Hello, I wanted to ask what did you do to lower the saturation? 

[mspeer]

Hi!

What saturation do you mean?

I have chosen a simple red color (maybe 93-95% saturation) and added one SkyDomeLight + texture that's all.

Your provided scene did not include a light and there was also no HDRI provided, so I couldn't check this, it's possible that there is something wrong with your settings too or maybe even a problem with the image texture itself.

Please provide a new file that also shows the lighting you are using and I will check it.

[A.osman6]

Alright here is the scene I am working on right now. I am trying to achieve similar results to the image you provided. Thank you.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Thanks for the new file, but the image texture file is still missing.

However based on the image name in the Maya scene you are using a JPG image, so you are using a LDR image and not a HDR image.

Please make sure to use a .exr or .hdr image that has a wider dynamic range,

or create a different light setup with multiple other different light types like some area lights.

[A.osman6]

My bad I have added a exr file instead. I wanted to show you the exr file I am using but it is not supported here. I got the exr from here: https://www.textures.com/download/HDRPanoramas0067/133977 

I downloaded the first column on the second second row.

Can you try again? Thank you.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Thanks, but I can't download the texture, this requires an account.

Please ZIP the file before upload. You can also upload the file anywhere else(no login should be required) and send me a download link in a private message.

(The settings for an .exr file in the Maya scene seem to be correct.)

[A.osman6]

I cannot attach a zip folder of the project here, as it is too large. You can access it from this link if that is okay: https://filebin.net/2mbojh7kmejuhnhz

Thank you.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Thanks, now I understand the problem.

There are multiple settings that I recommend to test with lower values:

1. aiSkyDomeLightShape > Exposure

2. aiCarPaint1 > Weight

3. aiCarPaint1 > Color (click on the color preview field and then edit S-aturation and V-alue)

The EXR texture is very bright by default and for the car paint shader please check all available Presets to get an idea how this works with different settings.

[A.osman6]

Hey thanks for the reply. 

I have got it to this:

Any thoughts on how to get it exacly like yours or the first image I posted?

Here is what I have changed:

[mspeer]

Hi!

For the S-aturation I had chosen a value below 0.95.

Because of the reflections the look depends to 50% on the environment + lighting + camera angle.

So without the same EXR file you can't achieve the same look.

Also your model is based on many "flat" faces, you need much more curves for an interesting and realistic look.

Here a screenshot showing the difference between 2 objects (flat vs curved/rounded) + different camera angles.