controlling light

[ZFact]

Hi all;

I have recently noticed that my abilitites in creating night

scenes and controlling light are some what restricted.

 

I thought it might be a good learning exercise to try and

copy an existing night scene. I choose a glass cube as

i thought if i can learn to control light within a glazed cube

then i should be able to control it in most other less complex

environments.

 

As you can see from the attachment i am failing miserably.

Can anyone help please!

 

I am using cinema 4D / FR2 with volumetric omni's. I have also

attached the environment i am trying to approx re-create

 

Thanks

[FlytE]

I cant offer direct scene setup advice, but generally speaking I have a couple of comments about image you are taking inspiration from. Firstly alot of the light in the apple cube is internally bounced around by the glass, the light themselves are (i believe) alot of fairly small sources... or quite possibly one big light plate... but its the reflectivity of the glass that gives it strength. Also bear in mind that you are seeing through it to the building at the back which is uplit. It gives a slightly misleading look about the light at the back of the cube. Personally, i would try avoiding volumetric light and concentrate on small powerful sources and the reflectivity of your glass.

[ZFact]

So is the apple a luminous material rather than a light?

And how many small light sources would you use. Is

1 in each corner enough and one in the centre or should

i be using 27 lights .... 3 x 3 x 3 type setup for a more

even spread

[Chris Potts]

Try make interior floor push inside below floor level and put light bottom of basement - That might work better.

 

See link image about where light coming from downstair basement that bring up glow in Glass Cube:-

 

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17270&stc=1&d=1148133468

 

I thought give you small tips but someone may better explain than me..

 

P.S Im looking forward to New York for holiday / Christmas shopping a week this early November. I must go have a look Apple Glass Cube..

[FlytE]

If you are going for small light sources I would recommend trying 3x3.... but I suspect this will push your render times up alot. Somethign else to remember is that because its all glass, in the image you will notice it is picking up the reflection of all the lights in the nearby square. If you put sparkly image or hdri as your environment, I think it will help give a better illusion of illuminance as your glass reflects it.

[ZFact]

If you are going for small light sources I would recommend trying 3x3.... but I suspect this will push your render times up alot. Somethign else to remember is that because its all glass, in the image you will notice it is picking up the reflection of all the lights in the nearby square. If you put sparkly image or hdri as your environment, I think it will help give a better illusion of illuminance as your glass reflects it.

 

Do you apply the hdri to a plane surface opposite the cube or encompass

the cube with a sphere and apply it that way? I have various hdri skies

but no sparkly images... can you point me in the right direction of a

suitable image.

 

Thanks

[FlytE]

I wouldnt apply it to a plane, usually you would use hdri as in an environment rather than a bitmap but sometimes I also use a reflection plane to get the reflections im after. I dont know if thats a bit overkill for this though. Just do a google image search for 'cities at night' or something similar and im sure you will find an image that suits your needs... good luck

[ZFact]

I wouldnt apply it to a plane, usually you would use hdri as in an environment rather than a bitmap but sometimes I also use a reflection plane to get the reflections im after. I dont know if thats a bit overkill for this though. Just do a google image search for 'cities at night' or something similar and im sure you will find an image that suits your needs... good luck

 

Hi;

Would you apply it to a sphere and encompass the full scene and which

channel do you place the HDRI in... luminance...environment... diffuse?

 

Thanks for all your help and time so far

[FlytE]

Im not the best person to ask about C4D. Maybe one of the many resident experts can help you with technicalites etc Good luck.

[ZFact]

thanks for all andy

 

any other takers out there... perhaps strat is lurking about!!!

[ZFact]

can any c4d / fr2 users help me on this one... please

[ZFact]

anyone... any advice... last chance!