New to Vray Free, got some questions

[cerpnjak]

Now I'm sure this has all been covered in the past but I've been trawling through the past threads about Vray and I haven't quite found what I'm looking for. Basically I've just got hold of Vray Free, now I understand that it doesn't come with the full shebang of features that Vray Advanced has, ie no lights or materials. What I'd like to know is what lights and materials should I be using with it?? Also what are the main settings I need to pay attention too? I have had no experience with Vray as yet so I could do with all the help I can get. Is it going to be possible to get really nice renders with Vray Free or is that only possible with the full version??? Sorry for so many micky mouse questions and the fact that they've probably been answered many times over.

[manta]

Hey,

Yes you will be able to get some nice renders from it, one thing to remember is NO RATRACE MATERIALS vray doesn't like them, so use standard materials, with a VRAYMAP in the reflection or refraction slot, depending on what material your trying to make, you can adjust the glossiness (blurry reflctions) in the vraymap section...

 

You'll have to use standard lights, but don't use RAYTRACE SHADOWS, use vray shadows...pretty much don't use anything that contains the word "raytrace"

 

Its been a while since using vray free, so I'm not sure what choices you have for GI, so if you could post a pic of the GI rollout, we might be able to guide you on that, I would imagine you don't get many choices there...

[chuck]

you can get good results with the free software, it's just lacking some things that become apparent down the line.

 

-no vray lights, they are great for filling windows with indirect light.

-no vray displacement, uselfull for grass.

-missing the ability to save lighting solutions for animations. this results in flickering or forcing vray free to calculate a high quality lighting solution...takes forever.

 

-you can't adjust the color mapping. sometimes with vray free you can't balance the lighting...you'll have a spot that's too dark, but increasing the lighting just blows out other areas.

 

-it doesn't have the global controls...you can turn off all reflections for materials if you want a quick draft.

 

if you're using it for stills i think you'll be fine. i'd rather use vray free with it's limitations over max's radiosity.

 

everything manta had to say was correct about materials and shadows.

 

i attached something i did last year with the free version. it has room for improvement, but i think it turned out okay...

 

chuck

[cerpnjak]

hey thanks guys. I've seen a few of your post Chuck, searching through the Vray forums. That image you have just posted up is great and if I could get anywhere near that quality I'd be really happy. I thought all these amazing renders were done using Vray Advanced, didn't realise you could get such great results from Vray Free.

 

Chuck, what is you lighting setup with that image? How many and what type of lights have you got going on there?? Also i would love to see your settings for Vray. If you could post something up that would be great

 

Thanks

Pete

[chuck]

i don't have vray in front of me now, but i can give you the basics.

 

first, turn on GI. for the final rendering, a medium preset for the irradiance map is usually good enough, with the h subdivisions at 20/50 (default). turn on vray's skylight in the environment tab. you might want to take some of the blue out of it though. for quick drafts i set it at very low and the subdivs at 10/10.

 

to simulate the sun, just create a direct light and turn area shadows on in that light's modifier tab. it's under the vray settings i think. changing the light's color to a yellow/orange tint adds character in most images.

 

that's it for lighting. materials are another issue, but they aren't that hard to figure out.

 

hope that helps, post again if you have more questions...

 

chuck

[cerpnjak]

hey chuck, thanks for those tips I'll go now and see if I can make them work in my scene. If I have any problems I'll be sure to be knocking on your door again

cheers

Pete

[cerpnjak]

i went to that site but I can't find anywhere to get Vray 1.5.

Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks

 

Chuck, I applied what you said to my scene but I'm still struggling. I have an interior with one big window, I have my direct light setup as the sun coming through the window, but it is still very dark inside the room, what lights would you suggest using inside?? I did place an omni to fill the room which helped but nothing like the lighting you achieved in the image you posted.

Do you think you could share your light settings too?

Thanks in advance

Pete