skylight render time

[Helen]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new here, a relative beginner and pretty much self taught so I've learned a lot from previous postings so thank you already.

 

My question:

 

I'm experimenting on some exterior visuals of a block of flats and finding that using the daylight system with skylight active gives much better results than just a single direct light, as there are lots of covered balconies. I'd like to know whether anyone has any tips on simulating this skylight another way to cut down on the massive render times I'm getting with this method.

 

And while I'm on the subject - do I really need to worry about using an exposure control for single exterior images as I seem to get in a mess with this as well and spend hours fiddling around with them - what's the advantage??

 

Hope you can help

 

Helen

[Paulcalif]

There is a popular non-radiosity method, which is to use a number of spotlights to simulate skyight. You can build this setup manually, by creating a series of spotlights on an imaginary dome, which point into the center.

 

There are a number of max scripts that will do the work for you, and allow quick changes to settings. The key is for the lights to cast shadows--this is what creates the simulated daylight. This is much faster than radiosity, and can produce very nice results.

 

I use a scipt called E-light, although there are many others. You can do a search at www.scriptspot.com for dome light and find some others.

 

E-Light:

 

http://home.wanadoo.nl/r.j.o/skyraider/download/e-light.zip

 

With the E-light script, I usually set the dome segments to 1, and increase the shadow map size to 512 or so, and the map filter to 6 or more. You'll want to keep the dome size just big enough to light the objects of interest, so the shadow accuracy is maximized. Use the domelight in conjuntion with a spot to simulate direct sunlight.

 

Paul

[Arnel]

Hi Helen if you are really interested using global illumination for exterior rendering you can try vray free or if you want the full power of GI you can also try Vray demo with its full feature. Vray free has GI and limited features nonetheless its already very useful for exterior scene. Vray Demo has the complete features of vray advance however it has a watermark on it and time limit.

 

Here is the link:

 

http://www.vrayrender.com/download/

 

 

Regards

[Helen]

So much to learn, so little time......

 

I shall certainly try with dome light as it's the most straightforward given my limited experience. I have the Vray on file and will follow it up but I'm not sure I can handle more new software just at the moment. I have yet to get to grips with scripts at all, but thank you for the link.

 

And I shall return to this forum again and again until I understand everything that everyone is talking about!

 

Cheers

 

Helen