djohnson129 Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I just typed a long message and the window closed so I'm keeping this short... I'm looking for any advanced training resources (dvd or book) that can help me learn mental ray in 3d max 8 better. I'm new to making photo-realistic lighting but have been doing character animation in college for a couple years. So does anyone know of any good resources...either free or that I can purchase? All the ones I've checked out are either for vray or mental ray in maya. My current project is attached. I'm still in the process of modelling and texturing, but I started setting up the lighting and I just cant figure out how to make it look realistc (like in all the renders I see here). Any help would be appreciated a ton ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 oooooo goodie! thats the most useful site I've seen since looking for help! THANK YOU! got another question....how important of a role do the shaders play in these realistic renders? I keep seeing people talk about different shaders for different things, but most of the time they're shaders I dont have. Where can I find professional shaders? Sorry if these questions have already been answered a ton of times. I'm very limited on how much I can use the internet while at school or work....so I dont have a lot of time to browse the forums. Anyways I'm gonna go check out that site more. thanks again! P.S.- Can I get just as a little hint on what I need to do next to make my bathroom look better? Is it the shaders I need to change or the lighting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 thanks that does help. I'm thinking about getting the interior lighting videos from mental bout max, and possibly the one on shaders....do you think they're gonna teach me what I need to know? Is there any other resource you recommend that's not just a redo of the owners manual and is geared for 3d max and mental ray specifically? -thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 are the ones from the gnomon website worth it even though they use vray? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valentine- Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Hi David, You might like to have a look at "Rendering with mental ray & 3ds Max" by Joep van der Steen. The book gives a good overview with many examples suitable for first time users to advanced. It has specific chapters on mantal ray and lights, materials, shaders ect. I think it sells for about $50! Good luck Valentine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 Thank you guys ;D I got cox internet at home now so I can browse the forums more! Woot! I have gone through all the tutorials that came with max, I know the terms fairly well. There's just something missing....practice perhaps...as well as I'm still using max 8 and have yet to install 9...but that's probly not it. I just downloaded a bunch of furniture from one of the sites you gave me Brad, so I'm just going to arrange a room with them so I can go straight into practicing the lighting and such. Thanks again and be sure to hear lots more from me soon enough -David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Anybody watched this video from Autodesk? I'm wondering if it's any good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Then I've probably already seen it Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Lol I accidentally called you Brad in that other one...oops So BRIAN, I watched your free video last night about the difference between materials and shaders and maps n stuff. I loved it, but then when I went to play around in max, I noticed I dont have the Arch and Design shader ! Is that only shipped with max 9? If not is there any place I can download it? You mentioned how powerful that shader is so I'd really like to see how much of a difference it'll make with my work, even if I just use the presents for a lil bit. Lastly, I've been debating whether or not I should by the How To videos and I made up my mind last night when I tried setting up a new room and realized I didnt know what I was doing I live in America so does paypal automatically convert the currency to british pounds? -David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 I've actually had max 9 for a while now but just havent installed it cuz I havent really saw a need to...but now I will for sure This Arch and Design shader sounds pretty exciting. I'm getting antsy to get those videos. Do the interior lighting videos go over the shaders you've applied to the scene also or just how you set up the lighting? -Gracias ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 I'm gonna install max 9 today! I know vray is pretty amazing, but how close is mental ray to providing the same results? I ask because when I see the gallery renders here, they all use vray and the ones that use mental ray dont look as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 What's with mental ray being promoted with maya so much? Is that where is originally came from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Just a quickie...I have my number of GI photons at 250 and FG at 15.....I've been noticing that other people are talking about having GI at over 10000.....thats a lot compared to mine lol. Oh but the question is do you think thats why my renders look so bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 18, 2007 Author Share Posted August 18, 2007 I just installed max 9! And I must say....its very sexy ;D So I'm about ready to get me some Interior Lighting videos Mr Brian Are they gonna teach me what GI settings and all that stuff that you're using too? I'm assuming but it just crossed my mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 18, 2007 Author Share Posted August 18, 2007 ....and last but not least!.....about how long does the average photo-realistic render take to render? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 18, 2007 Author Share Posted August 18, 2007 o goodness! hours and days is a while....but I cant imagine how much it'll be worth it Thanks for answering my questions. It took me about 30 min last night to replace all the materials in my bathroom with the arch and design shader. I hurried through it and when I did an hour and 11 minute render I found out I didnt do the mirrors right. So I went thru and adjusted some settings and I'm doing a few more renders before I head to work. Sometime today I'm going to post the new renders for your criticism. I've been wondering, Brian, do you have any art that you show off? Thanks, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnson129 Posted August 18, 2007 Author Share Posted August 18, 2007 I just posted the new renders in the WIP section. If anyone could gimme some help it'd be amamzing ;D here's the thread http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/25507-bathroom.html#post175310 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen gilbert Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 the taps look cool..i prefer the left image...feels more 'real' even though it has less contrast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vizwhiz Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 David what part of AZ are you in? i am in Mesa The very corner or Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert i got max 9 waiting for 2008 so far = MR 3.5 (got a lot To learn) still model in autocad, FileLink into max for materials/lighting give me a call sometime Thanks Randy 480.773.1023 vizwhiz@cox.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studio2s Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 This thread is 3 pages long, and I do see that anyone has mentioned the obvious.... There is a whole series of books just released... http://www.amazon.com/Rendering-mental-ray-3ds-Max/dp/0240808932/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-8704261-9191233?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188233226&sr=8-2 and http://www.amazon.com/Realistic-Architectural-Visualization-3ds-mental/dp/0240809122/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-8704261-9191233?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188233226&sr=8-1 these are 2 that I picked up and really help. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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