rpc shadows

[sstamfb]

hi...

Does anybody know why the rpc models don't drop shadows when they are used with mental ray renderer

[PAWUK]

Dont use mental ray but have you set them to cast shadows also lights set to cast shadows and shadows in your light setting set to double sided..might work

[RodT]

there is a RPC shadow plugin, can't say if it works in MR or not......

[Claudio Branch]

You might also try creating shadow planes for your RPC trees.

 

Just create a quasi-circular shape, convert to editable poly, and create a material with a leaf-like pattern map in the opacity slot. After that just uncheck "visible to camera" in the objects' properties dialogue box.

 

You can align this object about mid-level with your RPC tree and just position your primary light source at a high angle.

 

Itool's Software offers Forest Pro that will work with Mental Ray as well.

 

I have used a combination of these two successfully on several projects.

[raterry]

Claudio,

This is basically the exact thing I did this weekend...

 

"Just create a quasi-circular shape, convert to editable poly, and create a material with a leaf-like pattern map in the opacity slot. After that just uncheck "visible to camera" in the objects' properties dialogue box."

 

however, I ended up not using the technique because depending on the camera angle, the "hidden" shadow generator was partially visible through the RPC tree as if the opacity channel of the RPC didn't recognize the 'invisible to camera' characteristic...Any thoughts, ideas?

-=Rob

[Claudio Branch]

Rob,

 

I have noticed the same problem when rendering with MR but not Scanline. (I do not know if the same GI artifact shows up using V-Ray as well.)

 

This approach is probably best suited for stills that can be cleaned up in Photoshop if rendering with MR.

 

Which brings up the point: If I am going through the effort of using GI lighting and MR, why bother with 2D trees to begin with?

 

I am moving towards a combination of V-Ray proxies and Onyx trees for my future projects. Itool's Forest Pro is also very effective for handling immense areas of background forestation.

[raterry]

Good point.

As nice as Onyx trees can be, they are just too cumbersome for multiple trees as I don't use VRay so proxies are seemingly out of the question. vegetation is and always has been my downfall and I don't know what to do.

[Darren Tomkins]

Make sure under your light parameters you have clicked the button include / exclude and put the RPC in the right column.

[RodT]

http://3das.com/blog.asp

try this link, it has lots of good advice

[sstamfb]

hi Darren.

this is ok and works very good with default scanline renderer, but with mental ray none of the lights gives the correct result by using the include/exlude column