VIZ to Lightscape to VIZ

[salty_dogs]

I would like to know if anyone is using this software as follows:

 

1) VIZ: Material assignment to objects, camera location, light sources (lightscape type)

2) Lightscape: processing of indirect illumination solution, then back to...

3) VIZ: importing solution file and rendering a raytrace / shadow map image.

 

I already have a good understanding of VIZ objects, cameras, materials and lighting and would like to employ Lightscape for indirect illumination only. If this is something you do I would like to know how well it works and if it minimizes the Lightscape learning curve.

[Ernest Burden III]

I have been pondering the same workflow, as I look at the arrested developement of Lightscape. I love what it can do, but see that it will fall too far behind within a few years to be the only renderer I use.

 

The one issue I would offer with your idea is the one of setting up materials in VIZ first. Unless you are going to be relying on alpha channels to reduce modeling (I sometimes double a wall and use an 'alpha cutout' to pop in windows) I don't see the advantage. Usually you do light calcs with textures turned off. As long as the basic color and surface properties are right, this works well. Does VIZ have better/worse physical property settings (i.e. plastic, varnished wood, etc.)?

 

The other area where you would want textures on to process indirect light is if you are having a texture process light. You can put a red and white checker tile pattern on a floor by a texture and it will bounce red color from those squares that are red. But that technique is rarely used, I would think.

 

I am interested to hear about what VIZ can bring to the table that Lightscape doesn't already have.

[foxlee]

I would also love to know if ithere is any real advantage in Viz>Ls>Viz.I have used it before when using Lightscape my observations are:

-easier to texture through Viz as you are modelling, uv mapping etc.Quicker to testrender and check mats.(Pro)

-Raytracing in Ls is definitely faster and looks better than in Viz (Con)

-Animation can be tweaked and objects animated ,which is impossible in Ls(Pro)

-If you need to add 3d entourage(hi poly) trees ,cars to the scene,You can add this in Viz before render.(pro)

-Athmospheric lighting, glow etc.can be added in Viz,I suppose (pro)This probably only relevant again for animation.