Quality Renders

[Narada]

Some might think this a daft question but it's something that's been on my mind now for awhile.

 

When i see some renderings of architecture i am stunned by the sharpness of the images, the almost photo realistic quality, then i look at mine and they seem 'cartoon' like, not sharp, slightly foggy.

 

I use V-Ray with Max 9 i also use Dreamscape for the skies, i'm starting to lose contracts because of this and i'm wondering whether there is some 'standard' workflow settings. For instance should i be really using Dreamscape or should i go to HDRI, Should i use VRay Sun & Sky am i using the right cameras or should i be using Vray cameras ( i have many years as a photographer so the Vray camera settings don't present a prob. ). Is there a set of 'standard' rendering settings for this type of work, i read about global illumination being best, then i read light cache is the way. What about really top line tutorials of the type that go into some detail.

 

I'm sorry i can't post examples as i'm on my home PC, but this is really starting to frustrate me now and it's starting to confuse me.

 

Regards.

[chuck]

To create a truly photo real rendering you're on the right track, Vray can produce amazing images once you've figured it out. HDRI is not needed to make great images, but it can help a lot with exterior shots with a lot of reflections, and just getting more interesting color in your indirect lighting.

I don't think you have to use vray sun/camera either, not that you shouldn't.

I've seen a lot of good renderings before Vray had those features.

 

If you don't use indirect illumination in Vray, you really need it to get everything to look good. Lighting is probably the most important aspect you should try to master...but you need good modeling and quality materials to back that up as well.

 

Can you describe your lighting settings in Vray? Do you do mostly interiors, exteriors, or both?

 

I think sample renderings would help a ton, is there anything online you can link to? It would be obvious where you're going wrong, lighting, textures, or modeling.

 

To get you started for an interior rendering, here's a tutorial that's not bad:

http://vray.us/vray_tutorials/rendering_vray_interior_tutorial.shtml

 

I think Chris Nichols' DVD tutorials, "Global Illumination: Interiors" and "Global Illumination: Exteriors" are invaluable for someone using Vray. It's a great way to see Vray's settings and what they do...much better than the typical online tutorial page. Well worth the money, even after I have been using Vray for a few years.

 

For Vray's GI engines, primary and secondary, they are basically just different ways to calculate the lighting. They vary in speed and quality, but many combinations will result in images that look great, once you've learned the settings. Light cache is one of those GI engines, not an alternative to GI.

 

Hope that helps...you'll get there with a little time and patience...

 

Chuck

[Narada]

Chuck,

 

Thanks for the response. 90% of my work over the past 3 years has been interior, product & engineering, i've only just started taking on Exterior stuff.

 

I have the 2 DVD's that you mention, so i will re-visit the exterior one.

 

I can't remember my exact v-ray settings, so i'll post them tomorrow when i'm back in my office.

 

Onine examples can be found here:

 

www.bramleys.com

 

This is an English Estate ( Realty ) Agent. You need to do the following to get to my work.

 

In the site enter the minimum value of the property as £400,000 and the maximum as £600,000 then click 'Find', - i think. This brings up a second page, you need to tick the 'Brighouse' box then the go or whatever button. What you are looking for is 'Lyndhurst Rd' the first image is one and i beleive there are some lower down. These images have been put thru' photoshop and had the brightness & contrast increased. Any comments on these would be welcome.

[chuck]

Looking at your images,

 

1. The sky is lacking...the resolution looks subpar and does not look natural. I would invest in some 360 degree sky panoramas, or at least use a real picture of the sky for the background.

http://mayang.com/textures/Nature/html/Clouds/index.html

http://www.cgtextures.com/

 

2. The background trees need help. Try to find better tree packages if you want to use 2D, or look at onyx trees or xfrog trees for 3D ones.

http://store.got3d.com/3d-textures.html

 

3. The lighting looks odd. You have some unnatural variation in a lot of your walls. It looks like you have multiple light sources too? I can see duplicate shadows all over the place. I would stick with one direct light to represent the sun, then allow GI to fill in the indirect areas...that should clean everything up.

 

4. The grass, especially in the foreground has texturing issues. Did you apply a UVW Map modifier to the grass model? Once you have the mapping figured out, take a look at the vray displacement mod if you haven't yet. Some of the grass looks like you used it, other areas just look flat and fake.

 

5. The building modeling is okay, but not great...but I think good lighting would help. I'm not sure about the UK, but around here we typically have more detail around the roof edges...fascia/trim etc. The Audi TT looks like a detailed model, but you should get the right materials on it...glass and carpaint...and it's really blown out in areas.

 

6. Materials need some work too...but the images I am looking at are not that hi res. The glass looks too much like a mirror. I realize that a lot of the time glass looks like it's reflecting everything if it's darker inside, but being able to see a few curtains really helps.

 

7. If you are increasing brightness and contrast drastically in Photoshop, I think you should try to work it out in Vray first. Have you looked at the Linear Work Flow within Vray? It will allow you to correct the lighting as you go...it can make a big difference if you're struggling with lighting.

 

8. The grassy areas in front of the house look empty, more vegitation would surely help, but that may have been directed from your client. Flowers, planter beds and small ornimental trees would help break everything up...same goes for the foreground areas that are all grass.

 

If you look at each of these issues seriously and figure them out, you'll have a nice image...just stick with it, and please post some updates when you get a chance...

 

Chuck

[creasia]

I find that when materials are looking cartoony that you need to make sure that they have proper highlights.

 

-Get to know your vray reflection material options very well. It took a while for me to figure out how to get that looking well. Try creating a glossy scanline material and use the vary scene converter on it and see what happens!

 

-I have found that many architectual photographers use a flash (vray plane set to no decay, multipier 1.5 or lower) to accentuate the curves and highlights of furniture for interiors. This has added a nice touch to many of my renderings.

 

- for exteriors put a highlight on your grass and leaves

 

Good luck