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Global Illumination Exteriors DVD question


msmith40
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I recently purchased both of Christopher Nichols' DVD's:

Global Illumination Exteriors and Global Illumination Interiors.

 

Approx. 11 minutes into the exteriors dvd he begins rendering via photon mapping. His results show objects and shadows, whereas my render is completely black. I've setup a similar scene as his, with same lighting....same simple objects. I have to ramp up my lighting multiplier to 20 before I see anything. I'm obviously missing a step here. Anybody out there have a clue?

 

Much thanks!

 

msmith40

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Problem has been resolved by resetting Max and merging the objects (only) into a new scene. The image now renders better (jpeg 007). GI is un-checked in that scene.

 

However........once I switch to photon maps for primary & secondary bounces, the image renders with very little light. Image is very dark...smoky looking (jpeg 008).

 

Thanks!

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You may want to switch to light cache instead of photon mapping, from what I understand PM is much slower and less accurate than LC and some people say it shouldn’t be used any more at all.

 

I'll try that, but the DVD does not imply that light cache is used.

The whole point of that part of the dvd is how to use photon mapping.

 

(This has really been bugging me. I want to figure this out before continuing further with the dvd. %&$#@!)

 

Thanks!

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Devin is right, and I will add don't get too caught up, it's the concepts that you need to grasp. Every scene is different, and just because you use the EXACT settings as the tutorial, it does not mean that you are going to get a perfect result.

 

Additionally you'll find that as you do keep going through the DVD that he switches to using Irradiance map, with a QMC secondary bounce instead of photon mapping. And to further the point that times change, if you watch Chris' Tutorial on gnomonology, he says how the majority of the time now he uses a QMC primary and lightcache secondary bounce because of the amount of work he does with animated objects, DOF, and motion blur.

 

When I originally got those DVD's I probably watched them each 5 or 6 times before I could say I could fully understand every bit. Keep going you'll get it in time.

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Much thanks to all who replied.

 

I wasn't aware that these dvd's were...let's say...'old'.

 

BKittsARC said:

"When I originally got those DVD's I probably watched them each 5 or 6 times before I could say I could fully understand every bit."

 

Only 5 or 6 times???

You're a better man than I.

 

I did watch the exterior vid all the way thru to get an idea of what was in store for me.

My eyes glazed-over a few times.......the rewind button got a good workout, too.

I then went back to the beginning with the intent of understanding one procedure before moving on to the next.

 

 

re: Jeff Mottle

I'll check out that link right away.

 

I'm also debating whether to sign-up for a 4-week online course....4 sessions at 3 hours per........might be worth it.

 

THANKS!!!!!!!!!

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I've read the Vizmasters offer several times but am still not clear.

 

Are they offering the 10 on-demand vids separately for $375.00.....?

 

Or is it $375.00 for both the 10 on-demand vids AND live online teaching....?

 

(I'm thinking it's the latter..............but that's a REAL good offer.........TOO good........)

 

 

Thanks!

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I've read the Vizmasters offer several times but am still not clear.

 

Are they offering the 10 on-demand vids separately for $375.00.....?

 

Or is it $375.00 for both the 10 on-demand vids AND live online teaching....?

 

(I'm thinking it's the latter..............but that's a REAL good offer.........TOO good........)

 

 

Thanks!

 

We currently just sell the videos (all 10) for $299. http://cgarchitect.vismasters.com/static/training/vray/videoWe are not offering the live component anymore. Can you tell me where you are still seeing the $375 so I can have that removed. Thanks.

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We currently just sell the videos (all 10) for $299. http://cgarchitect.vismasters.com/static/training/vray/videoWe are not offering the live component anymore. Can you tell me where you are still seeing the $375 so I can have that removed. Thanks.

 

 

I've seen that price here:

http://commerce.vismasters.com/static/training/vray

 

......but that's actually for Class #6.....sorry for the confusion.

 

Still, $299.00 for all 10 vids is a good deal.

I watched module 2 and was impressed, and (I'm assuming) that these 10 vids are more current than the Chris Nichols dvd's.

 

Thanks!

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  • 1 year later...
yeah okay and can you send your material maybe or have you an idea where I can find some material to use?

 

i dont want to make one

 

 

Then maybe you don't want to learn? I think you have to put in a certain amount of effort to get some measure of reward out of self-education video tutorials.

 

I bought both interior and exterior DVDs when I first started 3ds (I have since switched to Mental Ray), and wished there was material included with the scene. However a bit of effort and I also learned a bit about texturing.

 

If you just want V-Ray material, try using Google - there are a lot of websites out there.

Edited by SandmanNinja
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