Creating an image outside a window

[mattosmond]

Hi to all, this is my first post, just started using 3ds max with vray.

 

Please could you advise me, I am want to have a .jpg imported to mount outside my window, so it looks like my rendering has a seascape outside. how do i go about this?

 

Many thanks.

Matt

[landrvr1]

Hi to all, this is my first post, just started using 3ds max with vray.

 

Please could you advise me, I am want to have a .jpg imported to mount outside my window, so it looks like my rendering has a seascape outside. how do i go about this?

 

Many thanks.

Matt

 

Greetings. The easiest way would be to create a single, large plane that rests outside of your window. Just map the .jpg onto that plane. If you are using a VRay sun, make sure that the sun isn't shining onto that plane - especially is the sun is behind it. You'll get a giant, unwanted shadow...

[mattosmond]

landrvr1 - many thanks, is this the best way or just the easiest? What would the more advanced people like yourself do?

[gfa2]

You have the most flexibility this way, I think most people use this technique. Sometime mapping an extruded curve is nicer than a flat plane. Also, in the properties, you can exclude these from casting shadows so you won't have to worry about unwanted shadows.

[ramy]

Also, on the shader that has your image, you can increase the self-illumination or glow so that it appears bright, and even casts light into your interior scene.

[mattosmond]

ramy - how do you change the self illumination? Do i need to choose material to be a vray mtl and then go from there? and add a diffuse bitmap?

[ramy]

If you are using v-ray, you can use the VRayLightMtl, and plug-your image map into it. Or you can just use a Standard material, plug your image into the Diffuse slot, and under Self-Illumination, crank it up to 100.

[landrvr1]

Well, I dunno if I'm advanced, hehe. More like 'advanced beginner'.

 

If you do a search in this VRay forum there's quite a few threads on background technique. Lots of ways to do it, really. I've seen domes, the curves that gfa2 talks about, cylinders, etc.

 

Just remember, anything beyond a simple plane (or 4 planes that would wrap around your entire structure) just takes more raw processing power away from the actual rendering. The nature of my work is very fast paced, so I can't even think about plopping in a huge dome and mapping some panorama shot to that object.

 

When I do my background scene planes, there's a few settings that are important:

 

1. Make sure that it's not casting shadows.

2. Make sure that it's not receiving shadows.

3. In VRay properties for the object, I always UNCHECK 'visible to GI'. Why? By unchecking that setting you are allowing the natural light provided by GI to pass THROUGH the giant background image plane and INTO your space. The background plane is still getting light because 'receive GI' is still checked.

 

You can make the background a VRay light material, but there's really no need. Because the background plane is generating GI, the colors in the bitmap image will naturally filter their way into the space. If you need the background brighter, just go into the material and crank up the bitmap output a bit. Remember, VRay light material - especially when you have a huge object - gets very expensive. It can provide a cool effect, but placing a simple VRay light plane just outside the window so that it shines into your space accomplishes nearly the same thing, and some CPU savings.

 

Best thing is just to experiment, really!

[mattosmond]

cheers guys your info is great. Where do i find the 'visible gi' etc options bar? Could you give me dummy instructions. Once again all your help is gratefully received, hopefully in the future i'll be able to help peeps with their probs.

[Matt Sugden]

Another way to do this of course is to Photoshop it in afterwards. This method would give you flexibility in terms of the saturation, brightness and colour of the image, the bloom and of course the positioning of it.

 

An easy way to do this would be to render your image out, and create a matte material for everything other than your glass, then save the alpha of your window holes, and bring them into Photoshop as a selection.

[mattosmond]

bewdy this is an option that i have already considered, but i really want to try and do things in the 'correct' manner rather than pshop parts. The only reason i want to do it properly is because im just starting out

[Matt Sugden]

well it's interesting that you would class yourself as someone starting out then respond by telling me what the 'correct' manner of doing things is?!?

 

anyway there's several ways to skin a cat you know, and I was just trying to offer some advice. Unless you're animating a scene, I personally wouldn't bother sticking a plane outside your window with an image on, unless you desperately need the reflections from the image of plane inside the room. The time you spend re-rendering multiple times to get the balance of illumination right, can be done in a matter of minutes in Photoshop, in the 'incorrect' manner mind you!

[landrvr1]

The time you spend re-rendering multiple times to get the balance of illumination right, can be done in a matter of minutes in Photoshop, in the 'incorrect' manner mind you!

 

Until he's ready to do an animation, and hasn't learned how to do this with VRay/Max...

 

The VRay and objects options can be found when you select an object. Just right click and you'll see a popup menu. VRay properties is one of the options. You'll find you GI settings and such there.

[mattosmond]

well it's interesting that you would class yourself as someone starting out then respond by telling me what the 'correct' manner of doing things is?!?

 

anyway there's several ways to skin a cat you know, and I was just trying to offer some advice. Unless you're animating a scene, I personally wouldn't bother sticking a plane outside your window with an image on, unless you desperately need the reflections from the image of plane inside the room. The time you spend re-rendering multiple times to get the balance of illumination right, can be done in a matter of minutes in Photoshop, in the 'incorrect' manner mind you!

 

 

Sorry if that last post came across rude, it wasnt meant to be. I gess what i was trying to say was - i know i can pshop it, but just want to know the 3ds max of having an image plane. Sorry.

[rnx]

Another simple technique would be to use a map for "environment" in screen mapping mode. Although i would use this only as mapping/placement test and really composite in pshop or aftereffects as mentioned before.