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[innerdream]

I'm trying to get warmer lighting and soft shadows in my work. The software I own only has soft shadows for area lights. CC welcome.

Edited November 5, 2008 by innerdream

[STRAT]

all this really needs to give it an edge of realism is an AO pass.

[innerdream]

all this really needs to give it an edge of realism is an AO pass.

 

The only way I can do that in Cheetah is to render a separate render using just AO and composite in photoshop. Would that work?

[STRAT]

of course. that's a standard procedure

[innerdream]

of course. that's a standard procedure

 

Doh! I know in some packages you can output AO and GI on the same pass. I assumed it was composited in the software! It's all new to me.

 

What exactly does the AO pass do by the way?

[leed]

I think you need to look at the shadows a bit.. the lighting to the top of the columns is bright, and if the only lights are the ones seen then you need to think a bit more about how the light shades will affect the light..... the image lacks contrast..

 

Try and be a bit bolder.... an ao pass will not go amiss as well.... but that will not solve the lighting problems...

 

An ao pass is basically a proximity shader that helps shade areas that are close.

Lee

[STRAT]

aye. in nube terms that means fake GI. but why not use real GI?

[innerdream]

aye. in nube terms that means fake GI. but why not use real GI?

 

Yes I know what AO means. I used radiosity as Cheetah calls it (GI) on the image.

 

Lee,

 

In terms of the lights I have a point light in the shade with no shadows because the shadows are raytraced and look like crap. Then there is an area light just below the shade which is giving the soft shadows. There are no shadow adjustments in Cheetah other than samples and color. This is one of the main faults of the program, the lights don't look good for interiors.

[leed]

Yes I know what AO means. I used radiosity as Cheetah calls it (GI) on the image.

 

Lee,

 

In terms of the lights I have a point light in the shade with no shadows because the shadows are raytraced and look like crap. Then there is an area light just below the shade which is giving the soft shadows. There are no shadow adjustments in Cheetah other than samples and color. This is one of the main faults of the program, the lights don't look good for interiors.

 

I have never heard or seen Cheetah before, but it looks to have everything you need... you need to look at some example images and compare your image to them see how you can make it better... you need to have shadows though...

 

try to light one light at a time... and when adding lights make them bright red or yellow first to see what impact they have on the scene... work with the shadows as much as the lights... it can help with the composition...

 

Have a look at using some textures to show different materials... you need to get more variation in there with lights and shade and textures...

 

Lee

[innerdream]

I have never heard or seen Cheetah before, but it looks to have everything you need... you need to look at some example images and compare your image to them see how you can make it better... you need to have shadows though...

 

try to light one light at a time... and when adding lights make them bright red or yellow first to see what impact they have on the scene... work with the shadows as much as the lights... it can help with the composition...

 

Have a look at using some textures to show different materials... you need to get more variation in there with lights and shade and textures...

 

Lee

 

I hear ya.

 

Everytime I use the raytraced shadows and post here everyone says they look like crap. So...I am trying to use the shadows from the area light only which are soft.

 

I need to get a better program eventually. I have been using this program for over a year and have this problem still so I have tried to use different combinations of lighting for interiors.

[innerdream]

I'm doing an AO pass, this is what it's looking like. I changed nothing else, just switched from Radiosity to AO.

[innerdream]

Here is a composite of the GI render with a duplicate layer in PS set to overlay at 75%. It adds nice contrast but the lights get blown out at the ceiling. So...perhaps if I turned the lights down and did this it might work? Thoughts?

[leed]

I have done a bit of photo shop to this hope you do not mind....

[innerdream]

I have done a bit of photo shop to this hope you do not mind....

 

I don't mind but you have to tell me what you did! LOL

 

Here's my whack at it.

Edited November 5, 2008 by innerdream

[leed]

What I did I can list, but you are not going to learn anything... have a look at this and ask some questions..

 

lee

[innerdream]

What I did I can list, but you are not going to learn anything... have a look at this and ask some questions..

 

lee

 

Alright thanks.

 

Lets start with the lights because I'm aware of the other items you listed and the lights are the weakest part of this program, Cheetah.

 

Here are two screen grabs. The first one shows the "point" lights in the fixtures with no shadows. Why no shadows? Because they are raytraced and everyone here says they look like crap. So, the area lights have soft shadows and they are directly below the shades with shadows on. As you can see by the second screen grab there isn't much to adjust, it is very much as you see. So, how else would you handle the lighting scenario?

 

The third image is the "raytraced" shadows that everyone hates.

Edited November 5, 2008 by innerdream

[leed]

I have had a quick look at cheetah and though very limited you should be able to get better images out.

 

Use area lights and no ambient lights, they just flatten the image. and look at the radiosity settings, you can get a varied lighting set up if you are careful...

It does tend to over blow the scene if you are not careful though...

[innerdream]

I have had a quick look at cheetah and though very limited you should be able to get better images out.

 

Use area lights and no ambient lights, they just flatten the image. and look at the radiosity settings, you can get a varied lighting set up if you are careful...

It does tend to over blow the scene if you are not careful though...

 

I appreciate you going to such lengths to help me out, thank you.

 

I have been very frustrated by the lack of depth to the interior renders I can get with this program, especially when everyone is using Vray with such great results. It actually handles exterior scenes better with the "skylight" lighting.

 

Thanks again.