Lighting and C#

[Ausmax]

I am just starting out in lighting in 3D Studio Max and Mental Ray. Just wanting to find out how much C# and scripting can help with lighting for architectural visualisation.

 

Does anyone have examples of the difference between lighting with and without C# or scripting?

[Peter M. Gruhn]

It sounds like you are barking up the wrong tree. Maybe overheard some people talking.

 

Since you are just starting out, I would recommend learning how to use the existing tools. Then when you find they aren't able to do something you want, ask around, maybe somebody else knows how to make them do that or fake it cheaper than writing code.

[Ausmax]

It sounds like you are barking up the wrong tree. Maybe overheard some people talking.

 

Since you are just starting out, I would recommend learning how to use the existing tools. Then when you find they aren't able to do something you want, ask around, maybe somebody else knows how to make them do that or fake it cheaper than writing code.

 

Thanks for that information Peter. Yes maybe we are barking up the wrong tree. You can't believe everything you read!

Cheers

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I wouldn't necessarily say it is wrong, but I would agree with Peter in saying that it is premature.

 

Learn a rendering platform really well, inside and out, and then think about developing for it. Learning it well will allow you to understand what they are doing, and how you can enhance it, or make it more efficient.

 

...for an example of this look at Mental Ray, and Francesca's CTRl.Ghost Shaders. They were able to take the MR render platform, and write shaders to bring out different GI solutions that are present inside of the render engine, but not necessarily available to the general public, or fully developed. They are not as easy to use as the ones presented (Final Gather and Global Illumination,) but with patience they will produce more reliable and better results. At least in my opinion.

 

But even then, ....I have no idea what language(s) you would need to know, and I will admit, before reading this post I had never even heard of C#.

 

If you are thinking of developing for the Mental Ray platform, then I would root around on the Mental Images forum. That place is full of programming oriented thinkers in terms of writing shaders and the like. CGarchitect is more about the creation of images, and the process of creating them. I don't think the board can match the knowldege of programming oriented boards, though you can really learn what the needs of the community are by participating in this board. That is something that will be more difficult to get on a programming oriented board,

[Ausmax]

I wouldn't necessarily say it is wrong, but I would agree with Peter in saying that it is premature.

 

Learn a rendering platform really well, inside and out, and then think about developing for it. Learning it well will allow you to understand what they are doing, and how you can enhance it, or make it more efficient.

 

...for an example of this look at Mental Ray, and Francesca's CTRl.Ghost Shaders. They were able to take the MR render platform, and write shaders to bring out different GI solutions that are present inside of the render engine, but not necessarily available to the general public, or fully developed. They are not as easy to use as the ones presented (Final Gather and Global Illumination,) but with patience they will produce more reliable and better results. At least in my opinion.

 

But even then, ....I have no idea what language(s) you would need to know, and I will admit, before reading this post I had never even heard of C#.

 

If you are thinking of developing for the Mental Ray platform, then I would root around on the Mental Images forum. That place is full of programming oriented thinkers in terms of writing shaders and the like. CGarchitect is more about the creation of images, and the process of creating them. I don't think the board can match the knowldege of programming oriented boards, though you can really learn what the needs of the community are by participating in this board. That is something that will be more difficult to get on a programming oriented board,

 

Travis, Thanks for all that information. And YES I will go to the Mental images forum for help with concepts for development/languages for lighting etc.

I didn't know they had a forum.

 

I am just amazed at how helpful people have been since I have started posting on this forum. I have had a lot of varied questions lately, seeking to fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge base and have been pleasantly surprised by people's willingness to help.

Thank you to everyone for your support.

[Justin Hunt]

Think he means C+ or even C++

 

If you want to get into the world of custom shader creation, take a look at Mental Mill. Its a easy way of getting in without scripting knowlage.

 

Also try to learn Max Scripting, which is a simplified version of C+.

 

jhv

[Peter M. Gruhn]

I think he means C#. Nice enough language. Good development tools.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Yeah, my initial reaction was C+ or C++ also, but for some reason I typed C# into Google. It's a language. Spoken I think it is pronounced C Sharp.

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/default.aspx