Skylight and Radiosity

[tedesco]

I´m trying to set a skylight in Max using Radiosity.

I tried IES Sky, but I can´t get the same results as in Lightscape, the light doesn´t show the soft shadows as it should, entering from the windows.

I tried Insight, Max Radiosity and Lightscape, so far Lightscape is the best.

In all three scenes there´s only a skylight in the scene.

Anyone has any idea how to set it properly in Max?

 

The images are at hxxp://fotos.terra.com.br/album.cgi/619370

[abicalho]

The reason why Lightscape is doing it better is because of meshing. You do not seem to have enough meshing in your scene in MAX for Radiosity to capture the shadow detail.

 

Also, since the background color is black in LS, it gives you a pretty cool scene - it wouldn't be that cool if the BG was white.

 

Alexander

[tedesco]

Meshing in Max is at 5 cm (i´m working in centimeters) and in Lightscape is is at processing 1 (the lowest one).

As I noticed Max is not giving good shadows in Skylight only.

In this case is not the meshing neiter the background, really hoped you were right.

[jucaro]

Tedesco:

Maybe you should post a screen capture of the meshing and your setup parameters.

[joske]

skylight is in max not the best way to go for interiors

u should try with area omnis the size of your openings in the wall just outside of each window

think about it when your inside : what is a window with outside light?

...

an area light ... yes

this might be a little wierd or diffrent at first, but trust me this works (especially with mental ray in max

only thing missing is a sun : just make a spot light for that (with a small area for the opening sharp edge in the sun shadow... like in reality)

 

good luck

phil

[tedesco]

Thank´s for the reply Joske, what you suggested was exactly what I´m doing, but sometimes when there are more than one opening and he format in not square it takes a little more time to fix it. But it is really working, I just thought I was doing something wrong, it is a pitty that Max is not doing soft shadows in skylight.

Thank´s anyway.

[hardnozehockey]

tedesco,

 

if you are after "soft shadows" from the skylight feature in 3D Max, then you are not far. The skylight feature, as far as I am concerned (in Max 6 + 7), is a refracted light source. You should not be getting sharp shadows if you have any type of radiosity (light tracing) or global illumination/final gathering (mental ray) on while rendering. This is your best best for soft, refracted shadows from atmospheric light. The skylight feature with Mental Ray and final gather ON, creates absolutely amazing results. Every scene is trial and error, but you should be squared off with softer shadows.