1st MR interior WIP+some questions

[Tbonz]

Hi everyone-experienced max user, I am working on my first arch interior, while also trying to get a grip on using GI and FG together. In this image I have used shadow maps(realise now that they are not the best option), and for the most part they have acted as expected. The problem arises from the omni in the corner of the room. I am getting stepping, and artifacts from this particular light, the steps correspond with the radius of the falloff. I have tried changing map size, and sample rates to no avail. I have also since tried using other shadow types, raytraced are looking way to sharp, and MR shadows I have just started expeimenting with. I have found that using lights with similar values using MR or raytraced shadows resulted in much darker renders is there a reason for this?

Also, I have found that putting my light inside the lampshade kills all light emission, so I have placed the omni above the shade, any tips for this situation?

Any good MR tuts on interior lighting around?

The textures are still being worked on, in the final image the curtain will blur the outside tree. Thanks for any help, and sorry for the long post.

[Scott Schroeder]

Overall its looking really good. Though the tree shadow needs to go. For a shadow to be that big the tree would either be planted next to the foundation for be a tree that is so large it could block out the sun. If you want to keep that shadow in there, I think you are going to have to scale it down a bit.

 

Also look in the tutorials section of this forum, there is a decent MR interior lighting thread going.

[Tbonz]

Thanks VelvetElvis---thank you ...thank you very much!(Said in an Elvis voice) I am going to work on the tree, I have figured out the lighting-- I used a MRomni, and it helped greatly.

[STRAT]

bloody hell, not here too!

[Tbonz]

Thats right, keep it quiet or I will spill the beans about CDS, the large women, and the cash Straty! Small Update, sorted some issues

 

[kicks]

[Tbonz]

Kicks, thanks for the tip on the lamp shade, I had limited success so far, maybe you can help. I also adjusted the outside enviro.

First, while I sort of achieved the effect, my shade isn't as luminant as yours. When I up the light's value, the area near the lamp gets blown out, but the shade doesn't get much brighter. I used an arch mat, a slight(low) tranparency, and some translucance. I believe I set it to fabric from the drop down list.

Second problem, the light is now generating some noise(on ceiling), before it did not, any tips?

 

Thanks for any help

 

UPDATE:

[Tbonz]

Experimented a little more with the lampshade last night(in a simple scene) for some reason not having much success. Kicks, can you possibly post some settings, or a small max file. Also if anyone knows how to solve the grain resulting from the lampshade, please post up and let me know

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Todd

[kicks]

hi,

[Tbonz]

Thanks for the info Kicks, I am going to implement that later today.

[Sawyer]

I have a few observations:

 

Make up your mind if you want to use a curtain or background. Right now it looks to me like you have an iron-on stuck to your curtain. Have some illumination coming from the tv or turn it off. Personally I think putting the GODFATHER in a scene like this is a little weird. Are there really 4 can + can lights 12" apart? Really? Composition wise a purple couch is hard to work if it is not part of the design you may want to rethink it.

 

 

Overall what are you trying to do is this for fun or profit? Are you illustrating a design or telling a story?

[Tbonz]

Sawyer, this is my first interior attempt--ever. I am working from a photo, all of the design cues with the exception of the godfather are from the reference(the photo had wizard of oz, don't care for the movie so...)....yes the purple couch & the 4 overhead lights as well.

The reason for this piece is just a technical exercise, I am curious about this type of work and thought I would give it a try. My thought is that the television gives a sense of a lived in space-shrugs

I agree with many of the things you said, but would appreciate tips on how to improve as well. I.E. the TV has a glow lume material, how do you suggest I create the light emitted? The curtain and the background are seperate entities, how about suggestions on how to improve that? I would like to keep both elements.

[Sawyer]

Well what are you trying to show. I understand that you may be just doing an exercise but part of the short comings of cg work is it's lack of narrative. Most of the image you have is dedicated to the back of a couch and a tv image. Rotate your couch and you will have space that the viewer can access. Try opening the curtains and letting the bg in that way. Maybe open the windows and have some wind blowing the curtains.

 

I didn't mean to be sharp about my tv comment to me it makes the scene ominous. Have you tried adding the map in a self illum slot?

 

Also place your lights in the cans at the top. I am assuming that is where the light is coming from. But it should be clear.

 

Maybe what I don't like about this scene is how it is centered on the tv. I looks like you have modeled the cushions well as well as the hammock like chairs and you could really show those better. Along that you could redo the lighting so it is distributed throughout the room, there is a wall infront of the tv that just stops the light.

Also the grain of the oak is a bit large at the table compaired to the floor boards.

Purple couch and leopard skin chairs seems a bit much to me. Maybe go black leather on the chairs.

 

Finally you may want to think about modeling the bg to be what you want. If you notice the lighting on the buildings is bleeding from long exposure. Start with a dark blue almost nightime sky and let that light enhance the scene. Then model box like building outlines and finally add lights to those. It might be too a bit more work but I think it will help.

[Tbonz]

Sorted out the grain in the light, thanks for the help kicks!

Sawyer, what attracted me to the photo, was the "mood" of the small room, and the lighting. I could have went with a typical sun drenched room, but thought this looked unique and challenging. I removed the 4 can lights above the tv(I agreed with your crit), there were more above the couch in the photo, that is where the light is coming from in the scene. There is sharp falloff in my reference, I may go with more bounce to my light. I will spread the curtains a little, great idea.

Thanks for the input I have learned some things for the next 1 hehehe

 

image removed

[Tbonz]

Calling this done! Thanks for the tips and help, implemented as much as I could