Vray overview confusion...

[jfharper]

So I'm trying to learn vray...had 1.47 adv for a long time and just upgraded to 1.5 adv sp6.

 

I have Chris nichol's gnomon workshop dvds on exterior and interior and they were helpful, but for 1.47...1.50 has some new stuff I'm trying to get organized....what I basically have is this:

For Still Images: can use HDRI GI, IR map for primary and brute force (replaced QMC) for secondary.

For Fly throughs (camera only animation), can use HDRI GI, IR map for primary but will need to save multiframe incremental and brute force for secondary.

For camera and object animation (I'm assumeing objects can morph (change shape) too) use ir map and light cache?

 

I'm getting a bit confused here...I've tried reading a bunch of threads but some say to use a skylight for GI...is this only for outside scenes? Also, when someone says just use LC...is that for the primary only, or secondary or both?

 

I've tried reading spot3d's stuff and averis...but I was wondering if someone could fix my general overview above so I can start at the right place and know what to read and learn...problem is now, I start reading down all these tangents and get lost...I just need a starting point...can someone please offer a little guidence? TIA

Edited October 14, 2011 by jfharper

[beestee]

Ever seen SolidRocks?

 

http://solidrocks.subburb.com/

 

It doesn't do absolutely everything, but it works very well for 90% or better of my work.

[jfharper]

Nice, except I'm still using Max 8 due to all the other plugins I have that I don't want to upgrade (like RealFlow, nPower translators, etc...all those upgrades add up)...it supports max 9 and on...bummer.

 

I think I have enough knowledge to figure out the internal workings...I feel like I'm more than half way there...I was just looking for a little initial guidance...thanks for your reply though.

[beestee]

Indirect Illumination:

 

For stills, you really only want to use Brute Force when you have time to wait for or have need of perfection. Irradiance Map as primary and Light Cache as secondary is generally the best solution for stills if you want quick and generally adequate results.

 

As you already seem to understand, there are pre-computational methods for both the Irradiance Map and Light Cache when dealing with animation. I believe there is an examples section on spot3d that covers this method well. Once again, if you need perfection and have the time or computational resources to utilize it, Brute Force can produce a better result even in animation.

 

Global Illumination:

 

You have many options here...

 

-Simply setting the background color to anything but black with the indirect illumination turned on will yeild GI results.

-There is an override setting for the background color in the VRay renderer settings that can be used for GI as well.

-Placing a VrayLight in the scene and setting it to dome will make it function as GI, offering a little more control.

-VRaySun and VRaySky. When you place a VRaySun, it will ask you if you want to put a VRaySky map in your background slot automatically. This tool works very well for both interior and exterior representation of natural daylight.

-HDRI yeilds the most realistic results at the cost of some computational time. There are many methods to using HDRI in VRay, but I personally use Peter Guthrie's method.

 

If you really want to dig into VRay and the reasons for using one utility/setting/option over another, I suggest this book:

 

http://www.francescolegrenzi.com/blog/static.php?page=vray_guide_eng

 

It is basically a visual trial and error reference for each and every setting in VRay. Mr. Legrenzi also does an excellent job of explaining each scenario. I have one of the original hard copies myself.

[jfharper]

Awesome...thank you.

 

That gives me some direction. I think the thing that was throwing me was the new light cache, when Chris Nichols taught QMC as secondary in his DVD series but that was based on vray 1.47. So I'll start learning light cache for the secondary and see if I can get some adequate results. I'm not looking for perfection, just good enough to get the job done...most of my projects are based on budgets which are limited and good enough is, good enough.

 

I also have small render farm (6 computers) so that will help. Thanks again for the guidance.