Would like some feedback on a pretty basic scene

[stayinwonderland]

So I've just started using Vray and thought I'd begin by studying someone else's render to see if I could replicate the overall effect.

 

The two pics are the one I'm using for reference and my version.

 

I feel mine looks maybe a little washed out, where the ref looks quite clean and sharp. Also, the shadows close to the window frames look very hard in mine, should they be? or should they be affected by bounced light and therefor be lighter?

 

I'm using very standard, common setup (irradiance map, light cache, 1 vray sun with a vray light occupying each window).

 

Any other feedback, advise?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46297[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46298[/ATTACH]

 

Many thanks

[AubreyM]

If you want your shadows less crisp increase the size parameter of the VraySun.

Also the ref image just uses the vraysky and you have an HDRI or background image which will affect things a tad.

[stayinwonderland]

Thanks. I know about the size of the sun. I think the shadow sharpness is fairly represented. I don't have HDRI, I just placed a flat image to give the impression of a view and it isn't 'active' light-wise.

[RyderSK]

It does look fine, up the exposure, it's a bit dark, your reference is slightly burn, which is prefered exposure at interiors. Also play with white balance, since you whole scene is very blue.

 

Also higher IR would put more shadow detail into where walls connect. If you notice your reference scene is little bit more sofisticated. I also suggest "detail enhancement" under IR to be checked, instead of Ambient occlusion.

 

Last, your vignetting is too strong. Check it off at vray camera.

Edited December 29, 2011 by RyderSK

[stayinwonderland]

wow, that advice helped a ton!

 

I had vignette checked and it was totally darkenning my whole scene, not just the edges.

 

So, here's what I have so far:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46460[/ATTACH]

 

I can't for the life of me get the same cool blue in the ref. Mine turns out either beige or purple (changing the white balance colour).

 

Once I removed the vignette i had to change everything! And one thing that also made a vast difference was checking ambient occlusion! that seemed to put back in all the shadows that were previously (and confusingly) absent.

 

Thoughts?

[vincentg87]

Hi, your thread had me started on experimenting with white balance. I came across this website and thought you might find it useful

 

http://planetpixelemporium.com/tutorialpages/light.html

 

cheers !

[RyderSK]

wow, that advice helped a ton!

 

I had vignette checked and it was totally darkenning my whole scene, not just the edges.

 

So, here's what I have so far:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46460[/ATTACH]

 

I can't for the life of me get the same cool blue in the ref. Mine turns out either beige or purple (changing the white balance colour).

 

Once I removed the vignette i had to change everything! And one thing that also made a vast difference was checking ambient occlusion! that seemed to put back in all the shadows that were previously (and confusingly) absent.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

The blue color, are you talking about the background ? I wouldn't worry about it, save your image with alpha channel and only color correct your background separately.

 

The ambient occlusion does put shadow detail into scene. But wrong and harsch. That;s why I suggested higher IR with detail enhacement checked. Of course, the render times go up considerably, while Ambient occlusion is rather cheap trick.

 

If you want to stick with AO, as it is useful if the scene is complex, and is only visible as wrong on white illuminated walls (where it shoudn't be in real-life), lower it's value and up the subdivisions, right now it's little bit noisy in your corners.

Edited January 4, 2012 by RyderSK

[stayinwonderland]

When you say higher IR do you just mean set the 'current preset' to high? I've tried this with detail enhancement on and tried various settings (radius etc) and then compared them in photoshop and can't see any difference. I've stacked them in layers in photoshop and turned them on and off with various settings and there isn't a single pixel moving. Am I doing something wrong?

[RyderSK]

When you say higher IR do you just mean set the 'current preset' to high? I've tried this with detail enhancement on and tried various settings (radius etc) and then compared them in photoshop and can't see any difference. I've stacked them in layers in photoshop and turned them on and off with various settings and there isn't a single pixel moving. Am I doing something wrong?

 

 

Then it simply means there isn't any more shadow detail in those corners :- ). Unless they are dirty, which would be mapped in texture. The ambient provides shadows detail...but it's incorrect. Clean white illuminated surfaces, while in proximity of each other, do not put shadows on each either or in corner between them. The AO does put shadow there though !

 

There are two ways to go about it, either what is physically correct, or simply by eye, if you like the look with AO in interior, the go for that.

 

About the IR you are right, that's what I meant ;- ) If your scene would be more complex, you would see higher IR does provide more detail, especially contacts shadows, under objects, which would otherwise appear to "float"