Light volumes in 3ds Max/Vray

[cummings9306]

Hello,

I am currently using Max 2013 and Vray 2.0 and am trying to conquer Light Volumes using an mr Area Spot Light in this warehouse scene. There are architectural skylights on the roof and I am trying to get light volumes with Ray Cast Shadows to show through only the skylights in the roof. I keep getting results where the light goes through the entire roof as shown in the attached images. Does anyone know how to get the light rays to only go throught the architectural skylights in the roof?

 

Each skylight has a Vray light (skyportal) with a multiplier of 1. There is also an skylight dome light outside the building for global illumination.

[pixelperfectg]

"I am currently using Max 2013 and Vray 2.0 and am trying to conquer Light Volumes using an mr Area Spot Light" - Whoa, stop right there. Why would you use a mental ray light with vray? They are two completely different applications that do not share features. Use VRay lights with vray, mental ray or photometric lights with mental ray.

 

As for the volumetric effect in VRay, there's a VRay forum right here at CGA that has some info on that. For example, see this: http://forums.cgarchitect.com/68293-want-create-volume-light-vray.html it links to a good tutorial on the topic by Peter Guthrie. Also be sure to review the VRay documentation on it's volume effects: http://www.spot3d.com/vray/help/150SP1/examples_vrayenvironmentfog.htm