How to illuminate an interior without the ceiling (i.e. Axo or Perspective Birds Eye)

[Jez EMIN]

Hi,

 

I would post this in the Tip and Tricks, questions area but I don't seem to have the authoritisation to post on there yet.....

 

A project I am working on the client has asked for what he calls an 'Axo' (a render from outside of the building looking into the interior from above) - obviously for that I need to hide the Ceiling layer (I use 3DS Max and VRay) but when I do that, the interior, not only lit by the interior lights is also lit up by the Sky and Sun blasting from above (due to no ceiling !)

 

How can I create such a render ?

 

I thought about simply switching off the VRaySky but that would still leave the lighting on for the Sun (again, that would enter in via the hole in the roof which would cast unrealistic shadows). If I were to switch the Sun off, then the scene would be illuminated only by the interior lights......

 

I tried switching Visibility off for the Ceiling object in my scene but that does the same as hiding it - not good.

 

So, how do CGArchitects 3D experts solve this problem ??

 

Any help would be really, really appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

[scostumatu]

Try right clicking the roof and go to object properties and then uncheck visible to camera

[Jez EMIN]

Thanks John,

 

That's what I ended up doing

 

Thing is, I thought it'd be a simple case of doing what you said but there is then the issue of the tops of walls being darker, so that effect needs to be addressed as well

[John Dollus]

instead of a ceiling, just make a box and lift it off the top a bit and change the parameters as mentioned above. the offset will force some light to bounce onto the top of the walls and get rid of the darker areas.

If it were me, I'd just leave the ceiling off and light it with a dome light using no GI. Much faster, cleaner and gets the point across.

[Jez EMIN]

Hi John,

 

That's a great piece of advice - I'm going to revisit my visual and give that a go. The dome idea is really good too - didnt' think of that at the time (and have never really used Dome lights before).

 

Great tips.

 

Thanks