illuminated objects in interiors

[ABK]

Hi all,

 

One problem I continuously come across when visualising interiors is with illuminated blocks or surfaces (light boxes).

One example is this kind of object:

http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server1100/b2754/products/99/images/4450/722727_bottle_display_in_blue_33435_1298784219_220_220__70378.1379963963.220.220.jpg

 

How would people go about modelling/texturing/lighting this while keeping an eye on render times?

 

I'd be interested in knowing different approaches.

 

Cheers,

Antony

 

ps. I mainly use vray but am more interested in technique over specifics to render engines

[CliveG]

 

I'd be interested in knowing different approaches.

 

 

Me too!

 

I normally use vray2sided with multiple vray plane lights in the box, sometimes with fall offs, my biggest struggle is usually getting the right colour with the right amount of light emitted as it obviously bleeds all the colour out. The material colour has to be so dark it's virtually black.

 

This approach doesn't seem too slow but I too am interested in hearing better ways...

[ABK]

this is amazing. really. I never used vray2sided before. it's a very powerful tool isn't it? I can finally get light boxes with glow and reflection as real acrylic ones have.

 

the best results I've got before is creating the shape that glows, shelled it and given it a frosted material and then placed an illuminated box or light inside. It looks good but takes forever to render so wasn't particularly usable on the fast turnaround times I'm used to.

here's an example:

http://antonybarkworthknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/airport-lounge673.jpg

 

I used it on the blue glowing wall. it took 8 hours to render :-/

[CliveG]

Well it looks really good, but 8 hours, ouch!

 

I started doing it that way too as it is sort of the logical way, but as you say vray2sided is a great tool, there's lots of potential, I think I've only just scratched the surface really. I think the falloffs are a key factor in achieving a realistic look too.

 

As I said though with this method my problem is getting the colour to show right, I'll have a client logo with an RGB to work to and just have so much trial and error to even get close to the right colour whilst still maintaining a good bloom of light. These days I rely on the Rendermask tool from Ivan Tepavicharov to give me a good mask so I that I can get it right in post later.