Balancing the sunlight coming into an interior

[jonasthomas]

Hello,

 

I am wondering for some time now how to balance the sunlight that is falling into an interior. Often it is too bright in my interiors and it is blowing away the textures inside.

 

The image below is a WIP. I have two VrayLights in the windows with the muliplier set to 50.

 

Ideally I would like to have sunlight that is not blowing away the textures and a good lighting on the things inside that are not directly lit by the sun.

 

How do you guys solve this problem?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Jonas

[RyderSK]

Weaker sun to simulate more behind the clouds scenario, Intensity can be anywhere from 0,05 to 1 depending how strong you want. The default one is almost alpinic sun, the sun is almost never that strong in most locations. Also larger shadow penumbra by adjusting the sun size (2-8 for example) will give you softer shadows.

 

I would not use the AreaLights with multiplier.

[notamondayfan]

Lower the sun intensity and add some fill lights. Try adding a fill light to the left of the camera and one to the right, but a lot less intensity. Try using large Vray plane lights, so you have nice soft shadows. Your sun should have the strongest sharpest shadows, and the fill light should barely give any shadows. Then balance your lights to give the right level of illumination.

Dean

[jonasthomas]

Hello Juraj and Dean,

 

Thanks for your advice!! I think this will help. :-) I will try to apply it.

 

Jonas

[Matt McDonald]

The tips you are getting are good ones but don't forget, if you were to photograph that space with the sun shining in (as it is in your rendering) the area in direct light would be washed out as well. So if you are aiming for a photo-realistic image you should expect that effect to some degree.

[salvador]

The tips you are getting are good ones but don't forget, if you were to photograph that space with the sun shining in (as it is in your rendering) the area in direct light would be washed out as well. So if you are aiming for a photo-realistic image you should expect that effect to some degree.

 

Indeed; I was about to reply just that.

[Francisco Penaloza]

The tips you are getting are good ones but don't forget, if you were to photograph that space with the sun shining in (as it is in your rendering) the area in direct light would be washed out as well. So if you are aiming for a photo-realistic image you should expect that effect to some degree.

 

You know that in the Architect "reality" that' does not apply, "you always can see the outside same tonality than the inside", also the same apply when you look from the outside to the inside, and glass is always "Glassy" and popping color all over

 

being sarcastic of course

[jonasthomas]

That's true I think, if you try to mimic a photograph it would be more realistic with those sun-lit parts washed out. On the other hand, the human eye is capable of seeing much more then a camera. And it's also true that architects have their own rules. :-) So it's not easy I guess. :-)

[salvador]

Just to elaborate Jonas, the human eye can't see overblown spots because it would hurt the retina, kind of like when you try to stare at the sun. The eye adapts itself quickly and dynamically to light conditions, so we really don't realize our eyes' "f-number" is being changed to a convenient aperture.

 

Cameras don't do this, even automatic ones, for professional photography need adjustments.