Daylight System Washed Out

[ivanjay]

Hi everyone,

 

I am using ERCO lights in my model to simulate a realistic lighting environment of a corporate cafeteria. There are several large windows along a wall so I placed a daylight system into my model. I noticed that when I put the daylight system in, it works well with Automatic Exposure instead of Logarithmic. However, this shuts off my ERCO lights. If I leave them as logarithmic exposure the ERCO lights work but my room becomes washed out (from the daytime system it seems). Can anyone help me to fix this problem in my model?

 

Thanks,

 

Ivan

[ivanjay]

Here are some screenshots I forgot to attach!

[Ricardo Eloy]

Could you show us the results with Automatic Esposure Control as you radiosity settings as well?

[ivanjay]

Sure Thing...

 

Notice that now my Erco Lights are off and illuminating the space. The daylight system works fine but I have no ceiling lighting affecting my model.

[MegaPixel]

At first glance, this looks like an Exposure control related issue. I would have thought that Log. exp. would have worked fine. Perhaps if you revisit it and adjust the energy, brightness and contrast a bit? Also, I think the bump map on your floor tile is misaligned or not of the same scale as the floor tile. Post more images and we'll post more replys.

 

Erco lights eh? Are they set for metric or english unit photometrics and is your scene scaled properly to match? Just guessing...

 

-Mega

[ivanjay]

I tried playing around with exposure. I am use log exposure and turned down the brightness and contrast which did help immensly for the washed out effect.

 

However, my erco lights do not seem to be functioning at all after the sunlight system is set up. I do not know if they are just being overpowered or if there is a different light model I should use. I am not a fan of the built-in photometrics as they seem to be a nuisance. I did not even know there are settings for the erco lights to be in metric or english photometrics. Where is that setting?

 

As far as the floor goes, there is something off with the look but I am not even worrying about it until I get the lighting working because that is my biggest concern.

 

Thanks!

[MegaPixel]

I personally have never used 'Erco' photometric lights and don't know if they come with adjustable settings or not. There are a couple of different lighting models the Daylight system can pull from and I'm wondering if you need to be using IES to work well with other Photometric lights? (Someone check me on that 1). By using the Exposure control, you could very well be adjusting the Erco light's visual effect away while bringing the Daylight's light intensity down to a more palettable level.

 

If you remove the Daylight system, do the Erco Lights show up properly? (With & Without Exp. Ctrl.)

 

Another question, do you really need Photometric Lights?

[ivanjay]

If I remove the daylight system the lights work perfectly. I am assuming they are being overpowered by the daylight system but am not sure. However, I am trying to give the most realistic shot with this rendering to my ability. I took a photograph at about 2:00 and am trying to replicate it.

 

I am using photometric lights because to my understanding they are the best and most realistic for lighting. I am not limited in any way to what I am using. I am at an intermediate level when it comes to VIZ and this is the first time I am using a daylight system. I am trying to improve on my skills to make this more realistic.

 

The ERCO lights do come with ies files that it merges into the scene.

 

I am guessing you are right that when I turn down sunlight I am turning down the ERCO lights as well. How can I avoid that?

[MegaPixel]

Could you post the picture that you took which you are trying to replicate?

 

I'm thinking that the Erco lights must be underpowered still if they arn't visible with the Daylight system. Also, are you using Radiosity, Light Tracer or scan line rendering? Photometrics in my experience work better with Radiosity. Otherwise, you're going to have to fudge the light values until they look the way you want them to. Photometrics are accurate, but that is a relative term compared to everything else which has to be accurate and setup properly to work right.

 

Keep it coming - Mega

[ivanjay]

I am using radiosity for the erco lights. The image I am trying to replicate is below. Essentially we are removing the center counter and replacing with a new configuration. I wanted to give them a view from the entrance of the facility to see how it would look. I am far from done modeling the countertop equipment but got stuck on the lighting. I am not looking for the interior lighting to light up the space but simply to accent it. I should see lighter and darker sections of the walls etc.

 

Actually I am not sure how to post a picture here. The picture it turns out didnt come out well anyway (bad digital camera)