washed out interior...

[skogskalle]

hi guys!

I could really use some help lighting this scene... I usually have no problem with smaller interiors, but i find these bigger areas really hard to light....

take a look at this render...



looks pretty washed out and boring....

this screencap shows how I placed the lights: (one at every window plus one at every cieling light fixture)



I first tried using low multipliers for the lights and no colormapping, but I found it really hard to get enough light in the room without completely blowing out some areas. so then I tried a different approach.

in the image posted above the window lights have multipliers of 13, and the cieling ones 30. and i use the HSV exp colormapping with a dark multiplier of 1.0 and a bright multiplier of 1.4
I now get alot more light in there, but its washed out.

I know its impossible to say exactly what settings I should use cause it varies from scene to scene.... but I would really appreciate if you could give me some pointers.....

thanks in advance!
/Kalle

[Frances]

Hi Kalle,

I've found that disabling Exposure Control in the Max Environment Dialog gives me better control over Vray lighting. If I remember right, 1.09 ignored exposure control, but I could be wrong.

[archcanvas]

This is not just the rendering fault. I think this is mainly because your lighting is too average. Try using some local lighting to bring some contrast to the rendering. e.g. Think about those small rooms..., you can make the lighting a bit cold in the open area, and warmer/darker in small rooms. Also make the ceiling darker and then add some uplights...

[Gijs]

I first tried using low multipliers for the lights and no colormapping, but I found it really hard to get enough light in the room without completely blowing out some areas.

Have you read the thread about working in linear space? That could be your solution. Anyhow, I find HSV not very realistic, look at the light spot in the back, this should be blown out and HSV makes the reflections on the ceiling much too saturated.

[skogskalle]

Fran - I never have the MAX exposure control enabled when working with Vray, so thats not the problem, but thanks anyway !

archcanvas - Dont think I can add some uplights. Im not the architect, and there were no such lights on the lightplan they gave me... I hear what you say about the lighting being too average though... ill play around some with warm and cold lights and then Ill post an update.

Gijs - yup I saw it. didnt really get it, but I dont think I read the whole thread either... gonna take another look. you think HSV is un-realistic... what colormapping do you usually use then? or do you try to avoid any type of colormapping?

thank you all for the input!
//Kalle

[Gijs]

It took some time to get used to the technique, but now I don't use any color mapping other than the gamma correct colormapping. You will need to adjust your materials to this though, so I won't recommend that you start using it on this project.

[skogskalle]

mkay... heres another version... Using Exponential colormapping 1, 1.3

I think this one turned out a little too gray-ish....
Ill keep working on it.... and if you have any suggestions Im all ears!

Gijs - thanks. ive never used gamma correct colormapping, so yeah its probably not a good idea to try it on this project... Ill definetly look into it later though when I have more time.

[mcphep]

Hi

I always try to keep my colour mapping settings at 1 and 1 and use the lights to add brightness to the scene. I have found that adjusting the bright multilier washes everything out so usually only increase the dark multiplier if need be. I think you are on the right track using exponential colour mapping and there is always adjusting gamma and levels in post. Works a treat

[Tom B]

Noise aside I think that looks really well balanced IMHO. well on the way to a realistic render! How did you use exponential colour and still keep the colours saturated? I find my images get really dull with exponential and waste ages getting lights under control in linear space.

[skogskalle]

Update....

mcphep - thanks!

Tom B - I havent used exp colormapping before so I dont know why my colors are saturated... they just are Maybe I have really saturated materials or something... I never understood the whole linear space concept before, and Ive no time to learn it for this project... For this image, I just used curves in photoshop to brighten it up a little...

[jacksc02]

looks good, a little noisy now but your on the right track.