Archvision RPC 2.5D people

[tricky]

We haven't used RPC stuff for ages. TBH, I hate the stuff, but client insists.

I'm going to be comping in the people in post, but could do with guidance on installation. I've downloaded the latest RPC plugin for Max 2009 x64. Now do I install this on all workstations, render slaves AND the render server that runs Backburner manager?

So far I've installed it on my local workstation only. I am then faced with the ArchVision Content Manager! WTF?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated! As usual, this is very close to the deadline!

[tricky]

Nevermind

[jacksc02]

I feel for you mate.....

[Morne]

you need the rpc plugin only on machines that will render. You need the content manager on only 1 machine (any machine)

[tricky]

Managed to get it all installed and copy our content that we purchased years ago onto our server. Now I find that you need to pay for the RPC plugin!!!! We never used to have to pay for it. We've paid for the content - why pay for the plugin that enables you to place them. Doesn't seem right to me.

[jacksc02]

Is it still on the max install DVD?

[tricky]

Not sure. There is a 15-day trial of their 'ultimate' service, so I might even be able to use all their shi* content on this project...we'll see....

[pskdude]

yes this happened to me as well and i stopped using them. Im assuming they werent doing as well financially and decided they would make people pay for their plugin with recent PS versions.

[tricky]

Any idea how to get them to render brighter? I'm using vray as the renderer (mainly because of matting against proxies etc), and they are coming out very dark. I've tried adding an omni light, but it seems to have no effect. Also a vrayambient light, but no effect. Self illumination on the RPC mass edit utility is maximum (100%). I could perhaps go in and edit the output on the texturemap, but that tends to oversaturate everything.

[MegaPixel]

I can barely remember working with RPC's about 4 year's ago or so. If memory serves, I believe we had to "exclude" the RPC's from GI because they we're not designed to work with it. I also think I assigned a duplicate Sunlight and Fill Light to the RPC's (Standard Lights) which excluded everything else so I could control the brightness of the RPC's that way.

-MegaPixel

[zoranm]

I remeber I was also increasing output to anywher from 8-25 (depending on collection). Only option is to render RPC as separate pass and correct oversaturation in post. If I remeber correctly I used to put RPC material in VrayWrapper and turn off generate/receive gi, because they'd generate self-illumination ( I don't know if this is still applicable)
hope this helps
zoran

[Morne]

I set them to 100% in RPC mass utitily. Then render as seperate pass. They come out "dark". In photoshop I then use autolevels and they just pop with colour and they are perfect! For animation I'm sure you can do similar to "auto-levels" in whatever compositor you use.

[tricky]

Thanks for the tips. I will CERTAINLY be rendering them as a seperate pass then I can remove them from our 'in-house' edit! lol!