Sun and Detail Enhancement

[paulfuchs]

It is nice that we have a sun now but I seem to be using it poorly. I will admit that I am used to the Flamingo sun where you turn it on and it acts like a sun without a lot of choices. When I do sunlight here my object is completely blown out by the default. It asks for 'position' what should that be set at? (i've tried near and far (but not like outer space far) Are the defaults for the light OK, or not? Do units matter on this? (i'm in cm)

Also, in another post there was talk of 'Detail Enhancement'. What is that, where is that and how is it controlled. Sounds pretty interesting.

There's a bunch of stuff under Material Editor>Maps that I have to figure out as well. Thats good.

Thanks

[Micha_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Paul, if you like download my latest beta 2 starterkit:

http://www.asgvis.com/index.php?opti...90&topic=631.0

You will find a sun in action. To avoid the bright light you have two choices:
* use physical camera (DOF dosn't work at the moment)
* use standard camera and set the multiplier at the color mapping options at a very low avlue like 0.02 (look at my sample file)

The sun is a directional light und only the direction angle count, you can place it where you want. It should be unit independent.

Detail enhancement: best you look at the help of www.spot3d.com

[paulfuchs]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Thanks. Detail enhancement is good stuff.
I'll play with the sun later.
Paul

[joe_b]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

The sun is a directional light und only the direction angle count, you can place it where you want. It should be unit independent.

The position only comes into play when using the Sun as a photon emitter. Just a minor ammendment to Micha's post - but he is correct, the position doesn't affect the overall intensity. If your scene is too blown out then you should really modify the physical camera - not make the sun less bright.

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

the position doesn't affect the overall intensity. If your scene is too blown out then you should really modify the physical camera - not make the sun less bright.

This is only half true. The position of the sun does affect its intensity, but not significantly enough to counteract an incredibly burned image. The affect/intesity of sun in the morning/evening will be visibly different then at midday, and if you set the time of day to 2 in the morning your image will be dark even without a groundplane. The physical camera is really the only way to go when working with the sun and sky model. Once you get used to working with it the whole system works together pretty smoothly. Keep in mind that it is important to use gamma correction/linear workflow with the sun and sky other wise your background (the sky) will appear too dark.

[merlik585]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

I think he was talking about the sun position in the drawing (the representation of the sun)

I use gamma correction and LWF and still can get a background map reflection,as soon as I set a background map all I get is black.If I remove the map,I get a reflection but of the generic sky.The only way for me to have a reflection in the glass is to set a reflection in the material.

Renee

[Micha_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Placement of the sun dosn't matter. You can place the Rhino sun light within a scene room for example, it dosn't matter, it come from infinite distance. Only the direction of the sun light count. Flat angle - evening/morning and ... .

I like this kind of sun control. So it's very easy to set the sun in a specific direction.

I'm curious for a working sun intensity control, I like a less ratio between shadow and sun.

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

ok, I misunderstood a little. In that case the placement doesn't matter only the vector.

I'm curious for a working sun intensity control, I like a less ratio between shadow and sun.

I'd try a lower sun intensity and higher GI intensity...turbidity might also play a bit of a role.

[Micha_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Sun intensity control dosn't work, it control the intensity of sun and(!) sky.

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

I use gamma correction and LWF and still can get a background map reflection,as soon as I set a background map all I get is black.If I remove the map,I get a reflection but of the generic sky.The only way for me to have a reflection in the glass is to set a reflection in the material.

Renee the problem that you have run into is because of two issues. The first has to do with the physical sun/sky/cam relationships and how they relate to and influence the appearance of the scene and ultimately the materials themselves. There is a very detailed tutorial/explanation on the chaosgroup forum here. Just make sure you are registered and logged in. We're in the process of developing a counterpart for Rhino, so it might be something you will want to look into. The second issue, which is much more pressing imho, is that using the Correct RGB function actually causes an incorrect influence of you colors. Unfortunately this extends to reflections because colors are chosen for reflection values. I noticed this a while ago, and here's the thread that discusses that

Sun intensity control dosn't work, it control the intensity of sun and(!) sky.

Yea its not really working for me either. Its not that changing the ratio between sun and sky doesn't do anything (its just changing the colors from slightly yellow like the sun, to a bit bluish like the sky). Its just that it doesn't really soften any of the shadows. I agree that there should be some way to soften the shadows. Joe said there was a way to soften them, but I haven't found it yet.

[Micha_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Soft shadows of the sun works fine here - set size multiplier at a value between 1 ... 50 ... or more.

[merlik585]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

thanks Damien,

The materials are fine,and the lighting also,what is black is the background.As for the soft shadows it works like Micha said,no problem here either.

Renee

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Soft shadows of the sun works fine here - set size multiplier at a value between 1 ... 50 ... or more.

Thats good to know. I never really messed with the sun size, so I would have never have found it. Thanks.

The materials are fine,and the lighting also,what is black is the background.

I know you think they are fine (and the are for the most part), but you've got to watch the tutorial. It will explain what is happening with the whole sun/sky/camera system and will work much better for you. I could explain it, but it would be much better to watch the tutorial, as Lele explains it much more extensively then I could in a thread. Again here is the link http://www.chaosgroup.com/forum/phpB...ic.php?t=17824

[merlik585]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

Ah yes Damien I have downloaded the files a while back and watch them.But I can't figure out how to set the rgb at .255

may be there is something I don't understand,it is not easy trying to translate the info for max in something that could be use with VfR.


Renee

[Micha_cg]

Re: Sun and Detail Enhancement

It's no secret, I would not use the 0.255 method, because the side effects.