old vs new

[pixelplume]

I took this simple scene and rendered it the "old way" (LC +IR) and then reset V-Ray (3.40.01) defaults to the new approach. Why does it look worse (darker/muddier)? I really would like to carry on with the new approach. Thanks in advance. Maybe you need more information from me?

Sean

[Zdravko.Keremidchiev]

How old is the old version and what are the render times of both images? Also how was the old scene setup? If you send the scene over we could have a look.

[^Lele^]

Color mapping when resetting V-Ray goes back to LWF.
Perhaps your old scene was set up differently?
Copying the CM settings over (use vray presets!) will fix look differences.

[pixelplume]

Color mapping when resetting V-Ray goes back to LWF.
Perhaps your old scene was set up differently?
Copying the CM settings over (use vray presets!) will fix look differences.

it stayed Reinhard when I reset...maybe I'm not understanding something...


I'm really happy with how V-Ray keeps progressing. I Just want to understand what I'm doing wrong. I get the simplification of the new approach but on a base level if i try it, the image take twice as long to render (I understand that there is far less tweaking of materials subdivs) and looks crappier.

ok...here we go...

I will keep it simple as possible

1) fire up 3ds Max 2016 the V-Ray warning comes up and I select NO
2) merge in data and setup my old "recipe" for quick tests
- 1280x720
- no GI environment
- primary set it IR low
- secondary set to LC 400
- exposure control set to physical camera EV 12

render time 1:43

reset Max

1) fire up 3ds Max 2016 the V-Ray warning comes up and I select YES
2) merge in data
3) set exposure control to physical camera EV 12
4) reset V-Ray by selecting scanline and then V-Ray again (I thought selecting YES at beginning would have V-Ray already "reset"?)
5) change to bucket
6) change to 1280x720

render time 3:51


Link to zip file with all the goods if you need them https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3zyrw1quq...Q9q112b7a?dl=0

[^Lele^]

it stayed Reinhard when I reset...maybe I'm not understanding something...

Sub-pixel mapping, clamping, baking of gamma and the infamed LWF checkbox are all hidden in the advanced settings pages.
The only certainty is if you know you do NOT touch any of the colormapping values, usually, so between 3.2 and 3.4 nothing changed there.

1) fire up 3ds Max 2016 the V-Ray warning comes up and I select NO

No warning comes up simply starting max. Are you opening a scene, there?

2) merge in data and setup my old "recipe" for quick tests
- 1280x720
- no GI environment
- primary set it IR low
- secondary set to LC 400
- exposure control set to physical camera EV 12

Regardless, what you outline above is a splotchy solution, nothing remotely close to the GI sp3 defaults to.
What you see is correct, reset VRay, re-set your GI to match the old settings.
You're just unused to this accuracy in occlusion between geo and lighting, which of course will always be slower than the settings you're using above, no question about it.

You can render the images, and save them in the VFB, then compare settings directly from there.

[pixelplume]

Thanks for the quick reply!

No warning comes up simply starting max. Are you opening a scene, there?

the warning comes up in 2016....despite me saving an updated maxstart file. I'm too lazy to problem solve that. 2017 saving the maxstart file works fine....

I understand the my "old way" is not the best looking...splotchy

What you see is correct, reset VRay, re-set your GI to match the old settings.

ha! I didn't think just to change from brute force to IR to test the difference. Even on this basic simple scene with low settings, the new approach is clearly superior.


now to shift this thread to.....Brute force..... I have always been a IR/LC person. Should I pursue using brute force (loaded question I know) in interiors (what I mostly do).
If I leave it on Brute force the scene gets darker and the alcoves are less defined...


The reason I ask is that I teach design visualization to interior design students at the School of Visual Arts once a semester. I have been teaching the same class for almost 10 years. The workflow being is taking AutoCAD plans and elevations. Modeling them in Max, texturing & lighting in V-Ray (years ago I did mental Ray), and a little Photoshop. It's a TON for the kids to take in (I'm going to refrain from bitching about lazy millennials ) during a semester. In the past I have given them a render preset that is good enough for their needs. Lately since the V-Ray toolbar came out I'm trying to get them to use the quick settings from there. This new approach is great since I don't have to explain subdivs. I just don't know If i should switch to IR/LC in lieu of Brute force.

as I typed this I clicked the quick settings interior button for fun and noticed it does not use the 1/24 preset any more and no brute force....Is this by design?

[dlparisi]

The problem is not with old/new vray versions.... You have your vray lights using "Store with Irradiance map" but are using Brute Force when you reset which is a no-no. Uncheck that on all your lights and the results are pretty much identical (other than the GI quality).

[^Lele^]

thanks for doing this, i'm still without a working max

[^Lele^]

now to shift this thread to.....Brute force..... I have always been a IR/LC person. Should I pursue using brute force (loaded question I know) in interiors (what I mostly do).
If I leave it on Brute force the scene gets darker and the alcoves are less defined...

read here first:
http://forums.chaosgroup.com/showthr...image-with-SP3
(so no worries, EVEN millennials will be able to get the simple process! )
and here, for the IRMap:
http://forums.chaosgroup.com/showthr...307#post677307

[pixelplume]

thanks so much for your help and insights!