How to get better VRay renders (aka working in linear space)

[jujubee]

If you made your materials from scratch, with the gamme 2.2 display ON, there is no need to put a color correct map in your color slots.

Unless you're trying to achieve a specific RGB value - I believe.

[fewlo]

The color correct plugin is only needed when you want to convert old scenes to this linear workflow. If you made your materials from scratch, with the gamme 2.2 display ON, there is no need to put a color correct map in your color slots.

flipside, what do you mean 'from scratch'? I assume all of my maps will be non-linear as they are created in PS, so any materials using maps will need colour correct, is that right?

Forgive any ignorance, I read the full post yesterday and am trying to get my head round this the best I can!!!!

Thanks,

Fewlo

[flipside]

Yes, maps will need the color correct map, I thought you were talking about colors only.

If you start a new scene (so no ald scene that was created in the non linear workflow), you don't need color correct for color slot, just make your color look right.

If you want to convert an old scene to the new workflow, the color correct map is used to convert the colors so they look right in the linear workflow.

make sure you have your display gamma set to 2.2.

[fewlo]

make sure you have your display gamma set to 2.2.

in max>preferences? yes this is set to 2.2.

going back to my original question, why do my material slots that are using maps with colour correct look extremely dark compared to the rendered image?

Is this the norm? In my confusion I think I'm making mountains out of mole hills perhaps...

[flipside]

They should look normal. Do they look normal in the rendering?

Sure you didn't forget to check the option 'affect material editor'?

[Gijs]

it could well be that your lights are much too strong. I'd say post some images or maybe a small file illustrating your problem

[fewlo]

Brilliant! Cheers flipside, I hadn't checked the 'affect material editor'

everything looks correct now!

Gijs, I spent all of yesterday going thru the 'lighting level' problems, a day I'd rather forget...

Thanks all for the quick responses.

Fewlo

[Gijs]

Ah good you got it sorted,

now show us some linear space renderings

[fewlo]

ha ha, thats something for the future, the problem I have is that I see all of these excellent renders across the forums and then feel down as I predominantly do animations and need render times of around 4-5mins.

so my renders will pale into insignificance I reckon, tho if I get some good results I'll post 'em up.

thanks

fewlo

[fewlo]

Hi all (again),

Another problem has arisen.... my monitor/model/material slots/renders all now match and are accurate to my liking, however on a colleagues monitor there is a noticable difference to the colours of the render.

What can be done to overcome this difference across monitors, other than calibration? By this I mean I could produce an animation that looks spot on but when the client gets it his monitor will be different and it may look rubbish to him.

Sorry if this covers old ground, I have had info overload the last few days so may need to revsit some topics....

Thanks,

Fewlo

[flipside]

You can't do anything about that, because you never know how crappy your client has setup his monitor.

As Gijs suggested in his tutorial, you can assign a 2.5 profile to all your frames, because 2.5 is the gamma of uncalibrated crt monitors. That way you know it will look more or less decent on a lot of peoples monitors. However, lcd screens are more and more popular but the gamma is all over the place there so again you can't know how these monitors will display your work.

[Gijs]

Hi all (again),

Another problem has arisen.... my monitor/model/material slots/renders all now match and are accurate to my liking, however on a colleagues monitor there is a noticable difference to the colours of the render.

What can be done to overcome this difference across monitors, other than calibration? By this I mean I could produce an animation that looks spot on but when the client gets it his monitor will be different and it may look rubbish to him.

Sorry if this covers old ground, I have had info overload the last few days so may need to revsit some topics....

Thanks,

Fewlo

If your client starts complaining about how bad things look just offer him a calibration session or ask him to visit your office

[fewlo]

As Gijs suggested in his tutorial, you can assign a 2.5 profile to all your frames, because 2.5 is the gamma of uncalibrated crt monitors. That way you know it will look more or less decent on a lot of peoples monitors.

Hi all,

Yet again I am confused on this matter! My understanding is that I create my image (usually a tga to be part of an animation) in the VFB and this is correct 'linear', with the gamma correction color mapping applied.

When I look at this in PShop on my monitor it looks right, on my colleague's/clients monitor it looks wrong. How can I overcome this, not only for a still but also for an animation created in Premiere?

Have I missed something???

[jujubee]

When I look at this in PShop on my monitor it looks right, on my colleague's/clients monitor it looks wrong

Is it really wrong? Perhaps you can do them a favor of a quick adjustment. I've seen some long-time designers work on some very bad yellowish-green monitors without a clue to even turn up their brightness or contrast. Sometimes a smack to the head fixes things quite well.

[fewlo]

you know what, in my quest to find a better workspace I've been focusing on the theory more than practice, when I actually take the time to compare them properly in the office it ain't that bad!!!

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt..."

I should take this on board as well!