Exterior Renders + Environment Maps

[SSPEIPER]

I have looked over Micha's Archterural Exteriors tutorial and it is EXTREMELY hard to follow...

Its is full of holes for newbie's like me trying to get better at Vray.

For instance, where can I get a low contrast environment map of the sky like the one used in your tutorial...?

And where do you attach the sky image to? the Background or to the GI Sky?

Second, do i have to create a dome over my model to apply this environment map to? These things are not explained...!!!

I am tearing my hair out as so many parts are skipped over that are integral to learning how to do this correctly...

We need alot more tutorials (IN PICTURES + VIDEO) so we can see - STEP BY STEP how to implement each stage, tecture etc...

If you can help me out with further settings / environment (sky) to achieve a realistic ARch Viz exterior I would much appreciate it...

Also are there any 'Visopt' files for download (applicable for exterior and internal arch vz?)




Thanks

[SSPEIPER]

Re: Exterior Renders + Environment Maps

Does anyone have some advice and settings ?

The background Environment Map is still driving me nuts....!!!

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Exterior Renders + Environment Maps

I suggest you take a look over a few of the videos that we have available....
the HDRI video tutorial would be good
http://software.asgvis.com/index.php...283&Itemid=437

and the Basics of V-Ray for Rhino webinar from a while back...
http://software.asgvis.com/index.php...184&Itemid=486

Honestly I think you might be over thinking things a little bit and going through the steps once or twice might be of use.

There's a number of free hdris out there that you can download, so I'd suggest a quick google search for those...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...q=f&oq=&aqi=g2

[SSPEIPER]

Re: Exterior Renders + Environment Maps

With reference to Micha's external Arch Viz tutorial, he says "A better method is to use a low contrast environment map of the sky" instead of HDRI.

I am not particularly after using a real photo of the sky - but rather the simple blue, toning to yellow/orange near the horizon.

Thanks for you reply Dalomar - much appreciated!

I will check out your links...

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Exterior Renders + Environment Maps

Micha's tutorials are his opinion...I've rarely found that a low range JPG creates better results than HDRI. There are potential artifacts that come with HDRIs, but proper workflow (ie blurring the GI map) tends to minimize those. I believe the HDRI video addresses this, but if it doesn't I know the lighting for SU tutorial does.

I am not particularly after using a real photo of the sky - but rather the simple blue, toning to yellow/orange near the horizon.

If that's what you're looking for, than a 5 min Photoshop session would probably do the trick.

[Micha_cg]

Re: Exterior Renders + Environment Maps

Hi,

the tutorial is very old and was good for an early version of VfR (without physical sky). A setup with physical sky should be good for an easy start. The physical sun can cause some sampling problems (it's dicussed at the forum).

For a more realistic sky (with clouds ..) a HDRI can be good. A problem can be, if the sun of the HDRI is captured with the full or an extrem high intensity. Than the GI sampling will show noise. Than it helps to blur the HDRI map for the GI Env channel or to lower the intensity of the sun at the HDRI.

General - a HDRI sun isn't the best way to get sharp shadows at a rendering. HDRI are good for a smooth GI lighting and for sharp lights is it better to use a light. More infos in this direction -> SIBL www.hdrlabs.com