(VFB2) VRayBackToBeauty render element details

[matanov]

Hey guys,

We've mentioned a couple of times that we are planning to add a BackToBeauty render element that will add automatically all necessary elements to assemble back your image in a dedicated folder in Composite.

We are now wondering what should we do when the Composite is "dirty" from previous use as well as if you have both LightMix and B2B.

Here is my proposition for now, please share your thoughts:

In case of having both LightMix and B2B in the render setup RE list:

• Add both in their appropriate places (LM in LM source option and BackToBeauty to Composite as a folder) and switch to LightMix as Source
• If you transfer LM to Composite - disable (eye icon) the BackToBeauty folder and add the LightMix folder

In case of manual deletion (full or partial) of the BackToBeauty folder or having something else in the Composite tree AND then hitting Render:

• If there is already a legit B2B folder (complete RE list) - don't create a new one
• If it was deleted fully or partially or you have some other manually added REs - pack and disable everything "old" (eye icon) and add the BackToBeauty folder

Also we can add a preset that can manually add that folder if you don't want it created automatically.

[JonasNöll]

Hi,

sorry, maybe it's just me, but I find it a little bit difficult to understand what exactly you are asking for?
Why would the B2B be a render element and not just a simple button in VFB that I can press and then it will create the composite automatically (giving a warning message that it will overwrite whatever would be present in the current composite)?

[JonasNöll]

Alright, I think I understood, pls correct me if I'm wrong. So instead of adding for example VRayLighting, VRayGI, VRaySpecular and so on manually in the renderelements, I would ONLY need to add the BackToBeauty renderelelment and it will smartly determine which renderelements would be necessary in order to recreate the image in post? (f.e. some scenes would require SelfIllum and SSS and some not?)

[matanov]

Alright, I think I understood, pls correct me if I'm wrong. So instead of adding for example VRayLighting, VRayGI, VRaySpecular and so on manually in the renderelements, I would ONLY need to add the BackToBeauty renderelelment and it will smartly determine which renderelements would be necessary in order to recreate the image in post? (f.e. some scenes would require SelfIllum and SSS and some not?)

It will add all needed elements for B2B without scanning the scene, so f.e. you will always have SSS RE even if you don't have SSS materials.

[olly]

matanov

I am just getting up to speed on how to incorporate lightmix and b2b into our workflows.
Currently it looks like you need to create a lighting setup, using lightmix, and then when you are happy, you re-render so you can adjust the GI and reflection render elements etc in the composite.

Ideally, I would love to be able to render an image once and then create a couple of light setups using lightmix.
Then work on each light setup as a composite B2B layer set, to adjust individual render elements (GI, reflection etc) that correspond to each setup, not lightmix's lightselects.
Do you think that would be possible?

I have also found working with Lens Effects can be a bit buggy with B2B workflow - but it could be user error.
It seems that you need to set Lens Effects to save as an element and then manually add this in the composite - is that correct/by design?
I would prefer to be able to keep the dynamic lens effects layer above the composite - it feels more natural to me. Please let me know if am missing something obvious!

Lastly, I tend to overlay a denoised render (50% opacity) with the original. For me denoised renders are too clean to be used on their own and also have what look like compression artefacts.
Is it possible for the denoised layer's opacity to be respected in the B2B composited render elements?

Many thanks,
Olly

[wxyz]

Hey guys,

We've mentioned a couple of times that we are planning to add a BackToBeauty render element that will add automatically all necessary elements to assemble back your image in a dedicated folder in Composite.

We are now wondering what should we do when the Composite is "dirty" from previous use as well as if you have both LightMix and B2B.

Here is my proposition for now, please share your thoughts:

In case of having both LightMix and B2B in the render setup RE list:

• Add both in their appropriate places (LM in LM source option and BackToBeauty to Composite as a folder) and switch to LightMix as Source
• If you transfer LM to Composite - disable (eye icon) the BackToBeauty folder and add the LightMix folder

In case of manual deletion (full or partial) of the BackToBeauty folder or having something else in the Composite tree AND then hitting Render:

• If there is already a legit B2B folder (complete RE list) - don't create a new one
• If it was deleted fully or partially or you have some other manually added REs - pack and disable everything "old" (eye icon) and add the BackToBeauty folder

Also we can add a preset that can manually add that folder if you don't want it created automatically.

Is this available in the nightlies?

[matanov]

matanov

I am just getting up to speed on how to incorporate lightmix and b2b into our workflows.
Currently it looks like you need to create a lighting setup, using lightmix, and then when you are happy, you re-render so you can adjust the GI and reflection render elements etc in the composite.

Ideally, I would love to be able to render an image once and then create a couple of light setups using lightmix.
Then work on each light setup as a composite B2B layer set, to adjust individual render elements (GI, reflection etc) that correspond to each setup, not lightmix's lightselects.
Do you think that would be possible?

I have also found working with Lens Effects can be a bit buggy with B2B workflow - but it could be user error.
It seems that you need to set Lens Effects to save as an element and then manually add this in the composite - is that correct/by design?
I would prefer to be able to keep the dynamic lens effects layer above the composite - it feels more natural to me. Please let me know if am missing something obvious!

Lastly, I tend to overlay a denoised render (50% opacity) with the original. For me denoised renders are too clean to be used on their own and also have what look like compression artefacts.
Is it possible for the denoised layer's opacity to be respected in the B2B composited render elements?

Many thanks,
Olly

Hey Olly,

For the LM individual variants + further sub-element modifications - I'm afraid that's not technically possible. Light Select elements don't have separate beauty components.

About the LE and the denoiser opacity being applied on the Composite stack - both should work, if you have examples of the opposite - please send me the scene with additional info.

[matanov]

Is this available in the nightlies?

It's in the official V5 builds since launch.

[olly]

For the LM individual variants + further sub-element modifications - I'm afraid that's not technically possible. Light Select elements don't have separate beauty components.

Thank you for confirming - I figured that was probably the case.

About the LE and the denoiser opacity being applied on the Composite stack - both should work, if you have examples of the opposite - please send me the scene with additional info.

I think it was just my pc as I cannot seem to reproduce the problem now. I will get in touch if I am able to reproduce it again.