secondary multiplier at 1 or lower? what's your setting?

[Gijs]

I am still a bit confused about this setting. When using lightcache, using 1 for first and secondary multiplier, the image always tends to have a washed out and/or flat look. And altough Vlado has said 1/1 is physically accurate, I still think that lowering the sec. multiplier can correct for the fact that surfaces are never completely flat and smooth and most materials absorb some light. After doing some experiments, I found a setting of 0.7 to 0.8 to work quite well. I'd like to know others opinion on this...please post your settings here.

[DanielBrew]

Hi Gijs

I usually leave both primary and secondary bounce multipliers at the default value 1 while I'm building a scene and doing test renders. Then tweak them at end of a project if I want more contrast in the final image. I don't often have to use settings of over 1.1 for primary or below 0.9 for secondary though.

I suppose it depends on the kind of work you do, I tend to do commercial interiors (large spaces) and some product viz. For interiors I find the default about right but I agree with you for simple objects lit with the skylight (like your avatar), you need to reduce the secondary multiplier further to get some depth into the shadows.

Dan

[flipside]

I also use 0.8 to 0.9, especially with lightcache. For interiors with a bit darker materials I also use 1.0. I never go higher than 1, instead I increase light strength.

[TRGraphics]

Same here as Flipside.

[Gijs]

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated

[Clifton Santiago]

I used to drop the secondary multiplier to .75 to .85 because I understood that this more accurately represented the decay of light bounces. But after reading that 1.0 for secondary is most physically accurate I changed to that. But then I rarely use light cache.

I now prefer to use color map dark/bright multipliers to control contrast.

[Guca]

I used to down the secondary to .75 .80 for interiors. in exterior .95 .90