Preview VRayHDRI maps in self illumination channel in viewport

[Joelaff]

In VFX we do a lot with self illumination for mapping live action plates onto geometry. It would be really nice if putting a VRayHDRI, or bitmap for that matter, into the self illumination channel, but not the diffuse channel, could be previewed in the viewport with show maps in viewport, without having to resort to show realistic in viewport (which makes tweaking very slow).

Not sure if VRayMtl could combine the itself and feed that to Max in the diffuse channel for preview (but not render).

Thanks.

[tashko.zashev]

HI,

It should also work in viewport Shaded mode.
Here is the setup I'm using :

[Joelaff]

Hmmm. I see that is 2015. I don't have 2015 installed on this new workstation yet, as we are still using 2014 in production until the end of a big project. In my 2014 it does not display, and neither does the regular Bitmap mode.

[tashko.zashev]

Which V-Ray version you are using?

Here is another example that I made with Max 2014:

[Vizioen]

I don't see what the problem is this works without any issues?



If the above doesn't work another cool trick is to use the shell material from max and put the final material in the 'original' slot and the parameter to render. Next paste the illumination bitmap as an instance in the diffuse of a blank vraymtl with show viewport enabled and use that vraymtl as the baked material with viewport enabled in the shell.

[Joelaff]

Ah, the trick is to show the VRayHDRI node in the viewport, not the VRayMtl node. I had the VRayMtl node set to show in viewport, which only shows it if it is in the diffuse channel.

Makes sense.

I like your shell trick, Vizioen. I often turn off modifiers in viewport. So makes perfect sense.