VrayLightSelect not working for Dome Light

[Streetwise]

I've been having issues lately with getting VRayLightSelect to work with an HDRI Dome Light. It seems to work just fine for VRaySun (also in the scene), but renders as BLACK when I try to use it with a Dome Light. I know that the dome light is working as I can see it's effect as I rotate the HDRI, or if I turn it off completely. Its just that VRayLightSelect doesn't like it for some reason. I even deleted the dome and reconstructed it. Still nothing.

[Joelaff]

Odd. Just tried it here and it worked.

Did it work with a default dome light with no changes (no HDRI)?

[Streetwise]

It does not work with a default dome light either, no HDRI texture. Even with the output cranked up. I can sure see the difference in the scene, so I know the dome light is working, its just that dang vraylightselect element. Looks like I left the lens cap on...

[Joelaff]

Hmmm. What version of VRay? I was using 3.10.03 release under Max 2014 64bit win 8.1

Maybe try a fresh scene? Disable any custom ini files, etc.

I had only two lights. One vRay plane light and one dome. I added two light selects (one for the plane first FWIW).

[Streetwise]

I'm still on 2.40.04 under Max 2014 64bit win 7.

I tried a fresh scene, teapot, a plane light and a dome. Two new light selects and now *neither* of them work!? I don't know if 3 is backwards compatible with 2.4, but it would be interesting to see if my file works for you if you get a chance.

Thanks.


Teapot.zip

[theedge]

Hi David,

I took a look at your scene. Two things concur to prevent lightselect from working :
1- You have no material applied to the teapot
2- Your lights have "store with irradiance map" active.

To get your lightselect passes simply assign a vray material and make sure store with irradiance map is unchecked.

[Streetwise]

Brilliant. Thank you so much.

On the "store with irradiance map" thing, I didn't realize that had an impact on LightSelect. Good to know. In general, is it safe to leave that off with IR/LC?

[theedge]

It should be safe as long as you don't have too many lights in your scene.
It's much faster to render lights stored in the irradiance map but as you experienced by yourself this option has some drawbacks.

[Streetwise]

Good to know. Generally, I'm just a single HDRI Dome light kind of guy for my interiors. Occasionally, I may add a panel light, or a vraysun, but that's about it. Pretty boring.