Multiple Sun/Sky Setups

[glorybound]

I have a larger project and I'll need to position the sun uniquely on each camera view. I use an HDRI and I manually align the VRay Sun. Instead of moving both each time and remembering how it was set up for previous renders, should I create multiple setups? Do you turn off the ones not being used and enable the one that is? What's the best way to handle this?

[Morne]

Yes I copy the sun and hdri setup and turn them on and off as needed. I also like to name the view in them otherwise down the line when you need to revisit you might forget which was which.

You could also try state sets/scene state

[glorybound]

I did find this, which seems to work. It might be easier to just write down a few data points and rotate it for each camera view. I am thinking that they'll want a lot of views and it'll get very complicated with a lot of lights.

http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/vr-sun-tool

[hoppergrass]

Use the "Manage Scene States" tool , (not scene states) and save the light property and light transforms for each of the sun and light domes positions/rotations.

Then just restore the relevant state as needed. Works well with batch render.

Remember to resave any changes you make to the lights

If you are using different hdri's then do as Morne suggests

[glorybound]

Use the "Manage Scene States" tool , (not scene states) and save the light property and light transforms for each of the sun and light domes positions/rotations. Then just restore the relevant state as needed. Works well with batch render. Remember to resave any changes you make to the lights If you are using different hdri's then do as Morne suggests

nope, just one HDRI.

[mattclayton]

We tend to have a master model file and then 'scene' files for each shot with the master model xref'd in. That way you can have multiple light setups and more importantly for us a number of artists working across a number of shots. Less confusing in the long run.

[Vizioen]

I tend to animate the my changes with the timeline. So I can change my settings too. Then when I want to render something I just choose the correct frame with the corresponding camera.

[m_hinks]

Yep, "output" files with just cam and lighting, then load in Xref's needed to make the scene. Means unique render settings and res for each file/image.

[dlparisi]

If you've got the budget for it, I'd use RPManager to handle this. I can set up multiple shots in one scene and use the Object properties on the different suns to turn them on or off. Allows for multiple aspect ratios, GI settings, etc on a per shot basis as well. Then when I need to render I can select all of the shots (or some) and render them all at once. I really couldn't work without it for some jobs.

[glorybound]

I'll look into that, thanks!

If you've got the budget for it, I'd use RPManager to handle this. I can set up multiple shots in one scene and use the Object properties on the different suns to turn them on or off. Allows for multiple aspect ratios, GI settings, etc on a per shot basis as well. Then when I need to render I can select all of the shots (or some) and render them all at once. I really couldn't work without it for some jobs.

[piotrus3333]

batch camera render script by sergo pogosyan + scene states (lighting and layers if needed) + render presets if necessary.

[theedge]

I tried various scripts to manage this in the past, batch camera render was the best. But I recently started using RPManager and it's way more powerful although a bit overkill just to switch between various lights. Brilliant tool !

[glorybound]

Basically, on this project, I just created 4 light setups and I wrote down my hdri rotation for each sun. Simple, but it worked. I'll look into the other options mentioned.

[3LP]

Yep second RPManager.
Will change your life once you know how to use it

Stan

[Lupaz]

We tend to have a master model file and then 'scene' files for each shot with the master model xref'd in.

You can also do the opposite. Have an x amount of xref files with HDRI and Vray sun, and even camera. In your scene, you just need to turn the appropriate xref ON for the scenario you want, and OFF the others, leaving always just one of them.