Shadow catcher tutorial

[it_refplus]

Is there a complete tutorial on how to setup a shadow catcher? Maybe a video tutorial? I've followed the instructions in the Chaos support but it is incomplete. It explains how to set it up, but it doesn't explain how to generate an image file with the shadows. (https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/a...-for-Cinema-4D)

[shaio]

Hello it_refplus,
I've uploaded a quick video showcasing how to use the Shadow Catcher in V-Ray for Cinema 4D as well as the Finite Dome light (ground projection) with HDRI images. Also the Background object could be used as a backplate with any kind of texture fitting the style you're looking after. Let me know if this works for you.

[viktor_angelov]

Hello it_refplus

Could you please let us know why would the video tutorial seem incomplete to you? We would love to improve it!

Meanwhile, please, find a video showing the Shadow Catcher workflow: http://ftp.chaosgroup.com/support/sc...0_16-10-21.gif

[it_refplus]

The link that I pasted above is not a video tutorial, it's a page from Chaos support. I was looking for a video tutorial. The video showing the Shadow Catcher workflow (http://ftp.chaosgroup.com/support/sc...0_16-10-21.gif) is good, but again, it only shows how to setup the shadow catcher. It doesn't show how to generate the file!

[viktor_angelov]

One thing you could do is set your File path through the Render Settings before rendering the image.

Another way is saving the image afterwards from the VFB.

If you would like to export only the Shadows, you could achieve that by adding Render Elements. More about the Render Elements you could find here: https://docs.chaos.com/display/VC4D/Render+Elements

Please, find the image useful: http://ftp.chaosgroup.com/support/sc...0_16-35-34.jpg

[it_refplus]

Curiously, it only works when the camera is on top, looking down on the object on the floor. When the camera is looking up at the object underneath the ceiling, it doesn't work! Very strange. I think I've seen this problem before but forget how to solve it. Any idea?

[shaio]

Hi it_refplus,
the tutorial given in the above page is a bit outdated and needs updating. The image for the background should be added to the Env.Matte Texture slot and not to the Override Background slot. If you're using V-Ray 5 it should be still valid for your setup excluding the wrong texture slot for the texture, however in case you're using V-Ray 6 you don't need to use the Environment rollout in render settings in order to make a shadow catcher. You only need a Dome Light and an HDRI image attached to it's texture slot. After that use the Cinema 4D background object to create a backplate if you need one. Let me know if you're using V-Ray 6 and I can record a video for you showcasing how to use the shadow catcher.

[it_refplus]

I'm using V-Ray 6. A video tutorial would be great! Thanks so much.

[shaio]

I'm using V-Ray 6. A video tutorial would be great! Thanks so much.

Great, It won't be a tutorial or something official but just a quick video to show the usage. We will plan a separate tutorial on a good looking scene for our documentation page.
I'll post a simple video as soon as possible.

[shaio]

Hello it_refplus,
I've uploaded a quick video showcasing how to use the Shadow Catcher in V-Ray for Cinema 4D as well as the Finite Dome light (ground projection) with HDRI images. Also the Background object could be used as a backplate with any kind of texture fitting the style you're looking after. Let me know if this works for you.

[it_refplus]

This is perfect! Very useful tutorial. The only thing that's missing is how to export everything. Do you just simply render and it will generate a file for the car and the shadow separately? I imagine you can use Render Elements for that. It would be nice to end this tutorial with rendering instructions. Thanks again.