Newbie Q: Black Redner With VRay

[pali_rao]

Hi

Apologies - this is a newbie question. I've done lots of renders using VRay in Modo, and have just started in C4D. I have a test scene that I'm lighting with a HDRI image via a sky object.Using a default renderer, I can see a screen render, but when I et the render engine to VRay, it's just black. Same with I use the VRay VFB.

Please could let me know what I need to do?

Many thanks!

[sirio76]

You can not just use Cinema4d shaders and tools, Vray is a separate engine and you need to use Vray features. In your case use a dome light to load the HDR, and add a Vray hair shader on top of the C4D hair object. Then use only Vray shaders and Camera and don't forget that you can create hair and fur also using Vray fur object. Then lower the resolution of your render, ther's really no point in doing test like that in 8K, a render under 2K will be more than enough for look development. Last but not least, by looking at the VFB is seems that the render isn't even started and is still building the hair (probably you have used too much of them).

[pali_rao]

Thank you very much for the quick reply, and for pointing me in the right direction. It works different in C4D than Modo (where you can use the native Materials with VRay). I'll change to a dome light and look at the hair...

[sirio76]

We have several video on our YouTube channel including one about Vray fur: https://www.youtube.com/c/3DRenderandBeyond/videos

[pali_rao]

It turns out that it was mainly the HDRI - switching to a dome light did the trick. I'll start building the materials now.

Your channel looks great!! Thanks for the link, I'll definitely check those out.

[aleksandar.kasabov]

Hello pali_rao,

I am glad to hear that using a V-Ray dome light helped. To get started you can also check our YouTube channel where you can find some tutorials and how-to videos (more are on the way). Also, please visit our documentation page where you can find information about pretty much all V-Ray parameters and features. Check this thread, where Ivan gives tips on how to easily get to the documentation page directly from Cinema4D's UI.

Should you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to let us know!

[pali_rao]

Nice one, thanks Aleksandar! I'll definitely check out the Chaos YouTube.

[pali_rao]

Im stuck again. I watched both of the vides on fur which are great, but for this, I want to see how I can use the native C4D hair object and grooming etc (a test for future projects).Im assuming then I don't need VRay fur for this?

sirio76 As you suggest, I added a Vray hair shader on top of the C4D hair object, but can't see where I adjust the width of the hairs using this. No settings I adjust seem to effect the size of the hair in the VFB render., including adjusting the count in the hair object.

If anyone could point me in the right direction, that would be very appreciated!
Thank you

[sirio76]

Hi, you have two way for creating hair or fur. If you use the standard C4D hair system you can tune width (or other parameter like kink, frizz, bend etc) from the C4D hair shader, then add the Vray Hair shader on top of it.
In alternative you can add a Vray Fur object, select your geometry, and add length, width, bend etc from the Fur object tab, then you can apply a Vray Hair shader.
If you need to stile hair probably the C4D hair system gives you more flexibility, for other stuff the Vray Fur object is very powerful and probably faster and more memory efficient.

[pali_rao]

FANTASTIC!! Thank you so much for this - yes, I do need to be able to style hair for future projects, and also render in VRay, so this is great!