Less shadow

[ruby_vandeursen]

Hi there,

Would it be possible to decrease the intensity of the shadows generated bij Vray sun and sky? In some cases they appear to dark and I want to create something less contrasting for artistic reasons. Yes, I can lower dark colours in Photoshop but I was wondering if there is a way in Vray itself. Any ideas?

[viktor_angelov]

Hi ruby_vandeursen Please, be aware that the intensity of the Shadows has been calculated to be physically correct when used in the correct environment ( scale, light intensity, etc ) However, you are able to adjust the Shadows by going to the V-Ray Sun > Shadows > Shadows Color

Feel free to refer to the image attached. You can see the two renders separated. One of them is with Shadow Color V at 0%, the other one is at 65%. You can adjust it to your liking.

[ruby_vandeursen]

Hi Viktor,

Thanks for reaching out! I've tried setting up the same setting as yours in my project. The difference in shadows is marginal with V set at 100%. As you can see the shadow side of the building looks really dark and I don't see any difference in the masonry. This could be because there is no specular set in the material. When I use HDRI as light source it's more the result I'm looking for. So, can I create something similar with Vray sun and sky?

[viktor_angelov]

Yes, you can create the same thing with VRay Sun. Could you share your simple scene so I can take a look at your set-up.

[suzanne_doherty]

Rather than hacking around, you should increase / add other lights to decrease the contrast. In this case vray dome light might work to add illumination. You'll just need to balance your sun light by decreasing the intensity to compensate for the dome light.

Basically you're decreasing the effect of your main light (the sun), and replacing it with secondary lighting.

[ruby_vandeursen]

Viktor, I've sent you a private message with the example file. Please let me know if the import works well.

Thank you Suzanne, I'll look into that!

[wolfgang_himmelfarb]

the enable check bock for "shadows" works for me but not the shadow color rgb slider doesn't. It doesn't do anything. 2024, most recent vray6.

[ruby_vandeursen]

Same here Wolfgang, the effect on sliding the shadow color rgb is near to nothing. Although not physically correct the tip from Suzanne works for me, thanks for that!

Viktor, I've sent you the file via PM, did you get it? Curious how to solve it via Vraysun and Sky.

[viktor_angelov]

Hi, ruby_vandeursen We are not to respond to any messages. Please, either share it here or via our system: Submit a request

[suzanne_doherty]

Same here Wolfgang, the effect on sliding the shadow color rgb is near to nothing. Although not physically correct the tip from Suzanne works for me, thanks for that!

Viktor, I've sent you the file via PM, did you get it? Curious how to solve it via Vraysun and Sky.

Glad it worked. Although you say my technique is not "physically correct", it actually is. In reality you get less contrasty shadows on overcast / cloudy days, so the sun light is less intense, and the environment is subsequently brighter in comparison. Lighting is all about balance to achieve the result you need.

[Buck]

When I use HDRI as light source it's more the result I'm looking for. So, can I create something similar with Vray sun and sky?

what HDRI are you using? Chances are, it has some clouds or something else providing more bounced light to fill in the shadows. You can always add some bounced light with a large area light to tune the shadow darkness

[wolfgang_himmelfarb]

technique is not "physically correct"

I think this is mixing up how the engine works with an intended result.

Physical accuracy in a render engine isn't about what we physically experience in the real world, its how the render engine simulates and adheres to the physical properties(the physics) of the light simulation. The dynamic range of your eyes and the infinite light rays bouncing around your physical experience create an image in yoru mind that has infinite resolution. This is not comparable that to what you computer processor can handle. Not even close. The render engine will do its best to approximate how light travels using using real world values and physics principles of the real world within the constraints of the silica. It's then up to the user to decide when and how to follow the internal physics of the light simulation. This is what you might consider more or less physically accurate. For example you can up the amount of ray bounces which will give you a theoretically more accurate result and may lighten your shadows. Conversely lightening the color of the shadows(shadow pass) directly and uniformly will give you less accurate, more stylized results.

You might be looking for a different sky model in the sun and sky, sun size, sun intensity or hdri.

[suzanne_doherty]

I think this is mixing up how the engine works with an intended result.

Physical accuracy in a render engine isn't about what we physically experience in the real world, its how the render engine simulates and adheres to the physical properties(the physics) of the light simulation. The dynamic range of your eyes and the infinite light rays bouncing around your physical experience create an image in yoru mind that has infinite resolution. This is not comparable that to what you computer processor can handle. Not even close. The render engine will do its best to approximate how light travels using using real world values and physics principles of the real world within the constraints of the silica. It's then up to the user to decide when and how to follow the internal physics of the light simulation. This is what you might consider more or less physically accurate. For example you can up the amount of ray bounces which will give you a theoretically more accurate result and may lighten your shadows. Conversely lightening the color of the shadows(shadow pass) directly and uniformly will give you less accurate, more stylized results.

You might be looking for a different sky model in the sun and sky, sun size, sun intensity or hdri.

Yea I think you missed my point.

In reality, to achieve lighter shadows, you'd add more light to the secondary light, and less on your main light. And that's the approach I'd take in 3D.

In reality, I certainly wouldn't try some voodoo magic to lighten the shadows, which is what you're doing when you start messing with the shadow properties. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't do this, but for me I'd stick to what's done in reality, rather than hack around the issue.

[ruby_vandeursen]

I think we have a nice discussion here and it seems that you all experience the same. I'll try all suggestions first. I am still curious to see if Viktor comes up with something using the Vray sun as mentioned before in his post. I uploaded the file via submit request, did you get it?

[viktor_angelov]

Hi ruby_vandeursen I cannot find it. Please, give me the ticket number.