Wheel Reflective Caustics - Is This Possible?

[peepo]

Hi

Im trying to get some reflective caustics from metal wheels like the ones in this image:

https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets...jpg?1520200627
https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/pr...237d4cfc5c.jpg

I've attached the closest that I can get, but it's so blotchy and looks noisy.

As we can't see any caustics in the preview render I have to do a full render each time, making the whole process insanely slow to fine tune.

So far, Im using:

+ An area light to illuminate the side of the car in my scene, with 8000 caustics subdivs
+ Search distance of 10mm, max photons=0 and, multiplier = 3

I'd like to smooth out these to get something like the above examples if possible.

The model has real world dimensions.

Calling all caustics experts

Many thanks!

[vladimir.nedev]

Like in my example from the other thread, you will probably get the best results with a "fake" light just for the caustics.
This will allow you to concentrate the photons where you want them to create the caustic.

Greetings,
Vladimir Nedev

[peepo]

Hi Vladimir

Thanks for the reply - This is what I have in this set up - I just kept the car model, and shone a spotlight at it, and turned off 'affect diffuse' and 'affect specular'.

I used your settings from the example scene as a starting point, and set up 12 render tests on the cloud, experimenting with different search distances, and photons, and this is the closest I could get after half a day.

Is it possible to get anything close to the renders in the links above (presumably from Corona Renderer)?

If so - what do I need to tweak to get there? How do I remove the blotchy spots that appear everywhere?

[vladimir.nedev]

You said you were using an area light with 8000 caustics subdivs ?
Those should be on the spot light.

I don't know if the example renders can be achieved.

Corona has demo builds for 3ds Max and Cinema4D, which also have trials. Maybe you can try there.

Greetings,
Vladimir Nedev

[Neilg]

Does modo have the direct visualisation checkbox for caustics? Brute force and layering in post is the only way we've made them work in production.

[peepo]

@Valdimir - yes, I had subdivs on the on the spot. Thanks - I may give a Cinema4D try with Corona demo for the next project. In the end, I found a caustics image and applied in post following the main lines the VRay caustics had set out.

Neilg - as far as I know you have to do a F9 render to see caustics on action too. I have done a brute force+caustics layer too previously.

I'd love to be able to get Corona quality results in my favourite VRay - hopefully possible in the future?