Hi,
This isn’t the first time I see something in the render console, so I wonder is this someting serious?
like: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color (rgb -8903270666904535000.000000 -8903270666904535000.000000 -8903270666904535000.000000)
Thx,
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
It would appear one of your textures might be corrupted? Or V-Ray is just having a hard time with it. Maybe you could send me the scene that shows this behavior? Thanks
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
I had this problem too. For me it was problem with bump map image, I inverted values of image and problem occured. After uncheking invert problem gone, maybe it is somtehing with values of grayscale images.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Ok - well maybe you could send me the vismat along with the texture? Thanks
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
well suddenly I am getting this also.I don’t know if it is a coincidence,but it does do it in 2 drawings I am working on,that were built with sketch-up by one of my customer,and translated to Rhino.Never seen this in original Rhino drawings.
As soon as I assign a bump map(does not need to be negative)it shows up.Does not seems to affect the final output,but the light cache calculation looks a little bit slower.I tried to assign my own map but even those cause the same problem.
Those 2 drawings are interiors,with lots of windows,I use the physical camera,and if I am not mistaken (I will do more test)seems to be related to where the sun is coming from.
Renee
july10th: I track it down a bit more it has to do with light portal,moving them a little bit solved the problem in 1 drawing,in the other no difference. 
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Could you pass along the scene to us? We can try to figure it out or let Vlado take a look at it. Thanks
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Joe,
I am emailing you a zip file as I write this.
Thanks
Renee
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Back from vacation,so any news on this problem ?
Renee
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
After one year, any news on this?
I’ve got the same problem and seems that rendering time increase a lot when this happens, any solution?
Thx
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
I’m not sure if there’s any specific news on this, but from what I remember of it, the issue was related to how the images were written and was also only an issue with png files. There are typically some different “flavors” for how image formats can be written, and V-Ray for some reason is very sensitive to these differences. My suggestion as to how to get around this would be to save the maps as a jpeg from photoshop or something, and remap the images. This should take care of it. You might what to isolate which material is actually causing the issue first before you resave and remap everything.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
90% of my textures are PNG. :-\
I have seen the process message too, but thought, it’s no problem, because no crash, but much longer render times are a problem. What says Vlado to this problem?
I could imagine two solutions - the vray engine can handle all types of PNG or a tool allow to convert all PNG from type A to type B. A JPG solution I would like to avoid.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Thanks Damien, in fact they are PNG, regarding longer render times i’m not really sure, at the moment it’s only a supposition…
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
i see that message too but all of my textures are jpegs.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Or is “null” the name of a wrong set texture - I mean, maybe Rhino use the name “null” for missing textures.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
any information that isn’t valid will tend to be given a value of null. It could be anything from an issue with reading an individual pixel, to the “style” the map was written in, or even that the image(or part of it) is just corrupt. I believe the file (texture) reading is provided to us by the Chaos Group, so its something that requires Vlado’s attention.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
I am having the same problem of bitmap “(null)” coming up and it’s increasing my render time by hours, especially in the light cache phase. I did some tests and I think I narrowed down the problem to bump maps with bitmap and inadequate lighting in the scene.
The model I am having the problem is a fairly detailed house with the sun and skylight as light source only. So first I tested all the materials with bitmaps on a simple model of a cube and sphere with good lighting. No problems there, regardless of jpeg, png, etc format. Then I went back to my house model and decided to render each layer alone with the materials that have bitmaps on diffuse color, bump, displacement or a combo of these. The house components are grouped into layers, with sublayers for each material (example - Layer: wall , Sublayer: white painted wall, red painted wall, concrete wall, etc).
I was able to narrow the problem to a group of railings. Thinking the problem might be with its geometry, I rendered the railing alone with each of the materials that have bitmaps. Still the same problem. I also tried to change its projection type and got inconsistent results (all but box and surface seemed to work, other times box worked as well). Then I rendered the railing again but this time without bump mapping. The problem was gone. (Note that bitmaps on the diffuse color and displacement alone did not have the problem as well.) I tested the whole model without bump bitmaps and no problems there. I
also tested the whole model again with the materials with bump bitmaps assigned to the railing and the problem did come up.
So the problem cannot be the bump bitmap alone because some building components I rendered alone that have bump bitmaps were fine, for example a wall with bump bitmap that received direct sunlight. I also realized some of the railings were in areas that did not receive enough lighting - the basement, interior rooms. I guess this makes sense with the message bitmap null returned an invalid color. Some sublayers in my model have objects both in well lit and bad lit areas which have materials with bump bitmaps assigned. Multiple materials with bump bitmaps assigned to objects in bad lit areas must have returned an invalid color in the light cache phase or entire rendering process. Well I hope that sheds some light into the problem and we can have a solution to this soon.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Is this something that needs a solution? Is Vray just reporting an invalid colour due to the lighting? Are peoples renderings still coming out visually correct? I have this message all the time but there doesn’t seem to be any side effects to the final render.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
Usually the invalid color comes out negative, so V-Ray will most likely just use zero instead for that color component. Interestingly enough, I saw this with a model the other day, then moved the camera and never saw the issue again. I’m not sure if V-Ray will report this every time it comes up or only once.
Re: Bitmap “(null)” returned an invalid color
That seems odd, because pretty much in all my renders there is a null colour but the render seems to turn out fine. Does anyone have a visual example of the null colour?
