PSD manager

V-Ray for 3ds Max V-Ray for 3ds Max :: General
1

Does anyone know if render elements will work with PSD magager and Vray 1.5?

I can get it to work with other rendering engines but not Vray.

Am I missing something?

2

The last time I tried it, and what Daniel said, it is working fine, so maybe you can explain in more detail what you are trying to do?

Best regards,
Vlado

3

I currently use the PSD manager with Vray. You do NOT need to use the render elements dialogue when using the PSD manager, it has it’s own interface in the environment effects tab where you select object ID’s, material IDs, and geometry. I have however experienced aliasing issues in the layer isolations using Vray and have found that running the isolations in the scanline renderer clean things right up.

4

This is because V-Ray does not by default aim at producing smooth object edges, if the color difference between the edges is small. If you are using the Adaptive subdivision sampler, you can tick the “Object edges” and “Normals” check-boxes to force V-Ray to antialias object edges regardless of the RGB colors.

Best regards,
Vlado

5

Whoa, that is a huge tip! Thanks Vlado - Now I don’t have to screw around changing renderers out just so I can run my isolation passes. I figured I’d never know what those check boxes were for :sweat_smile:

So that only works for adaptive subdivision though? Hmm, I’m a big QMC fan, but I can render a second pass on adaptive just for the PSD managers sake.

Dave

6

Thank you for your replies.

I’m trying to save layers by Shadow, reflection etc. No PSD file is created when I use these options. When I switch to other rendering engines it works.

The only place I have found to add elements is in the render elements dialog. I don’t see the add in the elements area of PSD manager.

7

arobbert,

if you are using the psd manager, there are help files that explain how to use it properly. Again, if the psd manager is installed correctly, you access it’s interface through the rendering/effects rollout. There, you specify a file to save to and which objects you would like layered up in the psd file.

8

This is the first time I’ve heard of PSD Manager and am very interested. Did a quick forum search and visited the Cebas website but am still a bit hazy as to the workflow in Vray. I do mostly interior renderings and am all the time isolating objects/materials in PS, creating a layer and tweaking color, adding texture, etc. Does PSD Manager make this significantly easier? Any thoughts or would be helpful.

Craig

9

V-Ray will not work with the standard 3dsmax render elements (named only “Shadow”, “Diffuse” etc). You should use the V-Ray specific elements (e.g. “VRayShadow”, “VRayDiffuse” etc).

Best regards,
Vlado

10

I’m familiar with the way PSD manager works I’ve used it for years. There is no option to add elements i.e. Shadow, reflection layers in version 1.1.1. in the effects panel.

I found a work around.

I switch to scan line and add some standard max elements. It writes the file. Then I switch back to Vray and add Vray elements. And it works.

I’m using VIZ 2007. This appears to ba a bug.

11

Just purchased psd-manager version 2 here and I have no problems getting the Vray render elements on the list here. Man .. this tool makes working with render elements and combing in Photoshop much simpler :slight_smile:

Btw. thanks for the tip regarding the antialising issue and the “Object edges” setting you mentioned above Vlado.

12

… could not find those “Object edges” and “Normals” check-boxes (using Vray Adv 1.5 RC3 here). Can someone tell me where these settings are located i Vray?

Thanks

13

Its in the render panel.
Make sure “adaptive subdivision” is selected in the “Vray: Image Sampler (Antialiasing)” rollout and below that there should be another rollout called “Vray: Adaptive subdivision image sampler”

That is where you shall find the settings you are after :smile:

14

Thank you DaForce, I thought it should be there .. but the only checkboxes in that section is “Randomize samples”, “Show Samples”, “Object outline” and “Nrm thres”. I do not see the above mentioned settings. I then thought it might be changed in SP3 .. ?

15

Well Im pretty certain “Object edges” is “object outline” and normals… well thats “nrm thres” is, so tick that and just leave it at default values for now.

16

That sounds right .. I just tried and unfortunately does not solve the problem. Do you mean that it is sometimes also nessary to ajust special values for this (I would think it should just used the settings from the antialising filter set in eg. Area with the value given there).

Thanks for your help

17

Hmmm odd.

Not sure, never had to do it myself. Might have to wait for Vlado to pipe in again.

18

The reason for my “aliased edge” problem turned out to be that I forgot to change the blending mode of the layer set a layer set I made to to linear dodge (I made a layer set with VrayRawLighting and VrayDiffuse). Just me playing around with Photoshop layers not knowing a whole lot about them.

This psd-manager is a great tool I must say.

19

FYI, 2.0 was just released for MAX 9. It has “some” new stuff in it, but it mainly had to be recompiled for MAX 9 compatability. Yes I agree, it’s a great little tool to have for post processing.

20

Thanks for the information… I am still on Max 8 (waiting for Max 9 SP1 before upgrading). This is good to know.