I have only used Vray in Rhino for a little while and am still trying to get the hang of some of the features. I constantly find my renders look OK, but they lack depth and that next level of realism that I have seen in some of the fantastic renderings throughout this site. This is a bathroom I am currently working on and though I am happy with the result, it has the same problem as all of my other renders: it just looks really flat.
I almost always use DMC as primary and Light Cache for my secondary bounces. In this scene there are a couple spotlights over the sink area, a couple over the tub and shower, a sunlight casting in from the window, and a rectangular light at the window to brighten up the whole image. I also have emitters in each of the 3 glass fixtures by the sink.
Well for starters, I see no natural daylight. Are you using the Vray sun and sky? If so then it sure doesnt look like it. I think thats the reason you say it looks flat. In a REAL bathroom that has a window you will a blueish glow around the window and it will be darker in the areas farther away from the window. Natural daylight almost always overpowers the other lights in the scene.
I think your lighting intensity is ok but Its the different tones that really make a difference. The sky will produce a slightly blue light and the indoors will produce a pale tan light.
Thanks for the input. I actually had an hdr environment set up and a sunlight outside, but there is also a semi-tranparent shade over the window that is stopping a good amount of light from coming in. Perhaps I will simplify the exterior and use the physical sky, then take the shade away so more light gets into the room.
Thanks again, I will see if this approach helps a bit.
