No is not the same usualy with a target direct light and a Vray light the multiplier is only 1,0
With a spotlight we need to rise it until we get any light on the scene.
Gonçalo
Yes but I mean with the same light.
Let’s say you have a scene with one spotlight only.
-local multi is 5 and global multi is 20, so total is 100
-local multi is 20 and global is 5, so total is also 100
Now the result should be the same, no? With same settings for everything else.
flipside
I would like to be sure about this too! 
Gonçalo
Ok i couldn’t resist and played with the file again…
Result: local or global multiplier is the same as I thought it would (500global*1000local=1000global*500local)
Changing search distance darkens my image a lot and gives very weird artifacts:
My Scene Unit Scale is 1 Unit = 1,0 Milimetres
and Display Unit scale are in Meters
I ve try to render this scene with Meters instead of millimiters and it doesnt work, this is what was refering when I mention the units issue.
Gonçalo
flipside try switching the first and second bounce to photon map, switch off auto distance and increase and decrease the size…until you get the right size and fill of the photons
excuse me, can you tell me, are the strange color-gradients in the image from goncaloP (Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 1:47 pm)
are from jpg-compression?
i noticed this problem by many images in the forum.
or is this a general problem from the free-version?
or are the color-gradients an appearance from wrong settings?
i´m shifting between purchasing finalrender or vray, but there are many questions to answer.
thank you,
It’ because your screen is not set to true color (32bit).
Go for vray of course 
Just read both forums and you’re decision should not be so difficult. Download vray demo and test it, you’ll be surprised!
thank you, you´re right… :shock: (dell tft ultra sharp 21")
i think my decision will go in the direction of vray, because i think the support here in the forum is great (!) and the reaction from the programmers is very fast, when they hear about any troubles with their product.
maybe i´ll wait till the release of vray1.1…hm.
i downloaded the demo a few weeks ago, but there wasn´t enough time to test it.
so long,
why wait? the upgrades are free. so is the upgrade to 1.1. after that though the rest are not free
i know the upgrade to 1.1 is free. but i will wait, i think its better so.
Goncalo, did i missed something?
my scene ought to be identical to yours, but it is still dark 
Thats because I use to Enable Gamma Correction at 1.8, include for Input and Output bitmap files, but you can increase the dark color mapping value instead.
Gonçalo
Also dont forget to check convert to irradiance map
Gonçalo
cheating with gamma correction 
btw settings is greyed out, how can i enable that gamma correction?
oh, i tried to recreate this scene on other workstation with max5.1 the porblem is search dist. and max density must be 10 times smaller (units- milimeters) and also difuse multiplier 1000 instead of 100k
You can check in your max preferences for Gamma settings to change it.
The photon parameters are based in the scene units, and usualy with meters its almost impossible to have a good detailed GI with photon mapping because of the max density.
Gonçalo
wich units do u use for interiors?
Hi to all
welcome back!
to Goncalo :
"The photon parameters are based in the scene units, and usualy with meters its almost impossible to have a good detailed GI with photon mapping because of the max density.
Gonçalo"
wich units do u use for interiors?
enabling convert to irradiance map kills max when about ~1.5Gb ram usage reached (total system memory 1Gb)
Hi Pengo,
This is how I setup my units:
Scene Units Scale - 1 Unit = 1.0 centimeters or milimiters
Display Unit Scale - Metric - meters
For the models I use real world metric units
Gonçalo
HI Goncalo
HI Goncalo
you are punctual like a swiss watch!!
thank u for the answer to the previous question!!!
To have better shadows details on little objects like a vase or a glass on a table inside a big room what can I use? is it better gi or photon mapping?
bye and thanks again