[caryjames]

This is starting to make sense now- I will do some reading on mapping to environment channels and see if I can pull this off. Thanks again
Cary

[hyltom]

As Lebbeus say, HDR or LDR should render faster...i use "should" because i'm making some more test since yesterday and i have found something interesting . I don't want to bring any confusion here, but it seems that using mxi objects to light scene is a very good alternative. Does someone already try this technique? One of the best advantage is that you can use multilight to setup your lighting.

Here is an example of a studio lighted by mxi object:

[ivox3]

Absolutely .... I thought everyone was doing this ?

It just takes a little extra to create the emitter materials ...

By the way, ... that's a very interesting scene setup above ...

[hyltom]

Oh...so i'm dumb

Just to clarify, i'm not talking about emitter object but emitter image like the picture above. I always find that using a simple emitter plane to light the scene was not very natural as a light is more complex than just a white surface. So for me using pictures (HDR, LDR or image emitter object) bring some "life" in the rendering.


On this picture, the umbrella looks flat, but normally, it's done to be seen in the object reflection.

[ivox3]

Alright, .....that didn't come off right ... I take it back ....

I just didn't think it was that rare of an idea. I remember beginning with Maxwell(beta) and just expermenting with mxi's in general and then evolving from using an mxi as a simple emitter towards allowing them to usage in more specific tasks, ..like you've shown. (although, .. admittedly, ..I never did your particular setup,... which is very much the opposite of dumb ...

________


So, .....I agree, .. the usefulness is well, ... quite useful. lol... With the ability to map any particular image to any particular surface/solid, ----- near limitless, ..I think.

[hyltom]

You are right Chris, we already seen many time some picture emitting light, like for the display, LED... I don't mean to do something new. But i have never seen someone using it to fake a studio setup. Maybe it's a wrong idea... i'm still testing.
By the way, here is one of my test.


Emitting objects: 8mm, SL 9.52, BM 56.46


Image based environment (LDR): 8mm, SL 11.19, BM 112.92

So i have a question regarding this result. Why both image have the same amount of noise? I will even say that the LDR one looks more noisy.
Is there a different approach of SL and BM if we don't used the same lighting technique?

[ivox3]

No, .. I don't think its wrong , ...but quite promising really. The reflections are great in the tests, .....as for the noise ---- Perhaps it has something to do with the mxi intensity or simply because of the 'closed' set/studio environment --- more bounces... ??? ....dunno, ... definitely a Tom question.

I'm performing a similar test --- and I have similar noise. I'm also trying to figure it out ....

[hyltom]

[caryjames]

This is more of what I expected with the exception of using pictures as emitters. I will read more on this and try some renders. Thanks to all who have kept this thread going!!!!!
Cary

[Maximus3D]

I agree, this result looks great clever setup you got there hyltom.

/ Max

[lebbeus]

the standard test-object scene is set-up similarly, that one you can download and dissect…

btw, thanks for the tutorial hyltom--always wondered how you created those LDRs

[frosty_ramen]

[quote="hyltom"]

Here is an example of a studio lighted by mxi object:
[img]http://apollo.divshare.com/s05/files/20 ... dioMXi.jpg[/img][/quote]

Hyltom
is there anyway to get some advice on how to create a studio like you have here, or possibly download.

thanks

dan

[hyltom]

I believed my screen shot was explicit unfortunately it seems not.
I don't think it's a good idea to share the whole studio as the best way to learn something is to practice and test a lot. The only advice i can give you is to find a good picture of an umbrella or softbox then save it as an mxi file and finally apply it to a surface object. That's what was done for this studio setup...basic but very efficient. Now i render all my products with this studio and the multilight feature give me the advantage to turn on and off every light. mxi is really the way to go to light a studio. Also, check this tutorial done by NL Team.

[frosty_ramen]

Thanks Hyltom for that advice, i know it would be best for me in the learning process to make a good studio on my own.



dan

[martgreg]

Hi Hyltom:


I am always amazed by your techniques....

I have created the images similar to yours but was wondering what size pixes , and what format do you save your images before you open them into maxwell?

thanks in advance