[Micha]

Hallo,

I have try to find a way to render only a reflection pass and find this strange effect, the reflection of the emitter is not visible in the "only direct" pass and in the "only indirect" it is inverted. Both in one pass looks correct. What is happen?

[j_petrucci]

this thing is really strange... maybe developers can give some advice on it?

[tom]

it's normal and this is how it works...

[Micha]

Tom, so less words?

I think, Layers should work so, that I can render it separat and than I can combine it in a photo software so that I get the same like a rendering with all together. Please, can you explain, what I see? What makes the reflection in the different layers?

[Mihai]

I don't understand either....how do you mix the indirect and direct layers? I tried all blending modes, both with the normal indirect layer and an inverted indirect layer. Just didn't get anything that looks like the pic where both layers are rendered together.

[tom]

three of the images are all right...
it's like bounces, first you have diffuse then the light reflects and you see speculars, and they both acts and you see all

indirect layer shows the areas that take illumination just indirectly, so it's not negative...

[Mihai]

Right, but how would you mix them in an image editor? I thought that was the point of having separate layers from Maxwell? Or is it for something else?

[tom]

Right, but how would you mix them in an image editor? I thought that was the point of having separate layers from Maxwell? Or is it for something else?

mihai, i don't think they are mixed in an image editor, he just made 3 renders with activating and deactivating both options in their probabilities.

baboule, thx

[Mihai]

.....ok but then why would you do that for? Why would you want an indirect illumination layer if it's not going to be used for mixing in some way...

[Micha]

Hmm, Tom, you say, an emitter is not viewable with only direct light, only the diffuse. Strange, but OK, maybe so works Maxwell. I don't understand the reflection in the "indirect only", it looks inverted. Can you combine direct and indirect in a photo software?

Next question befor I test it: Can I render the caustics only? Could be great. First render an image without caustics, than render the caustic only and make it clean in PS and combine both.

PS: Gratulation for your "Next Limit Team"

[tom]

Yes, it must be there but IMHO it's about specular reflections and it may work better for such seperated layers later. No the layer is not inverted because it shows the strength of bounced energy and I think "screen" operator is suitable for combining them. (I tested with your output and seems working but I think your images are not at same sampling level.)

PS.thx