[-Adrian]

http://static.flickr.com/110/301829769_e69a1f2f7a_o.jpg

Very nice hyltom, the mp3 digital player label has such a cool look to it, like subtle streaks going to the bottom giving the impression of depth - is that due to postwork or maxwell sss/dielectrics?

[Tyrone Marshall]

You can get specially made studio HDRIs here: http://www.hdri-studio.com/cgi-bin/cgiw ... age.pl?l=1

Great images!

[glypticmax]

Yep, those are the best soft box studio light HDR's I've run into. Been using them for quite a while.
And the owner, Peter, is a very knowledgeable and helpful chap.
Read the technical details. An interesting read even for a non-techie like moi.

[hyltom]

Here is the test to compare how a different size of HDR influence the render time and the noise.

mxi from HDR 4000x2000

Render time: 13mn08s SL:12 Benchmark: 99.61

mxi from HDR 640x320

Render time: 11mn19s SL:12 Benchmark: 116.33

Personally, i find no difference in the amount of noise between the two pictures. And as you can see smaller the HDR, shorter is the render time. But a small HDR will lack of definition and as you can see the softbox reflection is not very good in the second test.

[Tyrone Marshall]

Thanks hyltom for you test, I would suggest as a rule of thumb for the best bang for the resolution, to use at least twice the size of your intended rendering resolution for the HDR image.

What do you think?

[Prowler]

Personally, i find no difference in the amount of noise between the two pictures. And as you can see smaller the HDR, shorter is the render time. But a small HDR will lack of definition and as you can see the softbox reflection is not very good in the second test.

thanks a lot for the comparison! The result is verry helpful for future work.

[hyltom]

This HDR test has given me the envy to finish this MP3 player. So here is an update, i have just worked the textured plastic on the top shell. Before finishing anything, i must complete the 3d and then i will fully work on the rendering. Anyway, I hope you will like this render test. By the way, there is no post-prod.

[rendek]

hyltom, this looks great and I love the speed!!!!!! (by the way i appreciate the clean layout of rendering info at the bottom...

I took one of your thumbnail size black and white maps from the first page and used it for LDR background. Even that size gave me relatively good results. I'm out this week and decided to push the limits. I'm rendering a scene for a week with that same LDR background. I will post it next week (hoping that it will not crush in the meantime )

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

[rmulley]

can someone tell what a LDR is and how would I got about making one based on the maps that are shown here ?

thanks!

[hyltom]

Update

can someone tell what a LDR is and how would I got about making one based on the maps that are shown here ?

A LDR is a "normal" picture like the one you take with your camera. The most difficult part is to make one that fill the 360 degree of the environment. If you are lucky and can shoot a photographic studio, i will recommend to do so. Simply place a mirror ball in the studio and shoot it from the top. One exposure will give you an LDR (enough to get a good lighting). Few exposure blend together will give you an HDR (the perfect lighting).

[DrMerman]

Mate, that looks AWESOME Only thing its missing are some holes in the buds.

[glypticmax]

You only get better with each post.
The latest matte metal band is a significant improvement to my eye.
The roughness on the top black surface might be more pleasing if it were more understated. Less bump.
Your 1 hour plus or minus render times is consistent with what I get using HDR's for models that do not include gems or rough quartz (glass). Clean product shots with 4000x2000 HDR's in an hour or so using a double core CPU seems a reasonable expectation.
Thanks for posting your work.

[hyltom]

Mate, that looks AWESOME Only thing its missing are some holes in the buds.

Here we go,


The earphone has been post-prod.

As I said earlier, this is base on an unfinished 3D. The final image will come later on...in few days...weeks...soon

[DrMerman]

Now THAT is a quick turnaround time! Looks great. I agree with glypticmax that maybe turning down the bump slightly might improve things slightly though. Apart from that...

[rmulley]

ok forgive me for being a total dunce here.....but how do you take those black and white LDR's into Msxwell and use them as lights ?

great work by the way!