[tom]

These will look great if you could find a solution to tessalation/subdivision.

[Jay325]

What is it exactly you are seeing here Tom? I'll post the question to tech support but first I have to understand it.

[tom]

All I see is jaggy model edges due to insufficient triangle fitting. Which modeling application do you use?

[Jay325]

I use a french program called 3design.

Do you think it could be because I am doing jewelry and it is such an extreme close up that it looks that way Tom?? Can you link me to a page within the forums of some jewelry that you feel the tessalation is better so I can compare.

Thanks

EDIT: I think I may have found the problem Tom I've corrected a few setting in the program, so we'll see if you notice a difference in the next render Thanks for the heads up.

[Bubbaloo]

There are straight lines in the reflection that should be curved due to the lack of subdivision:



Also, the edge of the floor is visible in that reflection. I'd use a curved surface to hide that edge.

I love the dispersion through all of the varying surfaces. Only with Maxwell!

[Jay325]

I don't see where you see the edge of the floor in the reflection?? The only thing I see in the reflection is the emitter? I've made an adjustment in my program so my next render we'll have to see if it has fixed it or not??

Thank you for the critiques guys, this is very helpful.

[RobMitchell]

I believe Bubba is talking about the area I've highlighted in the same image crop:



As you can see, there's a sharp edge due to the tessellation and harsh reflection change because of the floor edge.

Hopefully with some smoothing this will improve the overall visual, as - like I said before - I think these renders are fantastic. Lighting, materials and models look really good.

[Jay325]

Renders 5 and 6 I'm not super happy with, a good example of my ability to light a scene...or lack there of, but I'm working on it.

[Bubbaloo]

Beautiful diamonds!

[Jay325]

Thanks Bubba I was actually thinking I was quite unhappy with the diamonds, especially the main one :/ Which I know all comes down to once again my lighting issues...

[JamesColeman]

I'm no expert on jewellery renders but these look great! The modelling in the diamonds really brings out the dispersion! I've done some rings myself and I use a studio HDRI for overall lighting and a head-on emitter to dazzle the diamonds.
Just a couple of points: The second image almost looks like it has an interior HDRI, or is it reflecting itself? And I'm guessing the lens flare is done afterwards...

[RobMitchell]

Thanks Bubba I was actually thinking I was quite unhappy with the diamonds, especially the main one :/ Which I know all comes down to once again my lighting issues...

I find that when I'm working on a particular job or render for quite a long time, I begin to dislike it and think it looks bad. But when you come back to it after a while with fresh eyes, you realise how good it is. Sounds like that could be the case here. I think the images look great. Good job!

(PS. As a side note, you could add those newer images to the first post of this thread. So when new people come by and check the gallery all the images are in one place.)

[Jay325]

Thanks Bubba I was actually thinking I was quite unhappy with the diamonds, especially the main one :/ Which I know all comes down to once again my lighting issues...

I find that when I'm working on a particular job or render for quite a long time, I begin to dislike it and think it looks bad. But when you come back to it after a while with fresh eyes, you realise how good it is. Sounds like that could be the case here. I think the images look great. Good job!

(PS. As a side note, you could add those newer images to the first post of this thread. So when new people come by and check the gallery all the images are in one place.)

Ah! good point I'll do just that!! And thank you for the warm compliments

[Jay325]

I'm no expert on jewellery renders but these look great! The modelling in the diamonds really brings out the dispersion! I've done some rings myself and I use a studio HDRI for overall lighting and a head-on emitter to dazzle the diamonds.
Just a couple of points: The second image almost looks like it has an interior HDRI, or is it reflecting itself? And I'm guessing the lens flare is done afterwards...

Good eye! Actually what i did was use an hdri for the environmental lighting AND use a small plane in front of the diamond with the same hdri on it facing the diamonds. And yes the lens flare was added afterwards

The problem I seem to be having is that I can't get the stones looking as realistic as some of my fellow jewelry guys on the forums:/ It's getting quite frustrating/discouraging, and the problem is that asking someone who makes a lively hood designing and rendering jewelry tend to not want to share their tips and tricks for obvious reasons.... At least this has been the case for me

I've been in contact with at least 5 different "teachers" of maxwell from the forums that have all been dead ends as far as actually making the training happen... Everything I've done up to this point has been on my own and VERY time consuming!

[Bubbaloo]

The best thing to do is just research how jewelry photographers set up their lighting and reproduce that lighting in Maxwell.