[Oli4D]

Hello everybody
A question about reflections...
I'm currently reading a book about studio lighting and there they mention that three different reflections exist:

-diffuse reflection
-direct reflection
-polarized direct reflection

So, in real photography, polarized reflections can often be removed with a polarisation filter in front of the cam.

How does that work in Maxwell Render?
Since Maxwell Render is physically correct, polarized reflections should exist as well and there should also be possibilities to use polarisation filters.

Any idea how that works in Maxwell?
Would help me a lot to go through the exercises from the book

Cheers, Oliver

[Bubbaloo]

As far as I know, Maxwell doesn't calculate polarization.

[Oli4D]

hmmm... ok, well that could be of course.

Let show me an example:


This quick render shows a simple metal box on a transparent glass plate, with a darker background below.
See the set up here:



Now, so far so good, the result looks exactly like it would also in reality.
BUT: In reality, I can get rid of the light reflection on the glass plate (around the box) with the use of a polarization filter.
This would result in a black area around the box. I would only see the reflections of the box, but not the reflections of the glass around it anymore.

In Maxwell, without a polarization filter... this is not possible. Right?
Or how could I do that?

[sidenimjay]

isnt this the reason to have objects hidden to reflection ?

[adman]

Your image cannot come from the setup you illustrate.
What is the effect you are after?

[Oli4D]

Thanks for your reply guys.

@adman: Well, my image DOES come from that setup!
Let me show you:
http://www.oli4d-images.com/Beleuchtungstest_001.mxs

You know, all this is just an example. I'm going through several lighting concepts and ideas from that studio lighting book.
It's a book for real photography, but well, should work for Maxwell as well of course.

In this particular case, I get exactly what the book tells me I will get.
The point is: In the book, with the help of an polarization filter, they can get rid of the reflections on the glass plate and only keep the reflections on the box.
In Maxwell... I can't... or do I?

Cheers, Oliver

[kami]

I don't think there is anything like a polarisation filter in maxwell. it would be possible i suppose, so feel free to add it to the wish list.
But I'm not sure if any users would need that very often ...

[donb]

Oliver,

In your real world studio setup you used a glass plate only because without it the box would fall to the floor. In Maxwell there is no gravity, so the glass plate is unnecessary.

I am also reading Light Science and Magic and I am very pleased how well Maxwell behaves relative to a real camera. This is one example where Maxwell has a clear advantage in that we have full control over the materials in a scene and can manipulate them any way we wish to achieve the results we want.

All the best, Don