[Jay325]

It seems that when I apply an hdr to the scene and then click "apply all" and then go to render I can't adjust any of my emitter panels?? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks,
Jay

[Mihai]

By emitter panels you mean you have geometry emitters in the scene also? Did you turn on multi light?

[Bubbaloo]

You can't adjust IBL environment reflection, refraction, illumination, and background independently with multi-light. Is that what you are trying to do?

[Jay325]

What I was trying to do was adjust the lighting from the emitter panels (geometry I placed in the scene) while using the IBL set up but I guess I can't do that?? When using IBL you can only adjust the iso, shutter and environment from the multi light panel is that right?


And if so I'm curious what is best set up for jewelry, the emitter panels and environment or no emitters and using just an hdri????


Edit: I tried switching the ibl and putting the sky dome on so that I could adjust my emitters but when I slide my lighting bar for the emitters there is no change in the preview window? Am I missing a step??

[caryjames]

Hi Jay, as to the best set up for jewellery there is no hard and fast rule. In Max 1.7 I used to use a combination of emitter panels and IBL, however 2.0 handles IBL a lot faster than using emitter panels so now I use IBL exclusively. Usually I now only use a small emitter as a highlight in a scene illuminated with IBL- and that is only because sometimes it is faster and easier to place the light exactly where I want it using this method... IBL takes a lot of fiddling to get the light adjusted correctly.

Hope that helps.

[Jay325]

Thank you for the speedy response cary!

The emitter/IBL thing is my issue, none of my emitters seem to work.....I even zoomed out and did a render with the full scene in view and I could see the emitter panels were all black?? Shouldn't the be emitting light? I have what I thought to be the proper emitter material applied but the emitters still show black. I'm assuming this is why my emitters are not working properly when I have an HDR applied because they are black and not emitting the white light they should be.


Edit: so i'm at a loss, my friend sent me a scene and emitters and i can shut the environment off and work the emitters like they are suppose to but I tried creating my own scene and using the SAME emitters but my emitters are jet black no change when using sliders. I'm assuming it has to do with my geometry?? Do you think that if my emitters had thickness to them it would prevent them from working properly? because they are .3mm thick rather than just a simple surface.

[caryjames]

Hey Jay... no sweat!

Check the normals on your emitter planes. If they are reversed.
Check the scene scale.. are you modeling in correct units... i.e. your ring is not in meters rather than millimeters
Check that the wattage of your emitters is correct

That is all I can think of at the moment... usually black emitters means that the normals are reversed so check that first.

Hope this helps

[caryjames]

Sorry just read your edit... no need to model thickness for your emitter planes. Just simple low poly planes will work fine.

[Jay325]

Ok i just did as you suggest and did a quick set up with JUST surfaces no thickness and STILL they are black and unable to adjust???? I am beginning to wonder if it is my design software that is somehow causing this? Can some attach a file with ONLY 3 separate emitter panels so I can run a test. I'm using a CAD software called 3design and I wouldn't be shocked if that was the issue.

I would be very great full is someone could do this for me.

Thanks

[caryjames]

You checked normals?

I am on my way out but will send you a file later today what file types does your software support / import?

[Jay325]

Thanks Cary just send it as obj format so i can bring straight into maxwell. The test I want to do is straight from your cad to maxwell and that way i know if the issue is my cad software.

Sorry obviosly new to the software, Normals?

[Bubbaloo]

Open your scene in Maxwell Studio and click on an emitter object, then go to the "Object Parameters" tab, then click "flip" (next to normals), render and see if it works now.

[Jay325]

Nope still doesn't work emitters are still black on both sides. I'm still thinking something is wrong with the geometry? When Cary sends ma 3 test panels in obj format I'll import them and give them a try and repost my results.

[Bubbaloo]

Tell me this, how are you applying the hdr to the emitters?

[zdeno]

If you have no sliders of this emitter with multilight there is possibility You didn't ad emitter material to this geometry.

If there is emitter material on this geometry You have to get IMAGE EMISION in 1.7.1 and actualy point .hdr or .mxi file to set this as emitter.

seting background IBL .hdr and press "aplly all" doesn't set all emiters in scene. just "sourounding called "enviroment in multilight tabs.

there is possibility You have broken UVmapping from your CAD software. You have to check in maxwell studio how textures are displayed on this "emitter" geometry with another .mxm material