[Jakakadave]

i've just used a kitchen/living room image HDRI - cant remember where i got it though.

I dont think there is any metal touching the pavillion - there shouldnt be - though on inspection it looks like they may be a little toooo close.

I'll try a different technique when i model the next one.

[caryjames]

Thanks for sharing your tips Ricardo, Blitzor and Jakadave!
Cary

[Blitzor]

I'll post a render of a wedding band scene that I've been putting together. CC's will be welcomed.

[Blitzor]

What do you guys think? I'm thinking there's too much blackness in the diamonds and not enough variance in the whites of the diamonds.

[caryjames]

Can you share how you did that? I.E. scene lighting, hdr, and material? That looks amazing!!
Cary

[Blitzor]

All it is is a large light emitter from above, and a smaller emitter behind the camera. I used an hdr material for the emitters. I created it using photoshop and hdrshop. The floor is just a white semi reflective floor.

[caryjames]

So you did not use any emitters? Just white on black hdr for the emitter? Thanks again!!
Cary

[tom]

Probably the black environment could be responsible for the darkness in reflections.

[Blitzor]

Here's the jpg of the hdr that I tweaked. Just use hdrshop, increase the exposure (press + 5 times), scale to current exposure (CTRL-0) and save as hdr.

[Blitzor]

Probably the black environment could be responsible for the darkness in reflections.

I think i need to replace that small emitter behind the camera with a larger and more gradiented light.

[caryjames]

Thanks for sharing that photo! Sorry to be obtuse but did you then select

* No lighting option (no sky dome etc...) under the environment tab?


Thanks again
Cary

[Blitzor]

No environment. Just a black background.

[Blitzor]

I created another hdr with more contrast. I've also enlarged the emitter behind the camera and I must say this is starting to look much better. I will post once it's done.

[JCAddy]

Thanks for sharing that image.

[Blitzor]

Here's a second try with the changes mentioned above.