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kobebeef1186 · 03-07-2004, 03:05 PM

How to set the light? backgroud? radiosity? of some other plug-in?
Thx!

Matt_D_C · 03-15-2004, 09:53 AM

It all depends on what effect you're going for. Basically, you don't need radiosity to make a car look real. These are little tricks that I do, so whereas they may work for me, there are many other ways to do it. One of the easiest ways is to go to the "Rendering" tab, and select "Options." Make sure that "Ray Trace Shadows," "Ray Trace Reflection," and "Extra Ray Trace Optimization" are enabled. These will slow your render time significantly, but offer some of the best results. Also, the most underestimated function in Lightwave is Shadow Maps. All you really need is three lights in your scene. One light should be positioned to illuminate the entire car (Global), one to highlight the opposite side (Flood, and a spotlight pointed at the same angle your camera is positioned. Enable shadow maps on the Global and Flood lights. This is an example of a render without shadow maps:

Matt_D_C · 03-15-2004, 09:54 AM

And this is the render with shadow maps:

Matt_D_C · 03-15-2004, 10:13 AM

The render with shadow maps appears as if I used radiosity, but I did not. Another big factor is the surface of your car. A basic color from the "Presets" menu won't do. Your best bet is to pick your desired color, then go to the texture option ("T") ane select a gradient. Be sure and set the gradient as an "Incidence Angle." When picking the colors for your gradient, try to select the darker and lighter shades of your desired color so as they will display your chosen color in the middle. Also, under "Reflection" make sure it is set to 0.0% and select the texture option. Set this as a gradient, and this should also be an "Incidence Angle" as well. It's better to have this set with a higher value of black than white. Then, under the "Shaders" tab, click on "Add Shaders" and select "Fast Fresnel." All you need here is to set the "Reflectivity" (40-50%) and "Diffuse" (50-60%). Lastly, under the "Effects" menu tab on toolbar, select "Image Processing." Under "Add Image Filter," select "HDR Exposure." Set the Exposure Apply to "Full Image," and select "Auto Iris" and "Auto Exposure." If you are still having trouble, here is a basic setup. Hope all works out for you.

kobebeef1186 · 04-08-2004, 03:38 PM

THX!! it really works! Now I known the basic of rendering a realistic car!!

03-07-2004, 03:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
kobebeef1186 Registered User View My Portfolio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Problem with rendering a realistic car in lightwave How to set the light? backgroud? radiosity? of some other plug-in? Thx!

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03-15-2004, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Matt_D_C Lightwave Enthusiast View My Portfolio Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	It all depends on what effect you're going for. Basically, you don't need radiosity to make a car look real. These are little tricks that I do, so whereas they may work for me, there are many other ways to do it. One of the easiest ways is to go to the "Rendering" tab, and select "Options." Make sure that "Ray Trace Shadows," "Ray Trace Reflection," and "Extra Ray Trace Optimization" are enabled. These will slow your render time significantly, but offer some of the best results. Also, the most underestimated function in Lightwave is Shadow Maps. All you really need is three lights in your scene. One light should be positioned to illuminate the entire car (Global), one to highlight the opposite side (Flood, and a spotlight pointed at the same angle your camera is positioned. Enable shadow maps on the Global and Flood lights. This is an example of a render without shadow maps:

03-15-2004, 09:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Matt_D_C Lightwave Enthusiast View My Portfolio Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	And this is the render with shadow maps:

03-15-2004, 10:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Matt_D_C Lightwave Enthusiast View My Portfolio Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	The render with shadow maps appears as if I used radiosity, but I did not. Another big factor is the surface of your car. A basic color from the "Presets" menu won't do. Your best bet is to pick your desired color, then go to the texture option ("T") ane select a gradient. Be sure and set the gradient as an "Incidence Angle." When picking the colors for your gradient, try to select the darker and lighter shades of your desired color so as they will display your chosen color in the middle. Also, under "Reflection" make sure it is set to 0.0% and select the texture option. Set this as a gradient, and this should also be an "Incidence Angle" as well. It's better to have this set with a higher value of black than white. Then, under the "Shaders" tab, click on "Add Shaders" and select "Fast Fresnel." All you need here is to set the "Reflectivity" (40-50%) and "Diffuse" (50-60%). Lastly, under the "Effects" menu tab on toolbar, select "Image Processing." Under "Add Image Filter," select "HDR Exposure." Set the Exposure Apply to "Full Image," and select "Auto Iris" and "Auto Exposure." If you are still having trouble, here is a basic setup. Hope all works out for you.

04-08-2004, 03:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
kobebeef1186 Registered User View My Portfolio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	THX!! it really works! Now I known the basic of rendering a realistic car!!

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