Here is a quick tutorial showing a simple way to achieve studio quality lighting in Mental Ray. It will be the first in a series of installments. Next up…I’ll show a quick trick on how to create studio light hdr’s from your skyportal lights.
This entry was written by , posted on November 29, 2009 at 12:30 am, filed under tutorial. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
Great tutorial!
Thanks so much for sharing it.
I am wondering though,
How do you add the imperfection to the skyportal lights?
What’s the advantage of using Aftereffects for the post production instead of Photoshop?
Is there any disadvantage?
Thanks! In the next installment I will be covering how to add imperfections with two different studio workflows. As for my using After Effects, I primarily do motion so that is my compositing tool of choice. IMHO photoshop is not the best tool for doing heavy 3D comping. Thanks for visiting and check back soon. -chad
Great Tutorial and very well explained
i m looking forward to see the second one and… many others
thanks a lot
You don´t use the blackbody in the portals?
best Francisco
Great tutorial.
I’m having problem with the skylight portal though.
I’m using 2010 and I get a totally black render with I turn the skylight off and leave the skylight portal on.
Relics,
Be sure to switch your Color Source to “Custom” and not “Use Existing Skylight” in your sky portal settings. Good Luck!
-chad
Really great in depth lesson you don’t find many places. I look forward to part 2 and hearing you and Amador speak tomorrow.
Chad,
Thanks very much.
Hello, gr8 information you shared!, thanks!, is it possible to download the files?, thanks.
Hey what is the map in your diffuse slot for the MR material?
Also, haven’t ever used the EXR format before; when I slick setup I don’t get the option to add render elements like you do. What am I missing?
Very nice vid THANKS
Dunno what “slick setup” means; I meant CLICK setup…thx
Hello!
Nice tutorial. I prefer using Arch: DOF/Bokeh camera shader for the lens map to get depth of field (it is hidden, have to unlock). I think it is simpler than edit it in PS. Keep on uploading!
Never tried that MR cam shader. Thanks for the tip! -chad
The exr channel setup you saw in my video is part of the “Connectivity Extension” for subscription users. I think it will be widely released in the next version of max if your not on subscription. The diffuse slot contained a simple falloff map. Thanks for visiting! -chad
I may make the scene available…just in time for Christmas. Thanks for visiting! -chad
Thanks! Very interesting studio lighting.
Your Welcome! -chad
It is impossible to see the letters. I have a LCD monitor with 19 inches 4:3 and I can not see because the words are too small.