Multiple reflections like in a kaleidoscope.

[Anonymous]

I use AC9 in Windows XP for the 3D model and LightWorks for rendering.

I often use mirrors creatively in my house designs. An example is a square tower with windows around the top and mirrors covering the walls inside. In real life looking at the base of the tower from the room below opens up an amazing kaleidoscopic view of the world outside.

So far the only way to sell the design feature has been to make an old fashioned model, because the software is unable to go past a few reflections of reflections completely missing the effect.

Many years ago I remember using a rendering package that among the options offered to choose the number of multiple reflections.
Is there any way to have this option in today renderers? Can anybody tweak the current software?

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, you will not be able to directly create this out of lightworks with the standard lighting tools. Instead of trying to get lightworks to compute the radiosity, why don't you make a semi-reflective glowing surface on the mirrors with a bitmap image that has a spectrum of whites, pinks, yellows (depending on the time of day for your rendering), then give your windows a slight blue tint. With a bit of tweaking, this might give you the desired effect.

Edit: don't forget to use a window light, and focus it on the interior mirror to emulate the ambient lighting of the room.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your answer, but you missed the point.
I am not trying to fake it.
I need to verify that the deisred effect is actually working in real life.

I know that Lightworks in ArchiCad has a multiple reflection depth of 4 or 5: See the attached image of a single chair between two mirrors in which the mirror suddenly becomes opaque after a number of reflections.

I also know that the number of reflections of reflections is an internal variable that somebody with access to the code could tweak.
The cost of this is a slowing down of the rendering process.
Ideally it would a variable that any one can set in the configuration of the renderer.

Any help would be appreciated.
[/img]

[Anonymous]

So. . .are you wanting this entire process to be handled automatically? To my knowledge there isn't an application in existence that can do that. You can fudge a few things here and there. However; if you're wanting an application to compute radiosity, atmosphere, sun, exterior ambient light, interior ambient light, exterior light, interior light, point of view, etc. etc. . .by adding a few more reflections. . .let me know when you find it!

[Anonymous]

I believe what hes saying is he wants to be able to adjust the number of multiple reflection in a mirror.. eg: when there are two mirrors facing each other they will reflect whatever is in the space between them infinite times.. and it will get a bit smaller each time, and he uses this as a design feature in the buildings he designs, and would like lightworks to show this more accurately so he can get an idea of what it will look like before its built.

cheers,
dan

[TomWaltz]

I don't believe Lightworks will render enough reflections to be sure. I think something more advanced would be needed, like C4D or Renderman.

I'm not even sure if Artlantis or Maxwell would have enough kick for this.

[TomWaltz]

chad.lawson wrote:
So. . .are you wanting this entire process to be handled automatically? To my knowledge there isn't an application in existence that can do that. You can fudge a few things here and there. However; if you're wanting an application to compute radiosity, atmosphere, sun, exterior ambient light, interior ambient light, exterior light, interior light, point of view, etc. etc. . .by adding a few more reflections. . .let me know when you find it!

There isn't? Isn't that why we spend the money on high-end rendering apps? Lots of programs do this, but you do have to have the elements, materials, and settings in place.

[Anonymous]

TomWaltz wrote:

chad.lawson wrote:
So. . .are you wanting this entire process to be handled automatically? To my knowledge there isn't an application in existence that can do that. You can fudge a few things here and there. However; if you're wanting an application to compute radiosity, atmosphere, sun, exterior ambient light, interior ambient light, exterior light, interior light, point of view, etc. etc. . .by adding a few more reflections. . .let me know when you find it!

There isn't? Isn't that why we spend the money on high-end rendering apps? Lots of programs do this, but you do have to have the elements, materials, and settings in place.

*chuckle* The high end apps make a lot of 'purdies' (you know; what the knuckle draggers say when they find something appealing), but not automatically. Mario said that he didn't want to 'fake it' in a rendering application. I was trying to point out that ALL rendering applications 'fake it'.