Visualization
About built-in and 3rd party, classic and real-time rendering solutions, settings, workflows, etc.

dear dwight and other lightworkers (?!)

Anonymous
Not applicable
can I get a 'negativ' type of photorealistic image which only shows the shadows cast in my model, and not the furniture etc.
How do I get the shadow edges to be 'soft'?
ps. looking forward to my book, then perhaps I won't need to ask such basic stuff...
many thanks
yours
jonathan
53 REPLIES 53
Anonymous
Not applicable
tigr wrote:
Of course not, but we can try something different.


Well, Pawel, I think this is humble pie eating time for me
LW sure does more than I expected, in competent hands. You illustration is possibly the best argument so far for me to dig a bit deeper into it, and see what goodies are there.
I especially like the soft shadow, which I did not think was possible without multiple light sources. It does not seem as good as Art.lantis one, but it looks good enough. Worth looking into

Still, there are some things I find annoying, I'm sorry to say.
One of them is the constant shading value you get on the underside of the beams. The undersun gives it a uniform shading, wilst the radiosity on Art.lantis gives it a nice smooth gradation.

I also see a funny looking inverted v on the wall under each beam. Why does this happen? you say that there are only tree lights, and it seems like there are at least two more lights... Why is the rendering engine causing this bands?

Finally, you let us know about rendering time. From my experience, and for still another 2 or 3 years (the time it will take for hardware to take up), when you start to fiddle a lot with light and texture you allways get big rendering time (the big kind you don't stay watching it done, like more than 20 minutes). So it really does not matter that much if it takes 1 hour or 1.5 hours. the most important variable is the time you take to set your file to render. easy interface and quick preview is fundamental, and that is harder to measure.

Anyway, It is a great rendering and you are to be congratulated on it
Dwight
Newcomer
The light bands are caused because of a resolution issue where the soft shadows are under-resolved in the rendering.

To consistently make soft shadows without bands, users need to make the number of sun object light sources and their divergence angle appropriate to the camera distance and rendering size.

When you see banding it is because divergence exceeds one band of divergent shadow per pixel of rendering.

"LightWorks in ArchiCAD, " page 42.
Order now for delivery before Christmas.
Dwight Atkinson
Anonymous
Not applicable
Thank you Krippahl for your kind words. It is good to know that you are open-mind person, this encourage me to do some more tests despite lack of free time recently.

Some answers first:

Constant shading under the beam comes partly from "undersun" and partly because of different texture I put there (a lot more diffuse in it). That always be the most noticable lack of radiosity, but there are some cures for it if you really need it.

Inverted v shadows - it is because of nature of "SkyObject" which is kind of dome with several parallels and many light sources hanging around them, pointing to the center. For completly soft shadows you need to check there such a option. In that example - I did not, and it was intended. I hardly ever use this option - it gives more unrealistic effect then overlapping shadows from multiply light sources this light has - but it's just my impression.

I agree about rendering time. For finals I set the scene and go to sleep so it makes no difference is it 10 min or 8 hours, but I use it also a lot during the modeling to see how different materials act in different light conditions. This usually gives me some guidelines how to represent my work in the end. For that LW works for me just fine.

I was about to buy my copy of ArtR some time ago but finally step into Maxwell Now I have no regrets and decided to stick with LW because I belive it will be improved in next ver. of AC so it is good time to get used it. In the mean time above will be another attempt with a little different approach. Feel free to comment anything.

Greets
Anonymous
Not applicable
tigr: you never fail to amaze me... your work (and dwight's as well) in lightworks is just.. stunning, I can't get close to the same quality even while working in C4D, Honestly I think I just need more practice, but you two are inspiring truly, if I could.. I'd buy you both a drink.

cheers,
dan
Anonymous
Not applicable
SunObject (diver. 6) + SkyObject (soft shadows OFF) + compensating lights (UnderSun + WindowLight)
Also - a bit of yellowish fog for glare effect.
Anonymous
Not applicable
tigr wrote:
Thank you Krippahl for your kind words. It is good to know that you are open-mind person, this encourage me to do some more tests despite lack of free time recently.


Welcome. If I where not open-minded (be open minded, but not so open as to make you brain fall out, grasshopper), I would still be working in flatCAD
tigr wrote:
Inverted v shadows - it is because of nature of "SkyObject" ...


Roger. This is no longer a mystery for me, thank you.
tigr wrote:
I agree about rendering time. For finals I set the scene and go to sleep so it makes no difference is it 10 min or 8 hours, but I use it also a lot during the modeling to see how different materials act in different light conditions. This usually gives me some guidelines how to represent my work in the end. For that LW works for me just fine.


Ah! But wouldn't it be great to have instant preview in LW?
tigr wrote:
I was about to buy my copy of ArtR some time ago but finally step into Maxwell Now I have no regrets and decided to stick with LW because I belive it will be improved in next ver. of AC s


Double Ah! Alas, my friend, I lack your faith in AC10 concerning improvement in LW (interface, light). But then, I am no betatester so I have no inside information (so I am free to talk about this). It is just a feeling, hope for your (and all the other LW users) that I am wrong.

Anyway, you proved your point. It is possible to make as real looking images in AC LW as it is on ArtR. It just takes a lot more time and expertise )
Anonymous
Not applicable
mr. tiger!
...that's a real beauty there...
LW on AC is really something to dig in...not just for previews

in the words of AC/DC
for those about to rock
i salute u...

and...
goto see that dwight's LWAC bible

btw...can you show me something with transparancy, window or water materials...if it's not to much to ask


cheers
Anonymous
Not applicable
Honestly I think I just need more practice, but you two are inspiring truly, if I could.. I'd buy you both a drink.
If you're planning to visit north of Poland or south of Norway, just let me know..
Double Ah! Alas, my friend, I lack your faith in AC10 concerning improvement in LW (interface, light). But then, I am no betatester so I have no inside information (so I am free to talk about this). It is just a feeling, hope for your (and all the other LW users) that I am wrong.
I'm not betatester either, just think if more people will give positive feedback on this new feature than we might finally get from GS complete software for both engineers and artists.
btw...can you show me something with transparancy, window or water materials...if it's not to much to ask
Sure, but this should wait a little, need to finish some urgent things first..

For all those who haven't yet:
Make yourself a christmas gift and order Dwight's book. This man put a lot of work in it so you don't have to.


To all ArchiTalkers - have a healthy and family Christmas and a happy New Year

All the best..

Pawel
Anonymous
Not applicable
well its not the final one (icant remember where It is)
the only thing that I hate about lightworks is that you need a hell of time to adjust materials and you have to scroll alla the time to edit something
i wish it was like max or even artalantisR. also texturing is stupid with LW while with internal engine it is too easy to ad a texture end edit the texture size.
Dwight
Newcomer
Since my name is still at the head of this thread, please let me comment about this image:

Anyone who read my book or attended my seminar knows that there is no such thing as white - try tinting the skylight blue and making the lamps and sunlight yellow. These colors will bring life to the image and the mind will still remember the light as being white.

Add also an ambient of 20% - mauvy blue.

See my other reply to your light for area enhancements.

It is not too late to order for christmas and study "LightWorks in ArchiCAD" over the break.
Dwight Atkinson