rendering chrome.

[JeffPatton]

HDRI will be the way to go for nice chrome. Since you have version 6, have a look at this thread:

http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98172

I have a Mental Ray scene with HDRI maps listed there. Download it and test your chrome! bata bing...bata boom.

[g.samsa]

this is what i have now:

http://www.angelfire.com/retro2/ils-fl3/SB_3.jpg

sort of looking for like a studio shot photograph

[g.samsa]

ok i put the hdr image into the skylight map option
used the gathering settings that you spesified in the other thread what i don't understand is what materila do you apply to the object itself?

this is what i got. http://www.angelfire.com/retro2/ils-fl3/SB_3_1.jpg

[JeffPatton]

It looks like you have the chrome material, but I normally use a raytrace material, then apply a falloff map in the reflection slot. Set the falloff to fresnel and adjust the IOR to your own taste. Also, add a little noise to the bump map...very little, just to break it up a bit.

[g.samsa]

ok thanks a lot

another question why did you adjust the IOR - doesn't that only apply if you are doing a transparent material? and another question why for the blue material did you use a fall off map - just want to know what effect/difference does that make?

[JeffPatton]

In this case, the IOR does work eventhough it's not a glass material. You are actually using it to control the amount of the fresnel effect. I usually start it at 2.5 and work from there, you may even go as high as 10 or more for REALLLLY reflective chrome.

Now as to WHY use the falloff map at all? This is taken from www.secondreality.ch

"Use falloff in the Reflect channel to have the metal reflect more with increasing perpendicularity to the viewer. This is a real-life phenomenon that occures to any shiny surface; a ceramic coffee mug will actually reflect along the sides perpendiular to you. (in fact almost any surface will change its look depending on the angle it's seen from). For chrome, add full Reflect. Silver has a slightly lighter Diffuse color and is less reflective than chrome."

[g.samsa]

oh sorry - i didn't phrase that question correctly

i was wondering about the fall off map in the deffuse channel where its shadow/light.

[JeffPatton]

OH, that...I was just playing around trying to get a car paint idea to work with Mental Ray. I used the falloff to get the paint color darker on the sides, etc. It was just a test material. Nothing special.

[g.samsa]

thanks

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