Any idea about this book?

[jophus14]

i just seen that book on amazon.com.......I guess it just came out because it was never on there. I went to my local bookstore but they didn't carry it. Try www.bookpool.com (http://www.bookpool.com) for good software publishings for cheap prices.

[chrisWhite]

His book titled the same thing for Lightwave was fantastic, he's a very tallented artist and writes really well. The theory section rocked! If I used 3Ds, I'd buy the book. Also, Nicholas Boughen is, or at least was, pretty active on the forums and is really helpful if you have questions. Wordware publishing fricken' rocks as well. :buttrock:

[Bob27]

Thanks for your replies, I still like to see a comment by someone who
has actually seen the book.

[chrisWhite]

If you have a local Barnes and Noble around you they might have it and you could check it out to see if you'll like it. I noticed it the other day at one of my local B&N, surprised me they actually had it though.

[layer_unlocked]

hey man,
i got this book. i'm still going through it but i really like it so far. I don't know how advanced you are but i'm learning a lot about light, light sources, light parameters and lighting setups. This books is geared towards people who random-render until they stumble on something that looks good. also the author points out how to fake some properties that otherwise would take weeks to render. Anyways let me know if you have any questions. But yeah i'd suggest checking it out at a local Borders, otherwise i don't think you'll regret buying this as there are not too many good lighting books out there.

[Bob27]

Hi, thanks for your reply,

I want to know whether this book offers some step by step tutorials on different aspects of lighting with 3ds max from intermediate to advanced levels. Does it explain and make use of for example the photometric lights in some tuts? Does it explain and give examples of how to use skylight, light tracer , daylight and sunlight? Does it go through rendering with radiosity?
Does it cover Mental Ray rendering?

I can not access the book now, but I plan to buy it in near future, unfortunately there are no review of it in the Amazon.com, may be you could write a review and post it.

Here is my latest, lighting/rendering with VRay, would be glad to see some comments, please:


http://img183.echo.cx/img183/4482/livingroom8uz.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us/)

[jophus14]

Nothing is proportioned to one another. Scale all of your items to the size of real objects. I just bought the lighting tutorial video set from 3dquaker for $45US and it is really good. It has everything, Light tracer, Mental ray, etc....... two thumbs up

[jcorpe]

Does anyone have a link for the vid referenced below?



Nothing is proportioned to one another. Scale all of your items to the size of real objects. I just bought the lighting tutorial video set from 3dquaker for $45US and it is really good. It has everything, Light tracer, Mental ray, etc....... two thumbs up

[jophus14]

http://3dquakers1.com/webroot5/index.php

[samifox]

Hi,



I just finished the first section of the book. Nicolas is very talented and well explainer when it becomes to very complicated subject like lighting.

What I love in the book?

Reading the few first chapters will make you forget CG completely and focus of science. Its actually have physique book’s orientation and even medical one if you wish. Most of things are well explained and sampled. you will feel smart after reading the theory chapters.

I’m very appreciate the 20 years knowledge that Nicolas shear among his readers.

What I don’t like in the book?

I don’t like the lack of illustration that presented in the book. A subject like lighting is so visual that its crucial to post illustration and images whenever it possible.

I don’t like the lack of true world examples, meaning that a couple of tutorial on how to make some interior setups would help the reader to implement all what he learned subconsciously.

There is no book like that. the reason for this in my opinion is that authors are more interested to show off their knowledge than to actually lift thier readers to thier position.

There are 2 more high rated book for this janor :

Cg Essential lighting techniques and Digital lighting and Rendering. I had the luck to explore them in my nearby store. The first one looks interesting and its have some step by step tutorial.

The other one is the most attractive because its so visual. Every page accompany with 3 or 4 illustration.

But as the last line, in my opinion the book “3dmax lighting” by Nicolas is the best bet since the major advantage of this book is the theory. I think whenever one doesn’t know what Nicolas want you to know. so he his properly wasting is time by waiting for luck.



Thanks
S

[Bob27]

Hey thanks, with your review I don't think I am going to buy the book for sometime now.
Theory is great, but, as my experience in 3d shows, first "practice" then theory.
I think one should first practically master ( to some degree) the art using step by step tutorials
such as the one in 3ds Max Manual and beyond and then proceed to theory to complement it. The other way around doesn't work for me!

I would rather first go for the 3dquakers videos than this book.

[samifox]

Hey thanks, with your review I don't think I am going to buy the book for sometime now.
Theory is great, but, as my experience in 3d shows, first "practice" then theory.
I think one should first practically master ( to some degree) the art using step by step tutorials
such as the one in 3ds Max Manual and beyond and then proceed to theory to complement it. The other way around doesn't work for me!

I would rather first go for the 3dquakers videos than this book.

Hi there,



Honestly speaking. u’ll never get any farther without understanding qualities, principles, behavior and overall theory of lighting. No matter what practical exercise you take or how many years you spending in front of your monitor, nothing can teach you what lighting setup the infinite verity of condition required.



Believe me I use to think like you. But finally I figure out that I just step in place. for example If you follow a video training showing you step by step how to light interior design with an opened window and some artificial lights. Do you really believe that you can analyze what went wrong when you try your own scene with different sources and conditions? I don’t think so.



Using those VTM can be useful to help you implement your knowledge.



Regards,

S

[coffeefery]

Hi Bob27, I don't know anything about 3dsmax, but when it comes to lighting, all the theories apply similarly for any apps. Nicholas is a great lighting author. His earlier book "Lightwave 3D 8 Lighting" explains so much about lighting that when you do your scene setup, you're not doing it by trial and error anymore because you almost know what the tools and their attributes are going to be like. CG lighting techniques (using max as its app for its tutorials) and digital lighting & rendering are good books too. But in my opinion, if you're going to go for becoming a better lighting person, taking photography and film classes will be your best bet. If, on the other hand, you're going for understanding your app's toolset, then these books mentioned in here will probably help you.

[Bob27]

Thanks coffeefery and Samifox for your thorough guidance. For sure I am going to use many or all of these books in due time. I am sure great books written by great authors would help a lot for one's progress. Nicholas is great and at a proper time I will get his book.:thumbsup: .

[danielkenobi]

Hi bob in your scene I think that you should take care of proportions, that makes to look unreal the scene, in the frame that is in the wall i would take care of the uv of it, becaus that is not how usualy goes the wood texture, I mean if it is a frame, it was done in 4 parts not in one table making a hole on it , I dont know if I make myself clear, take care of the window frame, it doesnt looks like real becauuse of the material that is apply to it, I dont know if it is plastic ow wood or metal, determine what it should be, and make a material base on your observations.
about the lighting it should definetly exist more contrast betwen the places were the light is direct from the sun and those parts that are not direct lighted by it.
try to use post production to improve your render, I usually prefer to put the background in post production it helps me to have more control about contrast and bightness betwen the diferent elements. I hope this help. cheers and sorry if my english is poor. if you have any question dont hesitate on ask it.

[Bob27]

Thanks Daniel,

You are actually the first person to comment on my interior scene. I will correct the proportion problem and the uv item you mentioned. But more important was the lighting tips to improve the scene. As you suggested I should add some glow to the sun lit parts and some more contrast . I will try to do that and post the new scene. Thanks.

[Bob27]

post repeated.

[Bob27]

Hi, I have reworked the image, please comment for improvements.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1763/insroom8jn.jpg

[Bob27]

No comments? well, I was expecting some critics or appraisal...

[jeremybirn]

Focus a little on the lighting, right now it looks as if there is the brightest light in the world under the sofa cushions. Break it down one source at a time, with the direct sun, then the sky light, then the bounce light - render an image of each before you combine them, and make sure they each look good.

-jeremy

[Bob27]

I sure will, though I am a bit weak in compositing. I try to achieve all effects in one single render.Yet I should practice compositing different images into one. If you any good compo online please let me know.

Another thing bothering me in this render is that the sunlight coming from the window does not give shadows to the table legs or the flowerpots above the table. I don't know why! I tried many factor yet I didn't find the fault. This is done with Vray 1.46 in Max. It is odd I could get the shadows on my previous render in page 1.

My honor again that Jeremy Birn has replied to my post. thanks.

[pichoo]

While the main light from outside is so bright, the picture outside the window looks rather cloudy. With the sunlight that bright, the lights from inside the room should have little or no impact at all. Also where's the shadows from the sofa, tables, and pots? :)

[jeremybirn]

I sure will, though I am a bit weak in compositing. I try to achieve all effects in one single render.

Even if you make your final image all as one render, develop and test one light at a time. Until the sunlight illuminates and shadows perfectly by itself, don't make any other lights visible. Just fix the sunlight. If you have problems with shadows from the glass unlink it from the glass.

-jeremy

[danielkenobi]

try to avoid those places where the light lookslike too saturated. like the sofa.
I think that it improve alot your first from your second render. keep updating :thumbsup: . And good luck

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