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View Full Version : Lighting setup for this scientific visualization.

anibal187
08-05-2005, 07:08 AM
Hi. I'm helping a friend doing a visualization of a physics experiment he's doing at his job (read: It's the first time I do this kind of work). Below is what I have so far:

http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/punkhead/ihave.jpg

I'm using 3ds Max.
The setup is just a skylight with light tracer with the default settings.
What would you recommend as a better lighting setup?
What I need is: Faster render times, More details (there are a lot of things that get lost like some bump maps, textures colors...) The scene has to be well and uniformly lit (no "artistic" freedom here).
Also I don't get why the shadow on top of the base looks that weird. Any Ideas?
Hope you can help.
Thanks.
JayHoo
08-06-2005, 11:17 AM
Have you tried Radiosity instead of the Light Tracer? THe 3ds max reference said, that the Light Tracer is not a good choice in regard of Radiosity.

Do you use Shadow Maps? Try to raise the Size of the Maps in the Shadow Map Tab.

The render times maybe increase.
Ian Jones
08-07-2005, 11:45 AM
Looks like your only light is a skylight... that makes everything look a little flat, because it is so uniform. It is also why you are losing details from your bump maps.
anibal187
08-08-2005, 07:11 PM
Yeah, thanks again (you already posted in my UVW question). I already added 2 direct lights, and now I ran into another problem, but I'm working on it.
Here it is, check it out if you have any suggestion:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=265440
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