GI Shadows with "Generate Shadow Mask"

[arketype]

I've been using GI soft shadows in EI8, but when I turn on "Generate Shadow Mask" on an object receiving shadows, I get nothing. It doesn't render the object at all, like it's turned off.

Is this possible with GI shadows? I use it with RT shadows all the time.

brian

Sorry Brian- This does not work with GI shadows.

But you CAN get a similar effect using the layers shader output.

I do this all the time for compositing rendered objects into photographs.
With your objects on a white floor, put all of the objects EXCEPT the floor in a selection set.

In the Layers output tab of the render dialog add the selection set you just made to the left pane. With this set selected in the left pane...in the right hand pane add the EI layers shader. Double click the shader and enable "final render" and mode set to "normal.

"all objects" is already in the layers tab by default, Add the EI Layers shader to this as well, and set it to "final render" and the mode to "multiply".

This will render your .img file as usual, but it will also render a layered Photoshop file to the same directory/ folder.
These settings will generate a nice ground shadow for compositing ;)

Good Luck
Dave

[halfworld]

I wonder how hard this is to implement (given that Vray can't even do it).

I shall ask the question,
Ian

[estudiodesign]

Hi,

I decided to warm this thread up because I still had
problems to render objects throwing shadows on an EIAS-floor
and being able to compose a new floor beyond the shadows in Photoshop.
Dave...sorry, may be it`s because I´m stupid...but
I cannot reproduce the result you explain above.
I didn`t get object shadows which were seperated
from the floor this way....don`t know what I made or did get wrong ;-)

Maybe I´m not the only one being confused with that complex
"layer and layer modes" stuff, so I just did a small Tut for myself,
including sample files and screenshots which I want to share here.

That`s the way it works for me:
1) Activate all objects (without floor) and generate a set.
2) Take the floor and generate a second set.
3) In the layer tab (render window) deactivate the "all objects" button,
you don`t need those layers in your photoshop file.
4) Add your first set (the objects) , activate it and add the layer shader for this.
Doubleclick it...delete all preset layers and add just "final render", set it to "normal".
5) Add your second set (EIAS floor), also delete all preset layers and add just "Shadows",
set it to "multiply".
6) Render...
7) Open the photoshop file (you don`t need the .img file in this case).
8) And here is the trick for old dummies like me:
The shadow layer for the EIAS floor is "multiply" as you set it in EIAS.
BUT...the folder generated for that is in "normal" mode...
You have to also set this to "multiply" in your photoshop file.
9) Last but not least generate a new photoshop layer and create a floor you like on it,
and put this layer to the bottom of all.
Now you can edit your shadows seperate from your original EIAS floor.

Well...I fear I cannot upload my zip-file...it`s too big... 750KB (wow!)
May be that`s due to my account ?
So, if someone wants to have the files...feel free to PM me, I will mail it.

Best
Tom

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