Most efficient/realistic way to make the grid pattern on car Tail lights?

#1

Hello,

I’ve been struggling a lot with this, I’m trying to get a realistic look on turn signal/tail lights cars which generally have a pattern.

I’ve tried using a bump map or displacement map and placing a chrome cover on the back, using Arch & design materials from MR. However… it turns into a horrible refraction mess, especially when looked at it from afar.

What would be the best method to tackle this?

Regards

#2

You could change your refractive index closer to 1, so that there isnt much distortion taking place, Because the plastic that is used for taillights is not particularly refractive. Also make sure that your reflection environment is looking good, and has contrast in it, to look nice in reflections.

Whenever I have problems with shading, I try to break it down to its components. First try getting the chrome backing to look good without the clear plastic over it. once you have that, get the plastic looking good without the bump map, and then once you have that, add the bump map to taste.

Also dont forget to have the geometry of the plastic double sided, so it has a thickness, otherwise MR is going to think that everything is inside of that solid piece of glass/plastic, which will have greatly different results.

Good Luck! :slight_smile:

#3

Sometimes such details are best modeled in. You can really tell the difference when its done this way, but of course the rendertimes are a bit longer.

#4

Thanks, I ended up using a simple bump map… I think the result was quite decent, here’s how it looks.

Direct link: http://i.imgur.com/wdXDF.jpg

Its a standard A&D glass material.

#5

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