Your thoughts on a lighting test please

[image=http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a189/Macro_Roshuma/test_1.jpg]


Rendered with VRay, in 3ds max 8. Fair-ish settings, one omni with Decay and a Projector map that i photoshopped. I know it isnt that good, i would like your thoughts on how i might improve it.

 

Sorry I forgot to reply to you via private message, but I will post my thoughts here. The first thing you should think about when dealing with light coming from a river of lava, is that it would be like a large area light. Therefore, the shadows wouldn't be harsh sharp edged shadows like you have, but rather soft, blurry shadows. Also, the light looks like it needs to be tinted slightly more toward a red hue, to match your lava texture.

 

how the hell DO you make a surface light like that? I always just use omnis for that kinda stuff, and ends up ugly as hell...

 

I'm sorry, but: What the hell is this? I'd like to help, but I can't figure out what your picture is supposed to represent

 

It's a lava pit on Nar Shadaa, with catwalks running across it all the way down.


[image=http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a189/Macro_Roshuma/Red_test.jpg]

 

Turn on Global Illumination, it looks like it's got only one light without any GI.

 

for no apparent reason, GI will not work for me. and it is just one light. any more and my render time SKY ROCKETS.



heres a render i did with my friend's mustafar catwalk wip.

[image=http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a189/Macro_Roshuma/HAHAH.jpg]

 

If u use v-ray, use its GI. I'd go with v-ray lights, and then in the settings of v-ray light check ''store with irridiance map'' or something like that, so the lights would become part of GI, the first bounce and the secound bounces QMC would make the shadows less sharp.
Use Adaptive AA, use about min/man 1/3 or 2/4, Catmul-Rom filter. Then low or medium irriadiance settings will do for tests. Check sky light, make it white, a bit tint of yellow or red, make it about 0.3 or so, let the reflection skylight remain black and 1.0 . I cant remember by heart more.
Anyways update looks better .


EDIT: My try. I actually through the background real quick design using cloning tool in max. Wanted something other than black background. I will get back to it later. Not mentioning textures.

[image=http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/Lookfilms/mustafar_catwalk01texturetest9.jpg]