Max 9 - Render doesn't seem to be picking up the directionals

[depth3d]

Hi all,

Just started a new job as modeller and visualiser for a Gloucester architectural group. Great guys and the directors are keen to give me whatever tools I need to do the job. I have a brand new copy of Max 9 which a double edged sword as I am trying to render my first model; exterior business park comprising shed frame buildings.

I have a bunch of target directionals (10 in an array) and one target spot with ray trace shadows. My problem is that the render doesn't seem to be picking up the directionals. and the overall render is just a grey mess basically, with the environment sky about the only thing that is working (sob!)

Any ideas guys n gals?

Cheers
Pat
depth3d

[Steve_Bennett]

Cut those 10 omni directionals down to 1. Keep in mind when using omni's that you only need about 3 or 4 - anymore and you are in overkill and will overexpose your scene and make life diffuclt when it comes to figuring out how best to adjust your light. I typically have one main light source, a fill light and maybe one or 2 accent lights (one of them being the skydome). You will need to play with the multiplier settings for the lights and adjust their falloff zones to larger settings, but now you only have 3 or 4 to mess with instead of 10.

[dellis]

I agree. Alway start simple and work your way toward complexity. I would use mental ray if i were you, since you have MAX 9, and utilize the new daylight system in there. Should probably cover what you doing quite nicely.

As far as the greyness goes....my first thought is that your ambient colour is probably set to something other then black in your environment dialogue. Also check to see if you have any exposure control settings activated in the same dialogue box. Or, as was suggested, it might be that you just have too much light in your scene.


Post a render of what you have.

I wrote an article for AUGIWorld a few months ago that talked about the new mental ray capabilities...you should check it out. The scene i made for the article only had one light in the scene and that was the mr skylight.

[Steve_Bennett]

I wrote an article for AUGIWorld a few months ago that talked about the new mental ray capabilities...you should check it out. The scene i made for the article only had one light in the scene and that was the mr skylight. I read that article - great job!

I would agree with Dwayne. Give MR a shot if you have the time to configure it.