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Mastering mental ray®: Rendering Techniques for 3D & CAD Professionals

Name: Mastering mental ray®: Rendering Techniques for 3D & CAD Professionals
Author: Jennifer O'Connor
ISBN: 9780470553854

by Jennifer O'Connor

April 2010

Intermediate to advanced

448 pages

11h 11m

English

Sybex

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Copyright
Dear Reader,
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Who Should Read This BookWhat You Will Learn from This BookHow to Use This BookConventions Used in this BookA Word about Software versionsThe Mastering SeriesHow This Book Is OrganizedWhat Is on the DvDHow to Contact the Author
1. mental ray Essentials
1.1. mental ray Overview1.1.1. Enabling mental ray1.1.2. Choosing mental ray for an Existing Scene1.1.3. Setting mental ray Preferences and Using the Render Message Window1.2. Configuring 3ds Max/Design1.2.1. Exploring mental ray's Design-Related Defaults1.2.2. Using Project Folders1.2.3. Setting System Units1.2.4. Setting Gamma Options1.2.4.1. Using Input Gamma Settings1.2.4.2. When Input Gamma Can Cause Problems1.2.4.3. Using the Gamma and Gain Map1.2.4.4. Output Gamma Settings1.2.4.5. When Output Gamma Can Cause Issues1.3. Quick-Start Render Settings1.3.1. Introducing the Sampling Quality (Antialiasing) Settings1.3.1.1. Defining Antialiasing1.3.1.2. Samples Per Pixel Setting1.3.1.3. Spatial Contrast1.3.1.4. Filters1.3.2. Introducing Final Gather1.4. The Bottom Line
2. Materials and Maps
2.1. Introducing the Slate Material Editor2.2. Using the Slate Material Editor2.3. Working with Bitmaps2.3.1. Using the Bitmap Proxies Option2.3.2. Using the Bitmap Pager Option2.3.3. Using the mental ray Map Manager2.4. Using Bitmaps When Working Remotely2.4.1. Using Project Folders2.4.2. Using Relative Paths and the Resource Collector2.4.3. Using the Asset Tracking Tool2.4.4. Accessing the Bitmap/Photometric Path Editor2.4.5. Editing XRef Paths for Maps and Scenes2.5. Working with Materials, Maps, and Colors2.5.1. Introducing the Autodesk Materials2.5.2. Introducing the Autodesk Material Library2.5.3. Introducing the Arch & Design Material2.5.3.1. Understanding the arch & design templates2.5.3.2. Understanding the Arch & Design Settings2.5.4. Introducing ProMaterials2.5.5. Introducing the MetaSL Material2.5.6. Converting Existing Materials to Arch & Design2.5.7. Creating Glazing Materials2.5.8. Using Low and High Dynamic Range Image Formats2.5.8.1. Using the Radiance Image Format (HDR)2.5.8.2. Using the OpenEXR Image Format (EXR)2.5.9. Applying Real-World Scale2.6. The Bottom Line
3. Light, Shadow, and Exposure Control
3.1. Using Material Override3.2. Introducing Exposure Controls3.2.1. The Logarithmic Exposure Control3.2.2. The mr Photographic Exposure Control3.2.2.1. Presets3.2.2.2. Exposure Value3.2.2.3. Photographic Exposure3.2.2.4. Image Control3.2.2.5. Physical Scale3.2.3. The Pseudo Color Exposure Control3.3. Working with Light Objects3.4. Eight Simple Rules for Lighting Your Scene3.4.1. Start in Darkness...3.4.2. Use Photometric Lights3.4.3. Use Shadows3.4.4. Use Hardware Viewport Shading to Preview Lighting3.4.5. Use Light Assemblies3.4.6. Use Instance Lights with Common Properties3.4.7. Avoid Ambient Light3.4.8. Use the Light Lister to Manage Lights3.5. Understanding Photometric Lights3.5.1. Understanding Shadow Types3.5.1.1. Shadow Maps3.5.1.2. mental ray Shadow Maps3.5.1.3. Ray-Traced Shadows3.5.2. Working with Light Distribution (Type) Settings3.5.3. Working with Light Color, Intensity, and Attenuation Settings3.5.3.1. Color and Color Presets3.5.3.2. Intensity3.5.3.3. Far Attenuation3.5.4. Understanding Shape and Area Shadows3.5.4.1. Shapes3.5.4.2. Shadow Samples3.5.5. Introducing Daylight Systems3.5.5.1. Sky Models3.5.5.2. The mr Sky Settings3.5.6. Introducing the mr Sky Portal3.5.6.1. Understanding the mr Sky Portal Settings3.5.6.2. Setting the Color Source and Using the mr Sky Portal as an Area Light3.6. The Bottom Line
4. Rendering
4.1. Introducing Backburner Network Rendering4.1.1. Enabling Render Output to Backburner4.1.2. Using Split Scan Lines4.1.3. Correcting Gamma with Split Scan Lines Images4.1.4. Adjusting Network Rendering Advanced Settings4.1.5. Using the Backburner Monitor4.2. Using Batch Render4.3. Introducing mental ray Proxy Objects4.4. Understanding Render Settings4.4.1. Modifying Common Tab Settings4.4.2. Defining File Output Options4.4.3. Understanding the Renderer Tab Settings4.4.3.1. Sample Rate Visual Diagnostics4.4.3.2. Sampling Quality Options4.4.3.3. Rendering Algorithms4.4.3.4. Shadows & Displacement4.4.4. Understanding the Processing Tab Settings4.4.5. Understanding Translator Settings and Memory Settings4.4.6. Using Distributed Bucket Rendering4.4.6.1. Distributed Bucket Rendering Licensing4.5. Accelerating Test Renders4.6. The Bottom Line
5. Indirect Illumination and Final Gather
5.1. Defining Direct and Indirect Illumination5.2. Understanding Indirect Illumination in mental ray5.3. Understanding Final Gather5.3.1. How Final Gather Works5.3.2. Using a Visual Diagnostics Tool and Final Gather5.4. Introducing Final Gather Settings5.4.1. Using Final Gather Basic Settings5.4.2. Using the Project Points and Divide Camera Path by Num. Segments Option5.4.3. Adjusting Final Gather Advanced Settings5.5. Reusing Final Gather and Global Illumination Data5.5.1. Understanding the Final Gather Reuse Modes5.5.1.1. Single File (Best for Walkthrough and StillS)5.5.1.2. One File Per Frame (Best For Animated Objects)5.5.1.3. Calculate FG/GI and Skip Final Rendering5.5.2. Understanding the Final Gather Map Options5.5.3. Caching the Caustics and Global Illumination Photon Map5.6. Adjusting an Object's Final Gather Options5.7. Producing High-Resolution Images with FG5.7.1. Creating the Low-Resolution Final Gather Precalculation Pass5.7.2. Creating the High-Resolution FG-Freeze Render Pass5.7.3. Using Batch Render to Create Final Gather Map and High-Resolution Render Passes5.8. Using Daylight and Final Gather5.8.1. Improving Dark Interiors and Entryways5.8.2. Rendering the Sponza Palace Atrium5.8.3. Rendering a Bathroom Scene5.9. Producing Animations with Final Gather5.9.1. Animation of Static Scenes5.9.2. Animations of Dynamic Scenes (Animated Objects)5.10. The Bottom Line

6. Global Illumination and Caustics
6.1. Understanding Global Illumination6.1.1. Defining Photons6.1.2. Understanding Global Illumination Settings6.1.3. Reusing Global Illumination Data6.1.4. Using Visual Diagnostic Modes with Global Illumination6.2. Using Global Illumination6.2.1. Preparing the Initial Render Settings6.2.1.1. Adjusting the Daylight System for Interior Global Illumination6.2.1.2. Enabling Global Illumination6.2.1.3. Adjusting Global Illumination Settings6.2.1.4. Using Visual Diagnostics Mode for Global Illumination6.2.1.5. Correcting the Bright Areas around Lights6.2.1.6. Controlling Global Illumination Color Bleed with the Photon Basic Shader6.2.1.7. Controlling Global Illumination Color Bleed with the Color Override/Ray Type Switcher6.2.2. Using Global Illumination with the Sponza Model6.2.3. Using Global Illumination with the Karina Bay Resort Scene6.3. Defining Caustics6.3.1. Understanding Caustics Settings6.3.2. Using Caustics6.3.2.1. Creating Caustic Water6.3.2.2. Creating Caustic Still Life6.4. The Bottom Line
7. Importons and Irradiance Particles
7.1. Installing the ctrl.ghost Plug-In7.2. Introducing Importons7.2.1. Setting Importon Parameters7.2.2. Using Importons in the Sponza Scene7.3. Introducing Irradiance Particles7.3.1. Setting Irradiance Particle Parameters7.3.2. Using Irradiance Particles7.3.3. Working with Irradiance Particles7.3.3.1. Using Irradiance Particles For An Interior Scene7.3.3.2. Creating Image-Based Lighting With Irradiance Particles7.4. The Bottom Line
8. Effects
8.1. Introducing mental ray Lens Shaders8.1.1. Depth Of Field/Bokeh Parameters8.1.1.1. Using The Depth Of Field/Bokeh Shader8.1.2. Distortion Parameters8.1.3. mr Physical Sky Setting8.1.4. Night Parameters8.1.5. Render Subset Of Scene/Masking Parameters8.1.6. Shader List (Lens, Output, Volume) Parameters8.1.7. Gamma & Gain Parameters8.1.8. WrapAround Parameters8.2. Understanding Camera Output Shaders8.2.1. Glare8.2.2. HDR Image Motion Blur Parameters8.3. Understanding Camera Volume Shaders8.3.1. Beam Parameters8.3.2. Mist Parameters8.3.3. mr Physical Sky as a Volume Shader8.3.4. Parti Volume Parameters8.3.5. Submerge Parameters8.4. The Bottom Line
9. mental ray for Architecture
9.1. Using Revit Architecture Models in 3ds Max/Design9.1.1. Using the SAT Format9.1.2. Using DWG Exports from Revit9.1.3. Introducing FBX File Import and Linking9.1.3.1. Limitations and Caveats of the FBX Format9.1.4. Using the File Link Manager with FBX Files9.1.5. Comparing Revit Rendering to 3ds Max/Design9.1.6. Revit Materials vs. 3ds Max/Design9.2. Introducing the Autodesk Exposure Technology9.2.1. Introducing the Lighting Analysis Assistant9.2.2. Using the Light Meter Object9.3. Using Nonphotorealistic Rendering Techniques9.3.1. Using Material Override for NPR9.3.2. Using Ambient Occlusion for NPR9.3.3. Using Contour Rendering for NPR9.4. The Bottom Line
10. mental ray for Design
10.1. Creating Render Studios10.1.1. Using Environment Maps10.1.1.1. Controlling Mapping for Environments10.1.1.2. Using the Environment/Background Camera Map Shader10.1.1.3. Using Spherical HDRI Bitmaps10.1.1.4. Using the Environment Background Switcher10.1.2. Using Solid-Colored Environments10.1.3. Using Geometry for Your Environment10.2. Using Render Elements10.2.1. Introducing 3ds Max Composite10.2.2. Introducing the mr A&D Render Elements10.2.3. Creating a Basic Composite10.3. Working with Solid Models10.3.1. Introducing SAT and the Body Object10.3.2. Understanding Native Inventor File Import10.4. The Bottom Line
A. The Bottom Line
A.1. Chapter 1: mental ray EssentialsA.2. Chapter 2: Materials and MapsA.3. Chapter 3: Light, Shadow, and Exposure ControlA.4. Chapter 4: RenderingA.5. Chapter 5: Indirect Illumination and Final GatherA.6. Chapter 6: Global Illumination and CausticsA.7. Chapter 7: Importons and Irradiance ParticlesA.8. Chapter 8: EffectsA.9. Chapter 9: mental ray for ArchitectureA.10. Chapter 10: mental ray for Design
B. About the Companion DVD
B.1. What You'll Find on the DVDB.1.1. ProjectsB.1.2. Plug-InsB.1.3. ScriptsB.1.4. 3ds Max Design 2009B.1.5. 3ds Max Design 2010B.1.6. BonusB.1.7. Bonus VideosB.1.8. White PapersB.2. System RequirementsB.3. Using the DVDB.4. TroubleshootingB.4.1. Customer Care

Content preview from Mastering mental ray®: Rendering Techniques for 3D & CAD Professionals

Chapter 9. mental ray for Architecture

In this chapter, I focus on a number of tools and techniques related to producing renderings for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. I cover the Autodesk Revit application and how geometry and materials come into 3ds Max Design, I provide an overview of the lighting analysis tools that can assist with LEED 8.1 certification for designs, and I cover a few techniques for nonphotorealistic renderings.

In this chapter, you will learn to

Use a Revit FBX file within 3ds Max/Design
Create light meters and a lighting analysis image overlay
Create nonphotorealistic renderings

Using Revit Architecture Models in 3ds Max/Design

Of course, the first thing you need to do before being able to use a ...

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Mastering mental ray®: Rendering Techniques for 3D & CAD Professionals

by Jennifer O'Connor

Chapter 9. mental ray for Architecture

Using Revit Architecture Models in 3ds Max/Design

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.