1701-D/01 Calypso

[Ozylot]

Ok, here goes...

In order for custom soft shadow settings to take effect you need to use the custom settings preset from the render window.

For example, if you want to render with preset #6 Photon Map Medium AA then you would select that from the drop down menu, then click apply. Then click cancel, and go back to the render setup window. Now you will be able to increase the soft shadow quality and fuzzy tracing. The changes will stay as long as you render with "Custom Settings".

Hope that all makes sense. And BTW spotlights and projector lights will render faster then omni's. Setting them is as easy as positioning the camera. (because they are inserted at the camera position and angle.)

[traq]

thanks Jay

Ozy, I've been using custom settings: Render>Setup (ray tracing tab) AA method: "Production AA" (GI tab) Method: "Photon Mapping +Final Gathering (SW)". On the ray tracing tab, there are "soft shadows" and "fuzzy tracing" drop menus, are those them?

[chrono]

Don't bother using "Production AA" just up double the size of your render & use the following settings.

Render Settings:
Ray Tracing:
3x3 Extra Pass
AA Therhold - .1
Soft Shadows - Fine

GI:
Photon + FG
10K photons
Shooting Depth 2-3
Rays - 80
Accuracy - Very Good or Fine
Gathering Depth - 1
Tracing Depth - 2

Turn off "fuzzy tracing" because it's a waste of cpu. Instead Settings > Scene > Measures and increase the value of Radius to 2-3 since it adds the same gradient but without noise.

This set-up is a 'quick and dirt' clay render, but it's abit time consuming... 53 seconds on a simple finite plane with sphere.

[Ozylot]

Originally Posted by traq

.... On the ray tracing tab, there are "soft shadows" and "fuzzy tracing" drop menus, are those them?

yes, those are the ones. Increasing each to a higher setting will get rid of a lot of the noise you see in the render.

But remember, non of those settings will have any effect, unless you use the '## custom settings ##' render preset in the camera selection window. (in the window that opens when you click the 'start render' button at the top right.)

[traq]

chrono - I'll try that too. thanks

[traq]

Chrono: very nice, but it took an hour and six minutes to finish. I'll use these (or similar) settings for the final pics, but I don't think I'll be using them for regular WIP shots.

BTW I rearranged the captain's cabin, bigger berth with a desk now, smaller head & sonic shower with an added washbasin. (just in case you're wondering, everyone else has to use the sonics to wash their hands. maybe I'll put washbasins in the VIP cabins too.)

[traq]

two more: first attempt at the conference area amidships, which is sunken into the floor slightly under a dropped ceiling (this makes space for the deflector dish above), and will have privacy screens which can be closed if needed for negotiations and can also serve as a screen for holographic projectors inside.

also, the VIP cabin has been slightly remodeled so the stairs aren't so much in the way and to afford more privacy between rooms.

[Aresius]

Look sweet. That's a wonderful, uh, conference room?

anyway sweet.

[Ozylot]

Looking great!

Btw, have you ever tried running through the sun+sky wizard in kerky?

[traq]

it's not exactly a separate room. just a table the you can close curtains around.

Wizard? no. I will.
[edit] JFYI, just about anything I've ever "tried" I tried during the course of this thread; so if you're wondering, the answer is probably "no." )