Sunlight Reflection
Sunlight Reflection
Hello, Twilight community!
My name is Sorn and I'm still new to Twilight.
I make installation art incorporating light and I have been finding ways to simulate my art.
I am now working on a project which I need to use sunlight as medium.
The project requires using mirror to adjust the angle of sunlight at a specific time into a desired angle which the light will pass through both sides of the building and get the shape of window panes onto the projection plane
(much like Batman spotlight but with the sun, combined with trying to use small mirror to reflect sunlight into shades).
The thing is I just can't manage to find a way to reflect sunlight into a sharp beams. I tried adjusting the material settings (architectural mirror, very reflective plastic, perfect reflection) the environment settings (sun strength = 10) and changing render presets (easy6, easy10, photon map9, etc) but it seems sunlight just "dispersed" after hitting the mirror.
Can anyone give me advice on how I can make a sharp reflected ray of light/shadow?
I'm attaching the pictures that could communicate better below.
a sketch of my work
plan with explanation
one of test renders, without the desired effect (there should be sunlight hitting the building)
desired effect I get by rotating the whole project matching the reflected angle to the incident angle (not reflected by mirror, the sun got though windows and hit the projection plane directly) you can see a very strange angled horizontal line in Background
another example of the desired effect I created by using a spotlight, but the light is not collimated like the sunlight.
I hope it's not confusing. I want to give you a big thanks even for reading it this far.
My name is Sorn and I'm still new to Twilight.
I make installation art incorporating light and I have been finding ways to simulate my art.
I am now working on a project which I need to use sunlight as medium.
The project requires using mirror to adjust the angle of sunlight at a specific time into a desired angle which the light will pass through both sides of the building and get the shape of window panes onto the projection plane
(much like Batman spotlight but with the sun, combined with trying to use small mirror to reflect sunlight into shades).
The thing is I just can't manage to find a way to reflect sunlight into a sharp beams. I tried adjusting the material settings (architectural mirror, very reflective plastic, perfect reflection) the environment settings (sun strength = 10) and changing render presets (easy6, easy10, photon map9, etc) but it seems sunlight just "dispersed" after hitting the mirror.
Can anyone give me advice on how I can make a sharp reflected ray of light/shadow?
I'm attaching the pictures that could communicate better below.
a sketch of my work
plan with explanation
one of test renders, without the desired effect (there should be sunlight hitting the building)
desired effect I get by rotating the whole project matching the reflected angle to the incident angle (not reflected by mirror, the sun got though windows and hit the projection plane directly) you can see a very strange angled horizontal line in Background
another example of the desired effect I created by using a spotlight, but the light is not collimated like the sunlight.
I hope it's not confusing. I want to give you a big thanks even for reading it this far.
Re: Sunlight Reflection
This is a very advanced rendering project.
Trying to test on a large model is self-defeating while learning a new software.
As far as I'm aware you will either need Easy 10, which will give caustics from Sun reflecting from a shiny surface. Or you will need to create your own high quality caustics render setting with the PMFG render settings.
Assuming you don't want to learn how to create your own render setting, you will have to use Easy10, but it gives long render times. (I suggest just using Easy10, but you could try Settings>Tech>10. PhotonMap+Caustics - Fine AA0.3 still gives blurry caustics - I think likely too blurry for your purposes.)
Again, try a very small and simple test scene with as few objects and surfaces as possible and render with Easy10 for testing/experimenting/learning.
Trying to test on a large model is self-defeating while learning a new software.
As far as I'm aware you will either need Easy 10, which will give caustics from Sun reflecting from a shiny surface. Or you will need to create your own high quality caustics render setting with the PMFG render settings.
Assuming you don't want to learn how to create your own render setting, you will have to use Easy10, but it gives long render times. (I suggest just using Easy10, but you could try Settings>Tech>10. PhotonMap+Caustics - Fine AA0.3 still gives blurry caustics - I think likely too blurry for your purposes.)
Again, try a very small and simple test scene with as few objects and surfaces as possible and render with Easy10 for testing/experimenting/learning.
Re: Sunlight Reflection
First, in the Environment Dialog DISABLE "Sun Soft Shadows" so that you can get a crisp caustic (reflection or focused light from/through refractive surface)
Here's a quick test scene for your experimentation.
To render quickly with Easy10 you will need a powerful machine.
Here's a quick test scene for your experimentation.
To render quickly with Easy10 you will need a powerful machine.
- Attachments
-
- SunCaustics-MirrorRefractionTest_Scene 1.jpg (130.95 KiB) Viewed 6472 times
-
- notes.png (61.05 KiB) Viewed 6471 times
-
- SunCaustics-MirrorRefractionTest.skp
- (81.26 KiB) Downloaded 305 times
Re: Sunlight Reflection
Thank you guys very much! I'll let you know when I have a progress. You are such great help!
Re: Sunlight Reflection
I've tried and I'm now interested in creating "my own" high quality caustics render setting with the PMFG render settings.
Because easy 10 does took some time. Is doing so available in hobby version? And is there a lot of topics to learn until I attain the ability?
Because easy 10 does took some time. Is doing so available in hobby version? And is there a lot of topics to learn until I attain the ability?
Re: Sunlight Reflection
There is only one setting I've found in PMFG settings that will produce caustics from Sun/Sky from the mirror in the test scene provided above.
However, that setting resulted in a very blurry caustic, not sharp.
To edit the setting, it's easier and can be done within Twilight pro, but Hobby users can find any render settings' location on your computer, copy it into the "custom" render settings folder.
Change type suffix from .xml to .txt
Open in Notepad++ or similar text only editor.
Change the appropriate setting, save the file.
Change file type back to .xml
In Twilight Render dialog refresh the render settings and find your new setting in the Custom folder.
FOLLOW THIS TUTORIAL:
Subject: How to Modify Twilight Render Setting
However, that setting resulted in a very blurry caustic, not sharp.
Try that render setting.Settings>Tech>10. PhotonMap+Caustics - Fine AA0.3 still gives blurry caustics - I think likely too blurry for your purposes
To edit the setting, it's easier and can be done within Twilight pro, but Hobby users can find any render settings' location on your computer, copy it into the "custom" render settings folder.
Change type suffix from .xml to .txt
Open in Notepad++ or similar text only editor.
Change the appropriate setting, save the file.
Change file type back to .xml
In Twilight Render dialog refresh the render settings and find your new setting in the Custom folder.
FOLLOW THIS TUTORIAL:
Subject: How to Modify Twilight Render Setting
Re: Sunlight Reflection
Thank you very much for all the help so far! Anyway, my project had been materialised and I want to show you what it is like in person.
Re: Sunlight Reflection
Congratulations!
So does it reflect onto a white wall behind the building?
So does it reflect onto a white wall behind the building?
Re: Sunlight Reflection
I'm sorry I have been so late to this. Yes, it is reflected onto the forest and the prepared mesh sheet in the back of the building.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests