Hi,
Any thoughts on rendering tips? Do you find the default settings produce accurate colour results? For externally I find the sun brightness perhaps a little too strong? Do people adjust the rendering brightness to a certain level for best results?
Hi Plucka,
This is a big subject and you will find a lot of tips if you use the forum Search function. If you put in two words (eg Rendering and Daylight) it will hone in better on what you want.
Just some thoughts on the two tdifferent ypes of rendering, Basic and Advanced.
BASIC:
Roughly speaking (as there are always exceptions) Basic works best for outdoor images. It is quick with good colours but shadows are maybe a little harsh espcially if set to the middle of the day. Setting to Partly Cloudy or Overcast can help. Usually best with the sun in low position (early morning or late evening). Even choosing a city closer to the north or south poles can reduce the sun brightness also.
Personally I have never had to touch the Brightness setting, though I have played with it at times.
ADVANCED:
This is designed mainly for reproducing inside views with artificial lights, as it relies heavily on light bounced from walls, floors and ceilings, and as such gives pleasant soft natural shadows. Because of the 'bounce effect' inside, the colours of floors and other things will change the colours. Note the difference in colour of the two images below - the sun through the window on the timber floor makes a much warmer light, than the one with the blue/green carpet. (my office does not really look like this! - actually that is a lie - it does! ;D )
Advanced can be used outside also, particualry if there are shaded areas, such as verandahs, but sometimes these and the eaves around the house and even though windows, can appear too dark. Nevertheless they can sometimes be more realistic but rendering with Advanced does take longer. When using advanced for interiors it is best to turn the sun off.
I know this is a very general answer but you will find lots of tips through the Search.
Allan
Always consider doing the best you can from within TFP, but rendering (in any 3D program) sometimes uses the law of diminishing returns; i.e. more work and long render times may produce minimal improvements or never get to desired results....when some simple post render work, using Photoshop or similar, is faster and easier and has greater capabilities.
Another post work method is to layer more than one original, using masks, to blend the best of renders into one result...or to make a pano, or to???? (use your imagination to achieve special results), change color (turn sunset more colorful or remove a color cast), or to add-in missing data...for example shadows for a "2D" TFP tree or another object/person/background/plant, or create ambient occlusion, sharpen/soften, etc.