Hi all,

Has anyone experienced this with Reality 3?  I have done successful "test" renders, but when I render my current scene after adjusting some settings in Lux I find I get a black export image.

Hoping someone can help me here, otherwise, my test images looked good for low settings. 

Thanks.

How are you exporting the image?

I haven't exported it yet.  It shows up black in Luxrender.

It's as though it didn't render anything.

check your tone mapping settings
try auto linear for starters.
then check your lights gain settings on light group tab

I've found that large files will begin the tonemapping phase of the render with a sustained black screen, sometimes for as long as 4 minutes with especially large files. If your still "in the black" for longer than that, I'd agree with trying what AlanaDale has suggested.

A couple of thing to help determine the cause:

• Are you using the GPU? If so then turn GPU acceleration off

• Do you have a light visible in the frame? If so switch the tonemapper to linear and adjust the exposure. If a light is in the frame the autolinear tonemapper will adjust the exposure for the brighness of the light with the result that the rest of the scene plunges in darkness

• Are you using the Studio Cubed? If so check the camera, it's likely to be outside the Studio. Make the backwall of the Studio transparent or move the camera inside.

btw, when you click on "Render frame" from Reality you are exporting the scene to Lux.

Hope this helps.

Thanks all for your input --

Pret-a,  I think you hit the nail on the head.  I recall clicking "GPU Acceleration."  I'll turn it off and see what happens.  I'll keep you all posted. 

Thanks again everyone who responded. 

Okay,

I did a test render but ---

A -- It's very dark.

B -- Very very grainy.  Is there anything I can do about the grainy aspects of the output?  I also have the lights in Poser and they're perfect there....

Thanks again for your inputs. 

If it's very grainy and dark you probably are using an IBL light with an enclosed space.

IBL lights are external, like if there were the sky. If you have an enclosed space then the light doesn't come through.

The key of understanding Lux is that it is a physical renderer. Things work like if you were taking a photo. 

It's necessary to shed the unrealistic habits learned with Poser and put yourself in the shoes of a photographer shooting a real-life scene.

Hope this helps.

Quote - Okay,

I did a test render but ---

A -- It's very dark.

B -- Very very grainy.  Is there anything I can do about the grainy aspects of the output?  I also have the lights in Poser and they're perfect there....

Thanks again for your inputs. 

How long has the render been running? 

Did you change any of the material settings with Reality (ie glossy to matt or lowering the glossy setting)  The higher the gloss on the materials the longer it can take to clear up. 

Just some things to check.

The Render runs very quickly, and I did change the settings in reality for car paint type effects, but that's all.

Will see how long the newer one lasts.  I know there'll be many tweaks to do with this new product before I find the just right setting. 

I know I'm good with the lights in Poser, so it shouldn't affect me with those. 

Back to the drawing board as they say.

Quote - I know I'm good with the lights in Poser, so it shouldn't affect me with those. 

I don't doubt your skills but keep in mind that lighting with Lux is very different. Please see the relavant chapter in the Reality User's Guide.

It's best to avoid Poser lights at first because they:

a) Tend to overlightn the scene. Lux needs a fraction of the lights

b) They are not realistic. Poser light sets make use of many spots and Infinite lights, which are both not desirable in Lux. Mesh lights are your best lighting option.

In general it's best to disable all Poser lights in Reality and use one or two mesh lights to start. Add more as you become more familiar. Sun and IBL need to be used only when there is a clear path for the light, like with extrior scene or interiors with windows that can let the light come through.

Cheers.

Thanks Paolo ---- I'll try that as well......

I'll have to fool around with the poser lights and see what happens.