i figured if i could import several obj files at different times, i can assemble the car together, not the best way, but oh well. here's a new render. Can someone please help me w/ making this like all shiny and pretty, like some of the renders in the lightwave gallery. I can't seem to achieve that metalic effect. Thanks.

Hi Darien, Well, metallic paint that's used for cars is not really metallic ... For example, on a colored metal, you would need some colored highlights and reflections . But for car paint, highlights and reflections don't appear colored (to me at least) . So just put values for highlights and reflections . And don't forget that reflections aren't useful if what they reflect is not adapted to the effect you're looking for . About highlights, for car paint you have very small highlights that shine a lot . So, a high shininess and a very high highlight is usually the best . i hope it helps, litst

I concur with litst........ almost. Highlight: Color of the car with A value slider (Somewhere 80 to 100) Mixed with a value slider until pleased. and Reflection: Color of the car with A value slider (Somewhere 20 to 50) Mixed with a value slider until pleased. Try litst suggestion first to see if you like it. -Kix

Hi Darien, The "Glamour" photography auto shots are always indoor studio shots. Even for outdoor ads, the ads are composites. (I've worked on some). In order to get that look, you actually need to set up Carrara like a photo studio for the render. Photographers earn most of their money by being good users of light. Likewise, lighting the scene in Carrara is a make or break issue. It's not difficult to set up once you understand what needs to be where but it is more complex than I can show here. I'm working on a tutorial about this very thing that should be done really soon. I will post back when it's completed. Mark

very cool mark, i'll be looking forward to that tutorail. Thanks litst and kixum...'ll mess w/ those settings.

As a Carrara user and a photogorapher, I couldn't agree with Mark more. It's not trivial but it can seriously pay off. I'll be looking forward to that tutorial as well! -Kix

Great Image Mark. Can't wait to see the tutorial as you are right, getting lighting down is difficult and is a science! Regards, -Paul

Check out this site for a lighting tutorial done by Gary Beale in Ray Dream. Gary is a pro photographer who also does 3D. He also has some killer tips on doing a metalflake shader. Most of this is still applicable in Carrara. http://www.globalserve.net/~gfb/tut57lit.htm

awesome...i will check it out for sure..thanks mucho