Is there a fast, efficient way to position a mirror in order for it to reflect a desired object, and for that reflection to be visible to the camera used for the render?  I usually get by with trial and error, but I'm thinking there has to be a better way...

I switch to another camera to help position it, but this only helps somewhat. Still a lot of  tweaking the mirror's position, and test renders. I know that it can't be directly behind my object, unless it is set at some angle.

For example, I have a camera pointed up at figure, and its proving difficult to position a mirror behind the figure in order to get the reflection I want.

Just now I experimented with trying to set up a long prop along the POV of the camera to be used for the render, then try to align the mirror using this line-of-sight prop, if you get my meaning.  Not sure if this will help, as I'm doing yet another test render now....

Just to be clear: I don't have a problem with creating a reflecting surface, just the positioning of the surface.

Any tips? Thanks.

I'm interested in this as well.  The image I am trying to do is having a mirror reflect the image of someone that's across the room. 

Like Linkdink, I'm thinking that the mirror has to be in a very precise position.  Very much trial and error and so far I haven't found 'the spot' yet.

I wonder if using point at in the object menu would help any.
ie mirror points at subject, then camera points at mirror.

I may have to try this out when I get home (if no one beats me to it)

mirror points at subject, then camera points at mirror>

That might help with the mirror, but I don't want to move the camera, which "point at" would probably do.  I have the camera set to where I want it relative to the figure.

I had some success by using the Cane from the Prop Types set, elongating it, then moving it around until it served as a physical line-of-sight from the camera. Then I switched to another camera, and moved the mirror around til it looked like it might work. Tweaked from there.

Still, gotta be a better way...... maybe P7's "better preview" might provide at least some representation of reflections - ?

I have a couple of short-cuts that I sometimes use (still needs a lot of test-renders,m but not so many).

1. Position/angle the mirror from the top view. Remember that in order to see the reflection, the angle between the mirror and the camera must be the same (in the opposite direction) as that between the object and the mirror. Of course, this gets much more tricky if your mirror and/or camera is rotated in any angle other than the Y axis..

2. Try using a (very) big 1-sided square for the mirror during set-up. That way you can (almost) always see exactly where the reflection is. Once you've got the reflection positioned where you want it, replace the big square with the mirror, using the same angles (or shring the square down to the correct proportions for the mirror and delete the reflecting surface from whatever prop you're using for the mirror - only feasible if the mirror is rectangular..)

Hope that helps..

Cheers,
Diolma

It depends on where your lights are. I always have to experiment.

Try this: 1- Load another fig(ex.: V3 without Inj Morphs or loPoly Fig) 2- Apply same pose as main fig. 3- 'Swap' the pose(Having IK on for legs & arms will help). 4- Place Mirfig opposite Mirror Same distance as OriFig. 5- Make Mirror Tranparent or 'Outlined' to see MirFig. 6- Now play with mirror pos to 'till you see what you like. That way, no need to move camera at all! :-) Hope this helps! Markus