Quote - > Quote - Now this really is the last image in this series (for now), but I do plan on trying to recreate this look in other settings. Think I'm going to start browsing some old black and white movie posters for inspiration. 

 

 

Love what your doing with the black and white....

Thanks KH.  And I just realized that image was my 100th post on these forums. Nice way to celebrate. 

Quote - Now this really is the last image in this series (for now), but I do plan on trying to recreate this look in other settings. Think I'm going to start browsing some old black and white movie posters for inspiration. 

This is the one that had 603 materials to edit in Reality. Luckily most of them were in the lower part of the building and didn't show in the scene so I didn't have to do much with them. But still a pain to go though the list in the Reality window.

Well worth the effort! Bet it make a 'stellar' (ah ha ha) desktop image! I'd even hang it in the office ;-) 

Quote - Here is what I have going so far with the lab scene. It ran over night to 1.8k and did not clear up, so more adjustments to gloss needed.   This is a challenge for sure and fun as well.

What IOR did you use on your glass? I can never seem to get that nice distortion effect ;-( 

I set all the glass to Hyper with an IOR of 1.47

Quote - Here is what I have going so far with the lab scene. It ran over night to 1.8k and did not clear up, so more adjustments to gloss needed.   This is a challenge for sure and fun as well.

I suggest to set the liquids to be of standard glass (no hyper, no archi). That should help. With that you will also have fine control on the IOR, which can be useful.

BTW, I like the glowing eye on the rat :)

Quote - Here is what I have going so far with the lab scene. It ran over night to 1.8k and did not clear up, so more adjustments to gloss needed.   This is a challenge for sure and fun as well.

some great position for the light - love those caustics! - you beat me to it with the glowing eye... Been struggling with the new download, will say why in a mo

Quote - BTW, I like the glowing eye on the rat :)

You caught that.. hehe!   Thanks for the info, I will give that a try.  I have all the liquids set to water right now.  Maybe that's the problem......   If I set them to glass I will lose the caustic reflections won't I?

way over the top with spangles here... this is what I left over night last night.... although three Dformers straightened out the tube rack! `¬)

Quote - Here is the link (same as before):

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3701566/3DRenderChallenge/MadScience.zip

And here is a quick and dirty test of the glass and tube holder. I only change the materials for the holder, the tubes and the liquids inside, it's a 5-minute setup just to test that everything works as expected, lot of noise still there but it does show the fixes.

Cheers.

Paolo,

Sorry to be a pain, I just re-downloaded the new zip (the obj file in it is now 9,574kb it was before 8,545kb), but the tube rack is still distorted exactly the same as before, but this time none of the mtl settings are imported either... sorry for keep hasseling you! `¬)

heres the original image you posted...

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2849428&page=140

...I could go back to the version I was using, but if anyone else wanted to download it, it would not be so easy as all the materials are defaulted to glossy at 255,255,255... Unless its some issue that I have with studio for some reason...

The first line in the mtl file does say '# MTL written from /Users/paolo/Downloads/3drenders/madScience3.objnewmtl' whereas the previous one had '# MTL written from /Users/paolo/Downloads/3drenders/madScience.objnewmtl' so not sure if its just a naming issue? (although the tube rack geometry is still skewy, so ... I'm not sure? - the obj file first line also says 'madScience3'...

So I renamed the obj and mtl files to be 'madScience3' and then some of the materials seem to come in ok... the tubes are still set to glossy, and although the sphereseems to be see through (says its glass), when I set the tubes to glass and click hyperreal glass, the sphere then renders almost black, with the same exposure etc... even though the material for it in reality has not changed? I'm somewhat stumped... (not difficult for me to be confused these days!) `¬)  ...I'll carry on with the new version for now, as I can sort some materials out... SuperboomTurbos render shows that there is a way forward with the previous version too... I'm just unsure why setting one material as mentioned for the tubes is affected another seperate material in the render only...  (the same happened in the post above too?)

Quote - > Quote - Here is what I have going so far with the lab scene. It ran over night to 1.8k and did not clear up, so more adjustments to gloss needed.   This is a challenge for sure and fun as well.

some great position for the light - love those caustics! - you beat me to it with the glowing eye... Been struggling with the new download, will say why in a mo

I ran about 20 quick renders just playing with the lights.  I wound up with 2 spots for main lights, 3 mesh for fill along with the brain, radio buttons and rat eye's converted to lights

Quote - > Quote - BTW, I like the glowing eye on the rat :)

You caught that.. hehe!   Thanks for the info, I will give that a try.  I have all the liquids set to water right now.  Maybe that's the problem......   If I set them to glass I will lose the caustic reflections won't I?

I think the 'water' material is a Lux 'Glass' anyway, so maybe caustics will still happen? worth a try! I might give that a go too... `¬) ...Your caustics rock at the moment!

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - Here is what I have going so far with the lab scene. It ran over night to 1.8k and did not clear up, so more adjustments to gloss needed.   This is a challenge for sure and fun as well.

some great position for the light - love those caustics! - you beat me to it with the glowing eye... Been struggling with the new download, will say why in a mo

 

I ran about 20 quick renders just playing with the lights.  I wound up with 2 spots for main lights, 3 mesh for fill along with the brain, radio buttons and rat eye's converted to lights

I've ignored lights, just one soft box, while I try to get some materials set up... presently taking photos and scanning things to get some textures and bumps thrown in... then I'll think of lights... got a couple of thoughts... :)

Quote - way over the top with spangles here... this is what I left over night last night.... although three Dformers straightened out the tube rack! `¬)

 

The sphere gave me problems also. I set it to a Reflection of 129 and Transmission of 128, Hyper with IOR of 1.47.

It Looks like your radio blew up. What's with that?

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - BTW, I like the glowing eye on the rat :)

You caught that.. hehe!   Thanks for the info, I will give that a try.  I have all the liquids set to water right now.  Maybe that's the problem......   If I set them to glass I will lose the caustic reflections won't I?

I think the 'water' material is a Lux 'Glass' anyway, so maybe caustics will still happen? worth a try! I might give that a go too... `¬) ...Your caustics rock at the moment!

Thanks!   I might just leave the flask on the right that's producing all the caustics as is and set the others to glass.  Worth a try.....

Quote -  If I set them to glass I will lose the caustic reflections won't I?

Not sure about that...

Paolo, in addition to the issue with the naming of the obj/mtl file to 3, above, I can also confirm that if I set the item 'Liquid_top' to bright red, the 'Glass_sphere' is what actually changes colour... also tried bright pink! (I selected the liquid top by viewing the flask on the rhs from above, so was a bit surprised when the globe changed colour instead? lol!

Sorry about the madScience3 snafu, I saved it initially with that name and then renamed the files forgetting about the mtl reference inside the obj. I just updated the file again but, of course, that's an easy fix to apply. Anyway, the new files should work just fine.

Regarding the Glass_sphere material, it works as expected on my machine. The same is for the tube holder, there might be an issue with DS3's import of the geometry. I can't reproduce it on my machine.

yes the file name is an easy fix... I'm not sure what's going on with the sphere and the liquid surface... I am getting some odd little interacyions... but hopefully I can get around them... just makes it more challanging! `¬)

The tube rack wireframe view I posted is looking from behind it looking forward... If you look at your example render http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/media/folder_10/file_487189.png it is also curved, but this is looking from the front towards the back. If you compare the shape with the original image you posted that came from the original site, you can see that the rack is square not curved... Anyway, its not a big issue really, it depends on the viewpoint, so is not really an important part of the challange! (As mentioned, I used some Dformers on it, ¬) ...once I have some materials set, I might go back to your new download, as that has the liquid in the tubes sorted... it depends how noticable it is...¬)

...anyway, it is a bit of fun, and I'm itching to do more, but may call it a night tonight! Thank you for the challange Paolo, I think its what some of us needed! `¬)

Quote - Regarding the Glass_sphere material, it works as expected on my machine. The same is for the tube holder, there might be an issue with DS3's import of the geometry. I can't reproduce it on my machine.

I'm using DS4.5 and the rack is distorted for me also. Look at the image I posted...

Great B&W and Mad Science renders folks! Notsure that my lab will be up to scratch, maybe it'll be better off staying on my machine :lol:

This is with a few more tweaks... I have a further tweaked one to run overnight...

@KH... Notice the rack... I have three Dformers on it, so if anyone wants the deformer info I can post the info and parameters on them tomorrow; that way you can just load them and set them and its done...

...the other thing I noticed is the plasmasphere_emitter shoots its light out the bottom... so will probably replace it with an alternate light source later... ;)

http://fav.me/d5gou2f

Quote - Great B&W and Mad Science renders folks! Notsure that my lab will be up to scratch, maybe it'll be better off staying on my machine :lol:

...I don't believe that Doc, I'm sure we will all have issues that we can help each other with along the way, that's part of the fun! (my first few tests nearly made me give up, most were instant 'white outs'!), besides it will be like the good old days when we did this last year on the Reality thread at Daz? ;)

Quote - This is with a few more tweaks... I have a further tweaked one to run overnight...

@KH... Notice the rack... I have three Dformers on it, so if anyone wants the deformer info I can post the info and parameters on them tomorrow; that way you can just load them and set them and its done...

 

...the other thing I noticed is the plasmasphere_emitter shoots its light out the bottom... so will probably replace it with an alternate light source later... ;)

http://fav.me/d5gou2f

Dformer???????????   What's that?  Oh yes, now I remember, It's one of those doohickeys you use to blow things up with.  :lol:   I must learn how to use those some day...

I was thinking the same with the emitter. It's not quite right the way it is.. Maybe a point light would work.. 

Looking good! ...more than nice start I'd say!

Looking at all these, beginning to have second thoughts about mine. And it has been rendering for 8 hours so far ......

Quote - Looking at all these, beginning to have second thoughts about mine. And it has been rendering for 8 hours so far ......

I've heard this line before Doc..... :lol:   I can't wait to see it...    I do understand that it would be easier for you if allowed to insert nude female...  hehe

Nude breasts make things harder for Doc. 

Quick, somebody post a render! 

My latest...

Solitude

(having wierd monitor issues, one monitor this looks too dark, the other looks too bright, yet compared on both at the same time there is little difference - my eyes are going wierd.  Too dark or too bright?)

Enjoy,

Abi.

Did I just read your mind SBT?  hehe.

Abi.

Quote - My latest...

Solitude

(having wierd monitor issues, one monitor this looks too dark, the other looks too bright, yet compared on both at the same time there is little difference - my eyes are going wierd.  Too dark or too bright?)

Enjoy,

Abi.

I've been having dark/light issues too, all on the same monitor.  I get an image just how I want in Lux but it's brighter in any image viewer.  I have to adjust the gamma correction to about .90 in Photoshop on almost every image. 

I've noticed that on some images too, normally I open them in PS to resave them to jpg for Rendo so I tweak them then, but it's only on some images and there's no real pattern, some are bright scenes, others dark - I probably just need to calibrate my screens and calibrate my eyes!

Abi.

Quote - Did I just read your mind SBT?  hehe.

Abi.

I was going to say you saved me, unless you can deduce what I'm doing now ;-) 

Quote - My latest...

Solitude

(having wierd monitor issues, one monitor this looks too dark, the other looks too bright, yet compared on both at the same time there is little difference - my eyes are going wierd.  Too dark or too bright?)

Enjoy,

Abi.

Nicely moody... slightly dark, but fits the scene. Nice posing. `¬)

Morning... an overnight (9 hour) test render... 1k4 s/p (larger image to get a better overall feel) still a lot of things to sort, including that funky radio! Strange dark area in the top of the third section of the quad flask and ontop of liquid in beaker... may be solved by moving to Paolo's latest download... but that will be later! Geometry showing up on the rat, presently set to velvet which makes the geometry stand out... ;)

http://fav.me/d5gqi00

...one other strange material seems to be the radio antenna... I think I set mine to metal, and I now have one shiney and one black??? ...I notice Mustang has the same issue... Pretty convinced there are a few odd material interactions... but may be able to make it less obvious with carefull material manipulation? I hope so, as these minor bits stand out once you notice them! ...will have to have a play tonight and see... `¬)

...it may also depend on the material selection for something else as well, which has been what I have found with one or two items... curiouser and curiouser... If I find out what it is I'll post the info `¬)

Quote - ...one other strange material seems to be the radio antenna... I think I set mine to metal, and I now have one shiney and one black??? ...I notice Mustang has the same issue... Pretty convinced there are a few odd material interactions... but may be able to make it less obvious with carefull material manipulation? I hope so, as these minor bits stand out once you notice them! ...will have to have a play tonight and see... `¬)

...it may also depend on the material selection for something else as well, which has been what I have found with one or two items... curiouser and curiouser... If I find out what it is I'll post the info `¬)

Love that distorted glass Mbi! (Hmm, Mbi and Abi  )

In case anyone else working on this happened to grab the Daz Mil Cat when it was free, I found an equally curious event in which the cat texture will compress onto the rat fairly equally. How's that for mad science! 

You guys need a calibration tool e.g. Datacolor Spyder 3/4, etc. It is really a good investment and best way to have the monitors correctly set up.

My Mad Science render. Thanks to John for splitting the single OBJ into the various parts.

Render details: 20 hours and 40 minutes, 5.00 kS/p.

The goggles on the right side also has the same problem rendering out. I tried different setting on metal but it still comes out black

Nice one Doc! that does work very well to give an alternative arrangement! `¬)

Quote - The goggles on the right side also has the same problem rendering out. I tried different setting on metal but it still comes out black

do you mean that bottom lens? ...it is strange, as I set mine originally to mirror on the goggles, and now is aluminium and my lens I think is ok, so I guess it is the result of setting something else as well? that is what I found initially... as though there are several strange interactions happening... what may also make it more confusing is that there are probably three or four versions of the original obj/mtl file so we may also be on different versions too? Hopefully some of these interactions might get pinned down as we go on... ;)

thanks superboom! (I think - which glass do you mean...?!) `¬)

Quote - My Mad Science render. Thanks to John for splitting the single OBJ into the various parts.

Render details: 20 hours and 40 minutes, 5.00 kS/p.

Interesting way to light the scene with the light globes.  BTW, did John post a link to a file that has the OBJ split up?  If so, I must have missed it.

Thanks mbin and 59Burst.

I cheated and ask John privately. I don't know what the copyright issues might be by making it available publicy, maybe Paolo can provide some guidance.

Doc would you able to hide a part if one wishes?

Yes, you need to use the Polygon Group Editor. With that active, click on the surface of the item you want to hide. Right-click it and select polygon assignment -> create surface from selection. You can then set that new surface to Null in Reality. Also handy to split a surface up. That is what I did with the table top, created  an outer rim.