RENDERERS (ENGINES)

There are a couple of rendering engines that I know of and which you can use in Max. However, I’m not going to discuss how to use them in this section. The first engine is the default rendering engine in Max. You can also use Brazilian Rendering System or Brazil RS. Brazil RS is a third party software which you need to install separately and you need license to make it work with Max. But for discussion purposes I will just introduce to you these rendering engines.

If you don’t have any third party rendering engine, then you use 3D Max’s Default Scanline Renderer. As its name says, it scans the active scene and converts data into the specified render output format. Notice every time you render your scenes you can see a line that moves from top to bottom just like how the light of a scanner moves.

“Brazil r/s is the industry standard for high-end quality, flexibility, reliability, and artist-friendly workflow in 3ds Max”. You can check more on Brazil RS in this website.

http://splutterfish.com/sf/WebContent/B4MaxFeatures

Figure 6-3. Default Scanline Renderer.

Figure 6-7. Brazil Rendering System for Rhino


References and Recommended Links

Principles of Three-Dimensional Computer Animation, Michael O’Rourke, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 1998

Character Rigging in Discreet 3ds Max 6 - Online Training Library
http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=94

DNA Molecule Making - FSBANANA Tutorials
http://www.fpsbanana.com/tuts/7444

CG Tutorials - Autodesk 3ds max
http://www.cgtutorials.com/c1/Autodesk_3ds_max

3D Total
http://www.3dtotal.com/

3DS Max Modeling Box Model a Car Tutorial
http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/Box-Model-a-Car/4691

SOFTutorials.com
http://www.softutorials.com/c66/3D_Studio_Max

CG Textures
http://www.cgtextures.com/

VIDEO RENDERING

Just like rendering images, video rendering in Max allows you to choose the dimension. However, the main difference between rendering images and videos is the number of frames. For Max to render your scene as video, it renders the sequence of images (frames) and compiles it as a video file.

Figure 6-2. Rendering a video file.

Try This!

1. Open the lighting.max from http://www.mediafire.com/?2pathhocnwd4wy8.

2. Make sure that the Camera01 is active for rendering. Go to Rendering menu and choose Render.

3. In the ‘Common Parameters’ roll-out, click on the ‘Range:’. Don’t forget to click the 800x600 button for a larger output.

4. Scroll-down and check the Save File and click on the Files button.

5. In the Render Output File, choose the location where you want to save the video file. Rename the file appropriately and choose AVI as its Save as type file.

6. Click on the Save button. A window will appear for the first time you render a video file. Just leave the default settings and click on the OK button. Just wait for Max to finish rendering all of the frames and you can now view your video file.

Lights! Camera! Render!

All right! Now you have the idea on how to place lights and cameras in your scenes. You can practice more by doing the exercise I have prepared for you.

Try This!

1. Download the lighting.max from the link below. You’ll light up this scene using 2 Omni lights and 1 target direct.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2pathhocnwd4wy8

2. Notice that we have 3 light sources. The light bulb is the primary light while the lamp and the window will provide for the ambience effect of the room. Place an Omni light just below the light bulb object.

3. Set the following Intensity and Color parameters of the light bulb.

Color: R 255, G 240, B 180
Multiplier: 1.25

4. In the ‘Far Attenuation’ group, check on the ‘Use’ box and change the following parameters.

Start: 1000
End: 2000
Use: On

5. Now, let’s add shadow effects to the main source of light. Go to the General Parameters and Shadow Parameters to change the following values.

Object Shadows: On
Type: Shadow Map
Color: R 125, G 135, B 60
Density: 0.7

6. Copy the light bulb and place it inside the lamp shade.

7. Set the color of this light to R 180, G 250, B 245 and change the value for the Multiplier back to 1.0.

8. Let’s add an atmospheric effect to the light emitted by the lamp. Open the ‘Atmosphere Effects’ roll-out and click on the ‘Add’ button. Choose ‘Volume Light’ and click the ‘OK’ button. Now, select the Volume Light and click on the ‘Setup’ button.

9. Look for the ‘Volume Light Parameters’ roll-out and make the necessary changes.

Attenuation Color: R 0, G 125, B 75
Use Attenuation Color: On
Density: 1
Max Light %: 20

10. It’s time to add the sunlight. Place a Target Direct outside the room and make sure the target passes through the window.

11. Set the following values accordingly. These will create a warm light.

General Parameters
Cast Shadows: On
Color: R 250, G 245, B 215
Multiplier: 2.0

Directional Parameters
Hotspot: 300
Falloff: 400
Light Cone Type: Rectangle

Shadow Parameters
Object Shadows Type: Shadow Map
Color: R 100, G 90, B 0

Far Attenuation
Start: 6000
End: 7000
Use: On

12. Go to the Atmosphere & Effects roll-out and add a Volume Light. Once you’re done, select Volume Light and click on the Setup button.

13. Scroll down and look for the Volume Light Parameters and set the following values.

Attenuation Color: R 190, G 200, B 0
Use Attenuation Color: On
Density: 2

14. Set the values for the ‘Global Tint’ as follows. R 210, G 215, B 130 this will give tint effect to all the lights in the scene.

15. Your scene should look similar to that of the rendered image below.

Next stop, you’ll learn how to animate your objects in the scene!