3ds max 2014 - Mental ray IBL and FG
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Introduction
In this video for 3ds max we'll explore more in depth some new 2014 features and we'll talk about Final Gather technology to be used as global illumination solver.
What we'll do
Global illumination can be calculated with Mental Ray in different ways. Since years it is possible to use Final gather to simulate GI in a fast way obtaining nice and smooth results. Using HDRI maps with Skylight sources can be a good way to simulate realistic lighting but GI shadows quality is poor. Image Based Lighting is the solution. In 3ds max 2014 we find it as new MR feature and it can be used simply putting an image as Skylight map, and setting some rendering parameters. We'll see in depth how to use it and how it can give us better results, then we'll explore some FG parameters trying to understand how to use it to optimize quality/speed compromise during FG setting.