Render challenge - water caustics

solo · 18 Jun 2009, 18:16

I was on the Thea forums and came across a thread showcasing a feature of the upcoming app, water caustics. This is a long awaited feature that I am anxious to try out, maybe even re-render some previous models that will benefit from this cool new feature.
Here is an image of Thea unbiased render with caustics:

As you can see it's an awesome effect that makes an ordinary pool into a spectacular one.

....so!! using your choice of rendering solution, I challenge you to 'fake' it, or not if your render solution can actually pull it off, I'd be interested to see if there is a straight up solution, the new Indigo is rumoured to have this too by the by.

Have fun.

rombout · 18 Jun 2009, 19:51

wow that really looks great. Your already a owner of the new thea render engine???

solo · 18 Jun 2009, 20:26

Hell no, I am hoping to get my grubby hands on the beta next month however.

The above was Modeled/rendered by Patrick Nieborg, he is the lucky one to have the opertunity to be playing with the alpha.

Gaieus · 18 Jun 2009, 20:34

Well, Patrick has done enough for Kerky so that he is a steady member of the dev/alpha/beta/minus gamma whatever team over the Aegean (or rather Adriatic) part of the world.

brodie · 18 Jun 2009, 21:45

I'm interested in testing this out myself but in the meantime, here's a Maxwell render (not done by me)

majid · 19 Jun 2009, 07:50

interesting.... I've done some renders using KT ( it's start was the topic that is called as "KT under water" ) and then i've tried a detail , using Indigo.... both have real caustics... and also i've mimiced it using v-ray... but at the moment I'm going to re-render an old scene using KT... and soon will upload

solo · 19 Jun 2009, 19:29

Vue is the only app I know of with real caustics, besides Thea and the new version of Indigo (which are still to be released I believe)

Here is a simple SU setup that one can use to test caustics:

Simply a water plane, with a ground plane for the refractive caustics to show on and a light source.

Here is the Vue caustic:

remus · 19 Jun 2009, 21:04

Heres my go in indigo. Taking a while to clear up though, so i'll post a (hopefully) cleaner version in the morning.

pilou · 19 Jun 2009, 22:25

Out of challenge : Zbrush for the fun

majid · 20 Jun 2009, 03:33

this is my try, fake caustics , out of KT
real coustics , pure KT (modeling and rendering, both) ,redused noise

remus · 20 Jun 2009, 07:45

heres it again after 11 hours.

samprocess · 20 Jun 2009, 12:36

very cool thread, i'm also want to try some.

remus · 20 Jun 2009, 14:35

Yeah, just a big volume:

Made using jim's randomise TIN script followed by 2 SDSs.

21D · 20 Jun 2009, 18:23

this is my try....it's a simple box, with a flat rect. geo.
sent to modo401....textured and rendered

solo · 20 Jun 2009, 19:03

Excellent Modo 401 show piece, so how is the new Modo so far?

Here is a faked caustic I did in December 2006, using Podium version 1.0.

sepo · 20 Jun 2009, 19:16

This brings some memories

21D · 20 Jun 2009, 19:32

@solo said:

Excellent Modo 401 show piece, so how is the new Modo so far?

Well haven't played to much with it, only been test running it.....the "fur" ellement is just amazing...i'll see if i can post a sample of it used to creat a grass field.
as you could see the caustics also looks good, even though i have a dual core machine, it renders pretty fast (see the caustics render screengrab), i am now going to try out the blurry refractions...
but all in all, amazing.
it's a bit more aimed now for archvis with all the presets that can be used,
i am definitly going to learn how to use it, so i can add it to my archvis workflow.

majid · 21 Jun 2009, 14:54

@solo said:

....

Here is a faked caustic I did in December 2006, using Podium version 1.0.

congrats Solo... it is an art work, out of podium!!!

dale · 21 Jun 2009, 15:42

Well not totally satisfied yet, but though I'd post the progression.
Kerkythea
Water Surface is thin glass, IOR 1.33, color changed to blueish, Perlin Noise Fresnel added

Rendered with Preset 09 Photon Caustics Medium

majid · 21 Jun 2009, 23:14

@dale said:

Well not totally satisfied yet, but though I'd post the progression.
Kerkythea
Water Surface is thin glass, IOR 1.33, color changed to blueish, Perlin Noise Fresnel added

Rendered with Preset 09 Photon Caustics Medium

if you are going to have a better result , maybe give a try over dielectric glass shader ... or maybe download waterpack I've prepared some while ago :
http://www.kerkythea.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=42&func=fileinfo&id=86
also less bump over Z direction is needed...and the best result for true caustics would be reached , using preset no 20...
also u may have your camera , just below water surface ( give it a try )