Environmental reflections

n3v · 8 May 2012, 20:56

Hi guys

could somebody help clear this up for me, hopefully in a detailed and straight forward way.

Essentially I want to encorporate the tones and colours from a site photo into the colours of the model but more importantly in the reflections of the building.

In the past I have simply modeled the surrounding context and this has worked, in this case however it wont, now I've read the tutorials about using a Bitmap for GI and BG but have had mixed results I really need to retain the shadows from the sketchup sky at the same time as well, could anyone clear this up for me please, do I put the bitmap into GI or BG and what setting would I use?

VRAY 1.48 and Sketchup 7

chon · 9 May 2012, 06:31

Hello,

Take a look at this tutorial VIDEO .

You will have good results with HDR bitmaps for GI and BG.

n3v · 9 May 2012, 12:04

Chon

Thanks for the speedy response, it seems like quite along work around but at least I get to learn more about the software!

Do you know if this works as well for bitmaps and if not why not?

Thanks!

chon · 9 May 2012, 13:11

@n3v said:

Do you know if this works as well for bitmaps and if not why not?

Yes, you can use "regular" bitmaps instead of HDR. You'll just have best results with HDR.

n3v · 9 May 2012, 13:47

Ok Cheers

i'm guessing you've watched that vid, is there any reason why he turns the physical camera off? would this still work?

valerostudio · 10 May 2012, 13:34

The quickest way to get an existing site into your reflections is to take several shots with your digital camera, stitch them together in Photoshop, then create an arched plane in SU behind the camera and map the image onto it so that it will appear in your reflections.

rspierenburg · 10 May 2012, 15:57

Another option I've seen before is taking pictures of what is to be reflected, reverse it and then paste it as a material on the reflective surface.

n3v · 10 May 2012, 19:26

Hi guys thanks for your replys, I am probably going to go down this route because I'm more confident with this method that any other ie messing around with GI lighting, shadows as well as physical camera on or off. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks!

n3v · 10 May 2012, 20:59

@valerostudio said:

The quickest way to get an existing site into your reflections is to take several shots with your digital camera, stitch them together in Photoshop, then create an arched plane in SU behind the camera and map the image onto it so that it will appear in your reflections.

Hey Valero

when you put it onto the plane how do you get the scale correct? can you position the texture at all?