White isn't white in free Maxwell Render!?

Kreativ3D

Hi!

The more I use the free Maxwell Render, I really enjoy using it and I think the final images are nice. But I have some questions about colors. When I'm using a SketchUp material that is white (RGB 255, 255, 255) and let the type in Maxwell Scene Manager be Automatic, I get nice white walls.

To my furniture that are white in the scene I use the Laquer in Maxwell Scene Manager, but despite that the color is white with a RGB value of 255, 255, 255, it's getting ligt grey! Not that that pure white color I get from Automatic type. If I use the Automatic to the furniture, to I get some miner error in the rendering!

I'm doing a scene where the camera is outside of a house facing towards the facade and through the window glass.

I would preciate some help to get white colors white when I'm using Laquer or perhaps another type?

Thanks!

jason_maranto

You should never ever use "white" RGB 255 with Maxwell -- Maxwell is based on spectral color calculations and in that colorspace "white" RGB 225 is the value of a white sheet of paper.

See here: http://support.nextlimit.com/display/maxwelldocs/Reflectance

I also cover these basic Maxwell concepts here: http://www.vtc.com/products/Maxwell-Render-2-Tutorials.htm

I do explain why bright colors are not the same in some of the embedded character type materials in my "SketchUp to Maxwell" VTC course, but that requires that you have MXED (part of the full Maxwell Render Suite) and know how to use it (either from watching my Maxwell course or some other means) in order to understand the mechanisms at work. The bottom line is many of those character-based materials auto-mix with a grey material (it's actually a BSDF but that means nothing to you) to control the gloss -- unfortunately the grey material also pollutes the purity of the color in the process.

Perhaps this video may help to understand the issue a little bit:
Youtube Video

Best,
Jason.

Kreativ3D

Hi!
I have a new question about the free Maxwell Render. Is it possible to make color glass? I have tried both Glass and AGS in the Scene Manager, but the glass only gets transparent! I have also tried to use Lacquer and change the opacity, but that doesn't work. Ideas are welcome!

jason_maranto

If you just need a colored transparent object the best thing to do is to use the SketchUp material controls to reduce the opacity and leave the Maxwell character type set to automatic.

If you want a true dielectric glass/plastic then there are a couple of things to be aware of : first the object you are applying the material to must be a closed volume (SketchUp Solid). Second, these types of materials can take a very long time to render.

That said if you do want a colored glass/plastic it can be done using the SSS character type... Just reduce the "Density" to 0 to make it transparent(rather than translucent) -- the thickness controls the power of the color (attenuation), lower thickness makes the color stronger.

Best,
Jason.

Kreativ3D

I guess I have to drop this idea! I was planning to use it as glass on a balcony front, and when I used the Automatic, it got so pale and not the colorful that I was hoping.

Regarding a earlier thread, is this how you ment, to ask different questions about Maxwell Render in only one thread? To reuse an old thread? But what if someone has the same question, and can't find it due to another topic headline, then the person write a new thread?!

jason_maranto

That's a valid point -- for while now we've all been re-using this thread:

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=41040

So there alot of information in there already, there are a few others, but that is the one I use myself... I actually get an email whenever somebody posts to that thread so I know there's something here I need to look at.

Best,
Jason.