Making chrome with Renditioner

hellnbak · 11 Apr 2011, 04:31

I just bought IDX Renditioner, and need some help with it. Normally I use parts and pieces of photos to project textures onto parts of a car I'm modelling, but sometimes I just cannot find the right photo to use for an emblem or bumper or headlight bezel or whatever, even using Photoshop to manipulate the photo sometimes it just doesn't work well enuf. Especially if it's a lesser-known type of car, the photos just aren't available. So I bought Renditioner with the intention of rendering the object as chrome. I've attached an example of what I'm talking about. I'll use Parallel Projection and Front View to carefully position the part, render it as realistically as possible as chrome, then use that photo to project back onto the part. I think it would work, but I'm having great difficulty figuring out how to make the object look like it's chrome. I don't need to understand all the ins and outs of using Renditioner since I will only be using it for rendering chrome, so can anybody please explain how to do this, hopefully explaining the settings I would need to use? It would help me greatly. Thanks in advance.

dedmin · 11 Apr 2011, 07:40

For such a highly reflective materials the environment is very important - what are they reflecting? Here are two images - one with gray environment and the other with hdri:

honoluludesktop · 11 Apr 2011, 08:54

Which version do you have? Can you post the logo and I will have a go at it with v2.

hellnbak · 11 Apr 2011, 19:02

@honoluludesktop said:

Which version do you have? Can you post the logo and I will have a go at it with v2.

Here's the logo. Not sure which version I have, I just downloaded it a couple of weeks ago so it's the latest, but not the pro version. Thanks.

56 Ford Hood Emblem.skp

honoluludesktop · 11 Apr 2011, 19:41

Here is a quickie with v2. I am guessing that you are working with v1.1. My recollection is that that v2 and v1.2 require SketchUp v8. Go here for v2 express (free but limited resolution, I have not tried it myself, and I do not think that you can have v1.1, and v1.2 or v2 installed at the same time).

As previously pointed out, if you are planing to render in parallel projection, front view, without something to reflect, the render may be bland.

hellnbak · 12 Apr 2011, 12:11

I have version 1.2. The examples you posted don't look much like chrome, were they the "bland" examples you spoke of? Can Renditioner make it look like real chrome? And if so, can you please provide suggestions on how to go about doing this? I have searched and searched for any help on how to do it, but came up with nothing.

honoluludesktop · 12 Apr 2011, 17:11

Given the environment, and my experience,

is the best example of chrome that I can do. The logo is difficult because there is nothing to reflect except the HDRI environment. I played around with some of the render settings and got the following. Beyond these examples, you need help from someone with more experience. There are other Renditioner settings that I have not tried. If you are interested in experimenting with v2, down load express (free) via the link above, and gofor HDRI environments. Some are free.

hellnbak · 14 Apr 2011, 02:09

I appreciate your efforts, I really do. It's just so frustrating, I can't seem to find anything worthwhile anywhere as far as explaining how to get decent results with Renditioner. The so-called "manual" that comes with it may be fine for someone who already knows how to use the program, but I know less than nothing about rendering programs. It uses terms that are like a foreign language to me, and doesn't bother to explain them. I'm not computer illiterate, and I enjoy learning new programs, but I can't see investing the time and effort to learn every nuance of the thing when I only need it for one very specific purpose. That's like learning how to build a house when all you really want to do is put a new window in it.
Anyhow, thanks again, have a good one.

honoluludesktop · 14 Apr 2011, 03:45

Glad to help. Some did when I first began to render. Can you post a image of what you expect a chrome render to look like?

hellnbak · 14 Apr 2011, 04:06

Well, I need it to look ...... real. Like real chrome. If it doesn't look like real chrome, why use it in a model, might as well just paint it gray.

honoluludesktop · 14 Apr 2011, 10:33

Your examples may require high lighting by pin spotlights, and a environment with objects that can be reflected on the mirrored surfaces. v1.2 can't do this. v2 can, but as I said it will take work on your part. I did the attached but without the benefit of the criteria stated.
It's at least an improvement over your render with v1.2.

Rich O Brien · 14 Apr 2011, 11:16

I'd suggest using PhotoShop. Or GIMP.

Those have Chrome styles that can be applied to text or graphics.

Do you have this 'Fairlane' font? If not just export your parallel view with White background and geometry all black. There are plugin's by Thomthom. Blackout and Export 2D.

Then tweaked in image editor.

jason_maranto · 14 Apr 2011, 13:46

Metallic objects (chrome) are all about the environment you place them in -- without a complex environment to reflect the metallic surface looks plain/boring and too CG.

You will either want a to build an interesting lighting/reflection scene to place your chrome objects into or use proper studio type HDR background/lighting to supply interesting reflections.

Here's a link to a video showing a demo of this principle:

Best,
Jason.

hellnbak · 15 Apr 2011, 20:18

Just upgraded to Renditioner Pro (they did it for free!) and will be experimenting with it.
By the way, the photo I uploaded was just a SU Photo, not a rendered photo, so I guess your version would be an improvement

@honoluludesktop said:

It's at least an improvement over your render with v1.2.

hellnbak · 15 Apr 2011, 22:12

Well, I've been playing around with it and I think there's hope to eventually get the kind of results I want. It's not there yet, but if I can get this close after only maybe a half-hour of experimenting, there's definitely hope. Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Rich O Brien · 15 Apr 2011, 22:44

Here's a quick PS .png

honoluludesktop · 15 Apr 2011, 22:52

Great, glad to be of help. Good luck!-)

Rich, That's nice.

hellnbak · 15 Apr 2011, 23:58

@unknownuser said:

Here's a quick PS .png

[attachment=0:gd1aiu0d]Hellnbak_Logo.png[/attachment:gd1aiu0d]

Looks good, could you tell me how you went about doing that? (I have PS CS3, what version did you use?)

Rich O Brien · 16 Apr 2011, 00:04

CS5, but process is easily done in yours.

Just google 'chrome in photoshop' and you'll get tons of paint effects. The only other thing to do is follow my earlier steps

honoluludesktop · 16 Apr 2011, 02:12

Another try at it.

HellNBack, I know that a chrome finish is a chrome finish, but I still think that the finis will be lost on a render of a whole car. It's like looking at the leaves on a tree, from the viewpoint of the whole forest. Still, having been there, done that, I can relate.