Hey guys, thanks for all the input.
Rob, thanks for all the advice.
1)By default in VRay GI is set on. I changed some of the parameters for a softer shadow.I changed the size from 1 to 2, and the shadow subdiv from 20 to 32.
2) For the sky dome, are you talking about HDRI? or are you just talking about placing a background image. How would I go about doing that and where could I acquire spherical images that would work?
3) I didn't get to the window frames and other minor details at the point of rendering that image, but I will certainly get to that! π
Tom, so your saying that for displacement to work, no other geometry can be touching the object? Even if it is grouped/made component? How would I get around this? On this next image I believe my displacement worked. I elevated the counter 1/4" from the stone island as well as the BBQ, so then only thing that it is coming in contact with is the ground, but it appeared to work.
Secondly, just wanted to say that I got the water to work. Found the right combo of adjusted parameters to get that semi transparent, bluish tint and got the displacement to work also. (I think I just had the size to high to notice any change. It was at 300 and I brought it down to 5 and it was perfect. I put it to 300 only because I saw in a tutorial that the guy did that, so...)
Anyway, here is a picture of my progress, slowly but surely. I did want to ask a few more things, that is if you all don't mind.
How to get a more realistic brushed metal material.
What type of material I should do for the BBQ, if you don't think that the stone I used is good. (Keep in mind the new material has to match with the redish brick facade of the house.)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/sav_phili/House%20-%20KL/test_render08.jpg
Thanks for your time and help!!!
Steve