Renders too dark

[Henry Blewer]

I am curious. I think my monitor is calibrated well. I have used Corel Paint X2's calibration. I have tested itwith Microsoft's and the THX DVD calibration on some DVD's.

[Oshyan]

Hard to say, maybe you just like darker or more muted scenes. I think perhaps the best test would be to see what images *others* have done that you A: like in terms of brightness and B: which you think are too bright or too dark. I do find your images overall to be rather dark though for *my* taste and monitor setups (multiple).

Also, I don't know anything about Corel Paint X2's calibration function (and perhaps it only affects Paint X2 workspace like Adobe's color calibration is specific to Adobe workspaces?), but you might try a free comparative test: http://www.calibrize.com/

- Oshyan

[Henry Blewer]

I'll check this out Oshyan.

[Henry Blewer]

Nice program Oshyan. The contrast settings were just about right, but the color was too bright by quite a bit. Thanks for the tip!

(Now I have to re-render everything... )

[Oshyan]

If you really want to do it right of course you'll need a hardware device. Pantone's Huey:
http://www.amazon.com/Pantone-MEU101-huey/dp/B000CR78C4/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1278988453&sr=1-9
or the Spyder 3 Express:
http://www.amazon.com/ColorVision-S3X100-SPYDER3EXPRESS/dp/B002OCF57K/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1278988453&sr=1-10
are both affordable options.

- Oshyan

[Kadri]

If you really want to do it right of course you'll need a hardware device. Pantone's Huey:
http://www.amazon.com/Pantone-MEU101-huey/dp/B000CR78C4/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1278988453&sr=1-9
or the Spyder 3 Express:
http://www.amazon.com/ColorVision-S3X100-SPYDER3EXPRESS/dp/B002OCF57K/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1278988453&sr=1-10
are both affordable options.
- Oshyan

They look really affordable and the reviews are good. Did you tried them Oshyan?

[Oshyan]

I bought the Spyder3 recently and ran it, seemed to work pretty well. Haven't had a really challenging test yet (against say a professional print job), but so far it seems good. Turned out my monitor too was overbright.

- Oshyan

[Kadri]

Thanks , Oshyan 

[Henry Blewer]

I have them bookmarked. The Calibrize showed me the colors were too saturated. I have come to the conclusion I like darker images. I do work from midnight to 8 am; bright sunlight is too much these days.

[domdib]

My two cents: it's not so much that they're dark, but your renders often seem to me to be rather "flat" in the lighting, which may be more a function of the typical sun angles and headings you use. Also, what sun strength do you go with?

[Henry Blewer]

It varies by the sun angle. If I have the sun low above the horizon. I increase the sun strength. I often use cloud cover to diffuse the light from the sun also. I like cloudy days. I do not like too much sunlight when I am out side. I try to have renders which look 'ideal' to me.