Forest Glade

Jonathan · September 22, 2011, 05:18:46 PM

Hi All - inspired by RArcher, I have produced this and rather like it - not sure about the misty foggy stuff though - any comments, as always, are very welcome! Jonathan

TheBadger · September 22, 2011, 08:55:25 PM

Good mood. This image would be great if you added the arm of someone (battered and bleeding) reaching for the light. Almost made it out of the darkness, almost.

Dune · September 23, 2011, 02:54:34 AM

I like it too (had to shut the curtains to have a proper look, though). The misty fog is a bit too smallish, perhaps larger (warped) ridges would be better. In Holland we call them 'Witte Wieven' (white wives) for some reason.

Jonathan · September 23, 2011, 05:00:20 AM

Sadly I have no bruised and bleeding arm

I have changed the fog and lightened the scene though

Hannes · September 23, 2011, 12:26:15 PM

Well done. I hope you keep on improving this scene. Imho you should decrease the smallest size of the PF or whatever you used for the density of the mist to get more detail.
The other thing is a must!!!!!!! Turn on "receive shadows from surfaces" in the quality tab! This image needs those typical rays. The rendertime will be a lot longer, but it's worth the waiting.

Jonathan · September 23, 2011, 12:35:53 PM

Hi Hannes, I will try the receive shadows etc etc. I will give it a try soon (working on another render....that may also require receive shadows!

Oshyan · September 23, 2011, 06:09:45 PM

As far as I recall, Receive Shadows From Surfaces only affects shadows from *terrain*. Shadows from objects should be automatic.

- Oshyan

Dune · September 24, 2011, 03:01:49 AM

I agree with Hannes. And while you're at it; why not try to blend the cloud fractal by horizontally stretched ridges, a bit warped. You might get these wavy fog layers dancing through the trees.

inkydigit · September 24, 2011, 07:53:06 AM

agree with all..keep going, this is going to be a winner!

Hannes · September 24, 2011, 08:14:33 AM

@Oshyan: really? Have to test that. I always thought it affects object shadows as well. Especially since the mist in this image doesn't seem to receive shadows from the trees at all.

Hannes · September 24, 2011, 08:32:13 AM

Ha!!!! It's also affecting object shadows.
Here's a quick and dirty example:

(it really feels good to be a genius!

)

dandelO · September 24, 2011, 12:34:48 PM

A quick read of the rt shadows checkbox note(... terrain or other surfaces...) in atmo and clouds nodes explains this. It's one of the main problems for long render times that loads of new users come across, or used to when the option title looked more important and the warning note wasn't displayed. I think Oshyan must have just been mixed up, I'm sure he knows this.
Clouds will cast shadow in atmospherics, including other clouds, but any solid surface won't unless you tick those boxes in the atmo/cloud node you want the shadows to appear in.

Jonathan · September 24, 2011, 01:13:19 PM

I am going to have a try at playing with the mist a bit and see what happens - still a bit of a newbie so a lot of the more clever ways of using shaders are beyond me...more reading and experimentation to do yet! But thanks for all your assistance! I'll be back when re-rendered the Forest Glade....

Jonathan · September 26, 2011, 05:29:07 AM

Second attempt at the Glade and have taken on board all suggestions - slight changes to the mist and lighting - maybe too subtle, but here it is!

Hannes · September 26, 2011, 04:44:27 PM

Way better, although I don't know if you switched on "receive shadows...". Still no rays. Maybe try to decrease the smallest scale in the density shader of your mist. What's your actual value?