How do i achieve real daylight in the scenes?

[PeterParker]

Hello there

when i render out my scenes or the presets in the library i dont get the real light-thing. When i look around in some pictures of the forum
they always create realistic pictures. How do they achieve those renders? My pics always have a flat computerlike look.
Even when i render out the very good preset scenes, i dont get the wanted result.
What kind of setup ive to use in the lighting and render tab?

Thanks fpr answering my question.

Regrads

Peter

[Thelby]

What are your Render Settings?
Quality/Detail =
Quality/Anti-aliasing =
Do you Raytrace anything?
Just a few for you to answer. Also, it would help for you to post a finished render so that we may look at it.

[PeterParker]

Thanks a lot for your answer Thelby,

i´ve posted a expandable picture so you can see the settings

[PeterParker]

This is the finished image. Look at this flat computerized look and the terrible light

[PeterParker]

... and this is without any clouds or fog things, just a clear sky. Looks more better with same settings but still
have not much in common of the other pictures here in this forum...

[PeterParker]

Ok, maybe i dont have made my question clear.

I just wanted the look of many daylightscenes outhere just like this one:
http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,17321.0.html
http://bobbowensclass.blogspot.de/2008/11/assignment-12-3-d-displacement-with.html
http://clustr.com/news/detail/terragen_3
Maybe this helps in understanding my question?

Best Regards

Peter

[Dune]

It's hard to tell, just like that. Very much depends on the scene, where the light comes from, etc.  As you linked to my winter scene; I used 2 suns, one for overall light at normal strength, but without glow and specularity, another at the same location for glow and spec, but at much lower strength. I added a thin high cloud layer to soften the light, and the main clouds are also very soft. I think I also added an ambient occlusion light at strength 0.2 for terrain to lighten up the whole scene. Not even soft shadows, but that usually does well for renders.
Rest is quite basic, and I mostly render at 0.65 and AA6

[PeterParker]

Thank you Dune, i think that explains to me why my pictures are one dimensional.
Should do it with more light experiments, but i´ve figured out that additional lightning wont take much effect to the scene.
I mean your scene looks so real and thats why i´ve bought Terragen cause of its possibilities. But i´ve also to say that these numbers and nodes turn down
the creative process cause i cant handle it yet and i dont understand how to connect each node. Much of the shaders have no effect when i use them.
Anyway....thank you for your answer and the great pic youve shared with us

[Dune]

You just have to experiment more (try some extreme values sometimes, see what happens). In due time you'll get the hang of it.

[PeterParker]

Thank you. I´ll try it.

Best regards

Peter