Rikard

This tutorial will show you how to dramatically improve the look of all your renders by adding realistic reflections and nice soft shadows. See the example before and after pictures. Before ---> [attachmentid=7771] After ---> [attachmentid=7772] For this tutorial you will need the "Light Tracer" Plug-in for 3D Max, i think it comes as standard in the later versions so you should all have it I am using 3D Studio Max 8, but for these purposes the tutorial should still work very similar in other editions of 3D Max. Right then, to start off with i have loaded my F1 machine into 3D max, added the wheels, put the car on a floor and applied my paint to the F1 model and tires, if you don't know how to get a car into 3D Max and/or don't know how to apply the texture to a model then please see my other tutorial that will explain how to do this by clicking >>Here<<. In the pictures provided i have highlighted the things you will need in RED. Once your all set them press "M" on your keyboard to open up the Material Editor. Press the "Go To Parent" button a few times to make sure your Material Editor is in the correct starting place for this tutorial to begin. [attachmentid=7752] Click on the "Maps" roll out. [attachmentid=7767] Then go down to where it says "Reflection", and click on the box next to Reflections thats labelled "None" [attachmentid=7753] Then this menu will pop up, Double Click on the word "Falloff" (if you can't see that particular list of items then make sure you have a Dot next to the "New" in the "Browse From" section. [attachmentid=7754] Then, next to the "Falloff Type" box select "Fresnel" from the drop down box. [attachmentid=7755] Click on the "None" box highlighted. [attachmentid=7756] Double click on "Raytrace" [attachmentid=7757] Click on the "Go to Parent" button twice so your in the correct place for the next step, [attachmentid=7758] You then make sure you have scrolled to the top of this section, you do this by sliding the light grey slider on the right, (see highlighted) [attachmentid=7759] Then set the "Speculer Level" and "Glossiness" to the values in the screen shot shown below. [attachmentid=7760] Thats the Material Editor part finished, now, to set up the Lighting! This is where you will need the Light Tracer plug-in. From the top bar as shown in the screen shot click Rendering ---> Advance Lighting ---> Light Tracer. [attachmentid=7761] You will then see this box, make sure that the highlighted section shows "Light Tracer", also make sure that the "Active" box has a tick in it. Then close the window down. [attachmentid=7762] Now to add an actual light to the scene. As seen in the picture click on the "Create" button (represented by a mouse curser) ---> Lights (represented by the picture of a light) ---> then select the box "Sky Light" [attachmentid=7763] Then place the light anywhere in the scene (just one or the scene will become very bright!) it doesn’t matter where you place it as long as its above the floor surface. [attachmentid=7764] Press F9 to render then you should have something, that looks a little, like this...... [attachmentid=7773] Don't forget that you can go back and change certain values, try different settings and experiment, thats the best way to discover new things and improve your rendering skills. If you have any questions or queries about this then go ahead and hit the post reply button, then either me or someone else will try our best to help out. I hope you found this tutorial useful, fun and that you have learned something new. Thanks for Reading! Rikard

Here are some.... [attachmentid=7751] car_3d_files.zip

Im starting F1's soon Just finished painting my new machine! [attachmentid=7709] [attachmentid=7708] [attachmentid=7710]

Have a good day Gaz!

To get Sky Broadband you need to be a Sky TV customer. Tiscali are doing unlimited 8 Meg broadband for £17.99 a month im hoping to get that soon....

The file still looks like this [attachmentid=7678] I can't open Power point viewer so i double click on the file, it says.... [attachmentid=7679] So i do select program from the list and i can't find Power point viewer. Im not too bothered now but thanks for trying to help mate

Thanks, iv downloaded and installed the PP viewer, but i can't find where to open it? sorry for being stupid

Here is the 306 only Rod i got, [attachmentid=7671] 306_Hot_Rod.zip

Power Point Booooooo! can't open it

Lovely web page, looks smart and tidy with a nice story behind the cars with some info to go with it, The cars themselvs look great, and yes Ernie the renders are spot on lol, well done very professional

looks great! nice work Marcy

Thanks for the kind complements guys Yeah i can think of a few clowns in Team Plonk Calum that render looks great, I like the way the Hiab arm crushes down on the car to keep it in place, and nice to see you have some spares on the Hiab of those gorgeous wheels you made. Vivadave that is a lovely complete render, don’t worry about not having the wheels on the floor, you will get better in time with practice, just one friendly tip though, the TT looks great, but is a similar colour to the back ground which means it doesn’t stand out much, but if that is your intention so the focus is on the F2 then apologise, but if not maybe changing the colour of the TT or the background will make the TT stand out more and finish off the render. Just my opinion though, looks great as it is. Great work guys, keep'em coming

The OMS boys are coming to town Here is Mcrew in the Team Hiab, i just had enough time to whip out me camera and take these two "photos" as he sped past [attachmentid=7647] [attachmentid=7648]

i'm just getting waiting for reply and then nothing happening too. I'm booked for my first meeting tonight and would really like to sort this out - any help would be really appreciated (firewall already turned off etc) Sometimes there is a bug, when it says waiting for reply after a few seconds click cancel, then usually the server appears many thanks for the super quick reply rickard. that didn't work unfortunately - however, i removed the ":0" from the end of the IP address and then it allowed me in. am i right in saying that i can't actually practice without others there? thanksd again for your help. You can't race on your own, but if there are 2 or more people then then the raceing can begin!

i'm just getting waiting for reply and then nothing happening too. I'm booked for my first meeting tonight and would really like to sort this out - any help would be really appreciated (firewall already turned off etc) Sometimes there is a bug, when it says waiting for reply after a few seconds click cancel, then usually the server appears

Fantastic Renders Ernie The second one looks amazing! and Congratulations Rodder, yet another great model well underway

nice rod

and here

Happy Birthday!

im sure Brazil doesn't work on 3D Max 8, but you can get some other cool plug-ins for max 8 though, such as V-Ray

What was the topic about? i missed it

nice skin, well done

I have prepared this mk1 Granada for you, i have put the wheels in place all in the correct positions and scale, i have also included my suspension so its ready to put a skin on and render! [attachmentid=7607] mk1_with_wheels_and_suspension.zip

Thanks Calum!

I love the renders, and the Wheels, can you please send them to me? PM or post on here i don't mind