Photoworks Photorealistic Metallic Parts

[rysep]

I have been playing around with Photoworks for some time now and I have not been able to produce a photorealistic reflecive metallic part for a product image. I have a cylidrical part with nickel plating that I need to try and render in photoworks and have it acutally look shiny and reflective but as a product image. So I don't want any reflections of some studio or grassy area, it is way to busy for a product. Also just a nice white or maybe dark blue backgound nothing else in the image. So what I want is maybe some black highlights or something like that. Does anyone have any good tips or know of a good website I can go to. I have already tried the Triaxial Design tips not enough detail on how to create a product image. I have tried it and no dice. Also I have looked at Rob Rodriguez's site. Has some nice stuff but nothing I would call a product type image.

 

[rockguy]

rysep,

Try using the neon checker or line image as your reflection. This will give you light and dark which should help with your desired look. You could also search teh web for an image or try using the office environment included with SW 2007. That prodcues a good reflective, shiny effect without details.

Also, the SolidWorks World "PhotoWorks 2007 this changes everything" presentation at my website might be helpful. Some of the spherical images included in the presenation may be of some use.

Or if you have time to wait send me the model and I'll give it a quick try

Rob Rodriguez CSWP

http://www.axiscadsolutions.com

http://www.robrodriguez.com

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/rob_rodriguez/

Eastern Region SWUGN Representative

http://www.swugn.org

http://www.nvtswug.com

SW 2007 SP 2.0

 

[Theophilus]

I use indirect lighting in a cube. The walls and floor are set to reflect, but not show, and are a mid-level gray to kick back the amount of light I want. I use a neon or striped ceiling to reflect the black stuff onto the shiny stuff.

Here's a rendering of a not-extremely bright aluminum assembly rendering:

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com/projects.html

For a chrome or bright nickel plate, control the reflectance in your material.

Also, I use a single directional light in my scenes (normally), with the rest of the lighting provided by the walls and floor, which are set to a "constant" illumination--meaning they radiate that mid-gray light. (You can do white, but it's overwhelming. Black won't bounce light at all--so a decent gray will balance the scene.)

Check out Rob's site above--loads of stuff there.



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[Theophilus]

(Sorry--that image is now gone after a site update.)



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.