Global Ambiance Settings? [from LAT]

[Tom]

Question for Rob:

While improving the lighting today [at Live Answer Time] for Johns picture, we adjusted a bunch of global ambiance parameters.

It seems that the Global Ambiance parameters can be adjusted from various places-, Camera or Choreography or Rendering all have inputs. 

What is the correct sequence of adjusting the Global Ambiance settings? Which Setting is the most important ....and then do you work your way "down the tree" to make further adjustments?

Any clarifications are welcome.

Thanks,

Tom

[robcat2075]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Question for Rob:

While improving the lighting today for Johns picture, we adjusted a bunch of global ambiance parameters.

It seems that the Global Ambiance parameters can be adjusted from various places-, Camera or Choreography or Rendering all have inputs. 

What is the correct sequence of adjusting the Global Ambiance settings? Which Setting is the most important ....and then do you work your way "down the tree" to make further adjustments?

 

Global Ambiance Type (None/Global Color/Image Based Lighting) can only be set in the Chor Properties. Likewise for the subsidiary parameters that appear if the Global Color or IBL are chosen

However, for that effect to get rendered you have to set Ambiance Occlusion ON in Rendering properties...

In your Tools>Options>Rendering tab there is a choice of

Use settings from

• This Dialog
• The Camera

The one you choose is the one whose settings get used when you render, either onscreen with Q or Shift-Q, or when you do a regular Render to File

Normally I just leave the choice on This Dialog but since we were using the render setting of "Fog", which is calculated from the camera, it made sense to  put all of our render settings in the Camera. You will notice that the collection of things you can set in the Tools>Options>Rendering tab and in the Camera's Properties are the same. (If you have more than one camera in your chor, it is useful to be able to give each one different render settings)

However, the two locations don't talk to each other so that is why the Use Setting from check boxes exist to set your preference. This preference is not recorded in your PRJ, A:M keeps it until you change it.

Which ever location you choose to set your Render Options, that is where you will need to set Ambiance Occlusion ON to get the AO effect rendered.

 

[Tom]

Rob-

Thank you for another great explanation!