>> See Also: V-Ray 3.50 for 3ds Max 2013 - 2017
Arion Render (GPU):3ds Max file
• Summary: Here, you simply assign the HDRI and backplate to the Arion IBL light source and enable the matte floor option in the settings.
• Advantages: Possible to render everything in one pass including color controls like LUT, bloom/glare, and tone mapping.
• Disadvantages: It's quite difficult to get reflected light/caustics from CG elements and the ground shadows don’t pick up the HDRI illumination. Only the ambient occlusion shadow type is available here.
Corona Render (CPU):
3ds Max file
• Summary: In this Render engine, you setup a ground plane using a shadow catcher material, then you the backplate to the scene environment or Direct Visibility Override. After which you assign the HDR to the scene environment.
• Advantages: Very simple process with excellent results and it gives you the ability to render everything in one pass including color controls like LUT, bloom/glare, and tone mapping.
• Disadvantages: It could be tough to get reflected light/caustics from the CG elements.
FStorm (GPU): *DEMO*
3ds Max file
• Summary: Here you assign the HDRI to the environment option in the FStorm settings. At this stage there might not be a simple method of implementing the backplate (that he's aware of). It requires compositing the CG elements into the backplate post render.
• Advantages: It's fast and gives you the LUT, Bloom/Glare, and color control options. It's also simple in terms of configuration.
• Disadvantages: It's new in the market and hasn't been fully featured yet.
iRay (GPU version included with 3ds max):
3ds Max file
• Summary: Here, you’ll need to add a light source to your scene and then disable it in order to prevent the default lighting from illuminating the scene. After which you’ll have to run the gauntlet of unhiding/unlocking the matte/environment shader (for 3ds Max 2015 users). Assign the iRay matte environment to the scene environment and then add your HDRI & backplate to an environment & background switcher then nest it inside the iRay matte environment shader.
• Advantages: It's fast and comes along with 3ds Max. It also generates a wonderful result.
• Disadvantages: The hidden shaders & cryptic string options could be a pain. It requires the glare/bloom/LUT options.
iRay+ (GPU):
3ds Max file
• Summary: For iRay+, you'll need to setup an environment light source and assign the environment HDRI to it while you enable shadows on the ground/shadow option. Assign the backplate to the scene environment.
• Advantages: It's simple to configure and the environment light is a neat approach to configuring IBL.
• Disadvantages: It could be difficult to get reflected light/caustics from CG elements whereas, in other applications the gamma/contrast on the HDRI is simply adjusted to strengthen the ground shadows. This option is locked in iRay+ so the shadows don’t match up in the end. The HDRI could be adjusted outside 3ds Max for iRay+, but that’s not the aim. It also requires the glare/bloom/LUT options.
Mental ray (CPU)
3ds Max file
• Summary: Here, you assign the HDRI to a skylight light, after which assign a matte/shadow/reflection material to the ground plane. The backplate could be assigned to the scene environment directly or via the environment/background switcher.
• Advantages: It produces a good-looking result and it's simple to configure. It also comes free with 3ds Max.
• Disadvantages: Bounced light and/or caustics could be configured however, it’s not automatic.
Octane Render (GPU):
3ds Max file
•Summary: In Octane Render you assign the HDRI to the scene environment via texture environment shader. There isn’t a simple method for implementing the backplate.
• Advantages: Fast. Nice looking results. Glow/Bloom and LUT options.
• Disadvantages: Not as easy to get the CG elements incorporated into a backplate in one pass/shot. You can either render the CG elements out with an alpha channel and/or passes and use a 3rd party program to comp the CG elements. I have used (incorrectly I’m sure) the diffuse material to make a ground and backplate with projected textures to pick up the shadows so I could render everything together without having to composite the 3d elements.
Redshift (GPU):
3ds Max file
• Summary: In Redshift you’ll add a redshift dome light to the scene and configure the HDRI and backplate within it. The process is very straight forward.
• Advantages: Faster rendering, and gives you an out of core rendering for complex scenes that won’t normally fit on your GPU. It's fairly easy to use.
• Disadvantages: As a beginner with this render engine Jeff Patton spent more time trying to figure out how to add DOF than anything else. You'll realize you have to add a Redshift Bokeh effect to the scene effects and configure it there. The Redshift shadow catcher doesn’t seem to pick up colored shadows and you'll have to manually set the shadow color to a bluish hue.
VRay (CPU):
3ds Max file
• Summary: Here, you can assign the HDRI to a VRay dome light. There are material & VRay setting options for a matte/shadow catcher. The backplate could be assigned to the scene environment.
• Advantages: It generates a good looking result with light that bounces onto the backplate. Glow/Bloom and LUT options.
• Disadvantages: There's none to be mentioned as previous issues appear to have been resolved in the latest release.
VRay RT (GPU):
3ds Max file: (same as VRay above, just switch it over to RT as the engine)
• Summary: Same as VRay above.
• Advantages: It generates a good looking result with light that bounces onto the backplate. It doesn't require any changes from VRay CPU. It provides the Glow/Bloom and LUT options.
• Disadvantages: All previous issues appear to have been resolved in the latest release.
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