Maya Arnold Shadow Capture help (Shadows are too big)
node
Hello,
I've been working on using Arnold's aiShadowMatte to capture the shadow of a product but still have a transparent background and floor.
I got the shadow to capture but now the shadow is too big.
I'm going to be posting the alpha views since its so much easier to view the shadows in general.
Set Up:
So in the first image of the rendering tests, the alpha shows the shadow but its too big for the project's desired use.
I need the shadow to be just around the base of the model which is a set of 4 Server Racks.
After getting here I tried using a light portal to direct the light but it still casts it far around the model everywhere but where it's specified.
(Light Portal is behind and above the model angled downwards towards the model)
And also tested two more on the sides with a mixed result.
(Includes the portal from before, along with two extra portals, one on each side of the model facing towards it)
Any tips or advice that could help allow me to capture the shadow (possibly at the same time as the rest of the regular render) and also have it at the proper shadow size?
Or is it more likely I need to render the shadow separately with different lighting than the regular render?
UPDATE: After more testing I also found that when i moved the 3 light portlas closer it changed the shadows and made them closer to the model when moved further away
When the portals are located here, it causes this to happen to the shadows:
When they're more distanced like this:
This happens:
Are light portals a solution to my shadow issue?
Or am I looking at this from the wrong perspective/method?
I've been working on using Arnold's aiShadowMatte to capture the shadow of a product but still have a transparent background and floor.
I got the shadow to capture but now the shadow is too big.
I'm going to be posting the alpha views since its so much easier to view the shadows in general.
Set Up:
- Light Source: aiSkyDomeLight with light samples on 3 ((will increase possibly later to reduce noise in final renders) Intensity is on 1 with a white cloudy sky as the background color and the camera visibility is set to 0 to allow the transparent alpha.
- Render Settings: Currently on 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 (will increase later for final renders)
- Shadow capturing surface: Large plane
So in the first image of the rendering tests, the alpha shows the shadow but its too big for the project's desired use.
I need the shadow to be just around the base of the model which is a set of 4 Server Racks.
After getting here I tried using a light portal to direct the light but it still casts it far around the model everywhere but where it's specified.
(Light Portal is behind and above the model angled downwards towards the model)
And also tested two more on the sides with a mixed result.
(Includes the portal from before, along with two extra portals, one on each side of the model facing towards it)
Any tips or advice that could help allow me to capture the shadow (possibly at the same time as the rest of the regular render) and also have it at the proper shadow size?
Or is it more likely I need to render the shadow separately with different lighting than the regular render?
UPDATE: After more testing I also found that when i moved the 3 light portlas closer it changed the shadows and made them closer to the model when moved further away
When the portals are located here, it causes this to happen to the shadows:
When they're more distanced like this:
This happens:
Are light portals a solution to my shadow issue?
Or am I looking at this from the wrong perspective/method?