{"id":979,"date":"2011-10-25T08:11:09","date_gmt":"2011-10-25T08:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cg-blog.com\/?p=979"},"modified":"2013-04-15T09:22:51","modified_gmt":"2013-04-15T09:22:51","slug":"vray-reflction-map-wood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cg-blog.com\/index.php\/2011\/10\/25\/vray-reflction-map-wood.htm","title":{"rendered":"Improve your renders with reflection maps."},"content":{"rendered":"

In my last Live-Training (in Italy), Alessandro Pellegrini<\/strong> made this wonderful Render:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is \u00c2\u00a0the perfect image to say something about the Reflection Maps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the following image reflections<\/strong> are glossed. Leaks have been modeled in 3D, but the whole surface has just uniform reflections.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here a detail of the scene: we can appreciate it a little bit more \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But for aged wood<\/strong> simulation, uniform reflections is not the right solution. We need to controls the reflecions, making some points more reflective than others. The knots of the wood – for example – must reflect much less. This can easily be achieved by inserting another map in the ‘REFLECTION’ slot.<\/p>\n

For this material we will use 2 simple maps:<\/p>\n

1 – One in the Diffuse channel (where usually we have the classic textures)
\n2 – Another in the Reflecion\u00c2\u00a0channel<\/p>\n

That’s how they look, just to figure out: \u00c2\u00a0(yes, yes .. after you download;-)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here a simple way to simulate an aged wood:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Examples: no reflections<\/strong>(1), uniform reflections<\/strong><\/strong>(2) and finally\u00c2\u00a0mapped reflections<\/strong><\/strong>(3).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

1) No reflections<\/strong><\/strong>: \u00c2\u00a0it looks strange. Light is missing on its surface.<\/p>\n

2) Uniform Reflections<\/strong><\/strong>: just Glossy 0,75. Good for new floors.<\/p>\n

3) Mapped Reflections<\/strong>: \u00c2\u00a0Glossy 0,75 + Reflection Map: Good for aged floors.<\/p>\n

Of course you have to play\u00c2\u00a0with these\u00c2\u00a0parameters\u00c2\u00a0to find\u00c2\u00a0the right balance. Sometimes copying this maps also in RGlossiness and Bump channels is helpful. You just have to try and play around.<\/p>\n

Usually, the\u00c2\u00a0reflection\u00c2\u00a0maps\u00c2\u00a0are\u00c2\u00a0ready to use in the materials\u00c2\u00a0in\u00c2\u00a0libraries you can buy online.\u00c2\u00a0They often have\u00c2\u00a0the suffix\u00c2\u00a0_refl<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0or\u00c2\u00a0_reflection<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0If you want to create your own map by photoshop: start with black and white\u00c2\u00a0and increase contrast with levels and curves.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

.
\nCan not miss some advice to get crisp textures in renders:<\/p>\n