Fake Global Illumination technique using gradients

[The Dark Elf]

http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=176195

looks pretty good.

 

[armanguy]

thanks for the heads up

 

[Mikademius]

Would this be simular to the way dirtmap calculates?

 

[The Dark Elf]

Would this be simular to the way dirtmap calculates?

You can definately use gradients to get the dirtmap effect some use GI/radiosity for yeah. I think though, for the amount of time setting up all the gradients in the above technique, for dirt maps it probably wouldn't be much use. while rendering an untextured model with a single white background and GI to get the dirt effect might take longer than the gradient method, setting that up would even them both out.

The gradient fake trick is probably best used for showing off high poly completed models or when wanting to bake the general ambient effect of the lighting without waiting hours upon hours to get it.

For the dirt effect I'd stick to regular background radiosity as its pretty speedy really in most cases and it does work just fine for that.

 

[softmonkey]

A similar effect can be achieved using the dirtmap shader (a mental ray shader) applied as a lens shader and final gathering. (see more here)

It will take time to render though, but that's what a renderfarm is for

 

[The Dark Elf]

A similar effect can be achieved using the dirtmap shader (a mental ray shader) applied as a lens shader and final gathering. (see more here)

It will take time to render though, but that's what a renderfarm is for

I doubt many mod teams have a full blown farm in their bedrooms to render on

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Edit: that looks like a cool shader though, might have to try it out some time. Though I'm not really wanting to run my renderfarm cause of the heat, its supposed to be cold now and it isn't, I don't even dare think how hot it would be with those running too lol horrid horrid heat