A Virtual House - Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating - page 182

Stage 9: Apply Materials to the Detailed Model
Objective : To get the materials looking as realistic as possible for the final
render.
Data : Materials Library and photos of materials.
Tool : 3D Studio Max.
Since all the elements in the scene are named according to scheme based on
architectural elements, it is simple to select each type of element by name,
then to apply the corresponding material. Mapping coordinates are then
applied to give the correct scale to the different textures.
Stage 10: Setting Up the Lighting Using “Fakiosity”
Objective : To produce a photorealistic render extremely quickly, without
resorting to a global illumination rendering engine.
Data : Textured 3D model.
Tool : 3D Studio Max.
Lighting is the most important factor in obtaining a high-quality rendering.
Today's photorealistic rendering engines can produce images that are practi-
cally indistinguishable from photos, but at the cost of extremely long rendering
times. Since time was short, the “fakiosity” lighting technique was chosen, which
simulates the indirect lighting received from surfaces by using attenuated lights.
For the external lighting, an array of spotlights was chosen that would
simulate the lighting from the sky component. A directional spot was also
added to simulate the sun. These “sky dome” spots were given a slight blue
hue and were set to project very soft shadows using shadow mapping
(size: 512, sample range: 40). The directional “sun” spotlight (parallel rays)
used more sharp-edged, raytraced shadows. In order to reduce the rendering
time further, none of the glasswork was set to cast shadows (right-click on an
object and under Object Properties, uncheck Cast Shadows).
Stage 11: Camera Placement
Objective : To produce renders that would clearly show the position of the
VR hotspots.
Data : A list of the hotspots to be shown.
Tool : 3D Studio Max.
This stage is extremely simple: The essential thing to keep in mind is to have the
hotspot exactly at the same height as the camera to avoid any parallax effects.
Stage 12: Positioning the Hotspots and the
Direction Arrows
Objective : To increase the visibility of the hotspots in the VR panoramas.
Data : List of hotspots to be shown.
Tool : 3D Studio Max.