From Beginner to Pro: 3D Rendering with Chaos Corona & 3ds Max

Every few years, I create a course to share my 3D knowledge, and I'm grateful to all 25,000 of you who have joined me on this journey so far.

Over a year ago, I became a part of the Corona team to develop tutorials for their YouTube channel, which has expanded my expertise tremendously. (Please note that this course is not affiliated with Chaos)

Remember the original Zero to Hero Corona course? It was becoming outdated, and many of you requested an updated version featuring the latest tools. Well, here it is!

• A comprehensive, step-by-step course covering all essential aspects of 3D rendering and architectural visualization.

• Practical, hands-on lessons, allowing you to apply the skills you learn in real-world scenarios.

• An engaging and supportive instructor providing personalized guidance and feedback.

• A course incorporating the latest techniques and industry trends, ensuring you stay competitive in the market.

• Flexible learning options catering to various experience levels and backgrounds, from beginners to experienced artists.

You can get the course at the lowest price I'm allowed to offer on Udemy by clicking here!

With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can get a refund, no questions asked, if the course isn't a good fit. I'm confident you'll love it, Alan and Sam did…

Join the 25,000 students already enhancing their career prospects and finding new opportunities in the 3D, architectural, and interior design industry.

From Beginner to Pro: 3D Rendering with Chaos Corona & 3ds Max

These guys loved the course…

Here are some comments so far…

“The course is easy to understand because the explanation given is crystal clear.”

“This will be a great course for students who want to learn the updated skills of 3ds max and Corona. If you want to learn Corona this is an easy pick.”

“Modeling a kitchen can be a challenging task, and it is not commonly covered in Udemy courses. It takes great effort to make it look effortless, so great job to Jake for doing so.”

“Modifying Chaos Cosmos assets without affecting the UVWs is something many people are interested in. Who doesn't love Chaos Cosmos? I always want to learn how to modify its assets. For me, this is the best part.”

From Beginner to Pro: 3D Rendering with Chaos Corona & 3ds Max

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to level up your 3D rendering skills and create stunning, photorealistic renders that captivate audiences.

Any questions, you can drop me a message, but in the meantime here are a few answers to the common ones…

Q: I'm a complete beginner with no experience in 3D rendering or architectural visualization. Is this course suitable for me?

A: Absolutely! This course is designed with flexibility in mind, catering to all experience levels – from complete beginners to experienced artists. The step-by-step lessons guide you through the process, ensuring you build a strong foundation in 3D rendering and architectural visualization.

Q: How long will it take for me to see progress in my 3D rendering skills?

A: The course is structured to help you see progress quickly. As you complete each hands-on lesson, you'll gain practical experience that you can immediately apply to real-world scenarios. The more you practice and engage with the course content, the faster you'll see improvements in your skills.

Q: What software do I need to follow along with the course?

A: The course focuses on 3D rendering with Chaos Corona and 3ds Max. To get the most out of the lessons, it's recommended that you have access to these programs. You can download trial versions of Chaos Corona and 3ds Max if you don't already have them installed.

Q: Will the course be updated with new content or techniques in the future?

A: Yes! The course is designed to stay current with the latest techniques and industry trends. As new tools and methods become available, the course will be updated to ensure you remain competitive in the market.

Q: What if I enroll and find that the course isn't a good fit for me?

A: No problem! There's a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you find that the course isn't right for you, simply request a refund within 30 days, no questions asked. I'm confident you'll love it, but the guarantee ensures you can try it risk-free.

Render on!

3D News: IKEA-style Images, Evermotion Assets & Your Chance to Shine!

"Simplifying the techniques used in the 3D industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

📺 WATCH

Images Just Like Ikea in Under 5 MINUTES!

Have you ever wondered how IKEA creates its stunning product images? In this video, we will focus on using Chaos Corona Renderer and 3Ds Max to create eye-catching product visuals, just like the ones you see in the IKEA catalog.

https://youtu.be/UDyKJ-LsLLg

🔨 TOOLS

Evermotion Assets Added to Chaos Cosmos

Chaos Cosmos partners with Evermotion, a leading name in archviz assets, adding over 350 new assets to the content library, enhancing the visual quality and realism of your scenes.

https://www.chaos.com/blog/exciting-chaos-cosmos-update-adds-evermotion-assets

❎ AWARDS

Showcase Your Talent with Chaos' Call for 3D Artist Submissions

Chaos invites 3D artists to submit their best work in various categories for a chance to be featured on their website, gallery, blog, social media, and the upcoming Chaos Student Showreel, offering increased visibility and networking opportunities.

https://www.chaos.com/submit-your-art

Render On!

The Ultimate Way to Learn 3ds Max for 3D Modeling and Render Projects

The past few years saw a huge rise in demand for high-quality 3D content. Due in part to curfews and restrictions on outdoor activities, and the increased demand for fresh content. Brands are now looking for ways to publish new content daily across multiple channels.

This is a tough task for photography and video to fulfill alone. This will make 3D content almost essential for any brand that wants to meet content demands. The market for 3D is growing rapidly and is expected to remain high through 2022 and far beyond. This momentum makes 3ds Max an in-demand skill.

What is 3ds Max?

3ds Max is the industry-standard 3D modeling and rendering software, used by hundreds of professionals around the world as well as beginner users. 3ds max is used to create three-dimensional models and environments for animation, simulation, video games, and architectural visualization.

It began being developed in May 1988. In the 1990's it moved from its original DOS-based interface into one based on Microsoft Windows with menus and has since developed into what you recognize now.

The 3ds Max user interface in 2022

What are the benefits of learning 3ds max?

1. It is a great tool for the creation of visualization, animation, 3d graphics, and visual effects.

2. 3ds max can help you create 3d models, character animations, and control rigs for motion graphics.

3. It is a good beginner and expert software to use when you want to learn about architecture, design, animation, film making, and other visual effects-related activities.

4. It is highly transferable, modeling, animation, and 3D design can be applied in any field. If you ever want to shift industries you can move to films, VFX, advertising, architectural visualization, and much more.

Where to start with 3ds Max?

There are so many things that you can do with 3ds Max. If you are just starting out, you should start by learning the basics of modeling and rendering from a tutorial before moving on to rigging and animation.

Are there any free resources that can help me learn how to use 3ds max software?

There are many online tutorials that can help you learn how to use 3ds max software. Some of the best resources include:

1. Autodesk Official Site

2. Introduction to 3ds Max Tutorial

3. How To Render Your First Photo Realistic Image

Work illustrations by Storyset

Which online training courses do you recommend for learning 3ds max?

3ds Max is a 3D modeling and animation software that can be used for designing buildings, characters, or anything else. So it is important to take it step by step and master the foundations. It is a good idea to take a structured course for this reason.

After you learn the basics it is worth looking into specific courses in the area you want to focus on. If you are looking to learn 3ds max for architectural rendering, then you should consider enrolling in an online training course like the 3D Artist course.

Need Help Choosing an Online 3DS Max course?

It all depends on what you want to learn. But you should look for a course that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case the instructor is not your cup of tea.

It is also important that as soon as you sign up you schedule time in your calendar to take the course. If you do not make time for the course you will not complete it. Even when you have purchased the course you still have to do the work and complete it. If it is not a priority for you then do not waste your money.

Should I learn 3D Modelling first?

Complete the free Introduction to 3ds Max Tutorial first, then you will understand how to use 3ds Max. Once complete you can then work through all of the required steps to master 3ds Max. The next course is structured in order and includes a whole section on 3D modeling with 3ds Max.

Design illustrations by Storyset

Is there a 3ds Max community I can join for help, tips, or just showing off my work?

You are welcome to join the Luxury Visuals Academy community. It is a private online community of like-minded, supportive artists. Where you can get the answers you need and meet other 3D artists.

How long does it take to learn 3ds Max?

You will be able to produce images within a few weeks. But you will need to build a decent body of work. Try and get an idea of who you want to work with and tailor your portfolio in that direction. Make sure to demonstrate your modeling, lighting, and rendering skills with only your best work. Less is more in this case.

Design illustrations by Storyset

How much can I sell each rendering for?

Back in 2011 Clog published results from a survey as follows:
In House: Intern $0-$600, Unlicensed Design Staff $650-$850, Licensed Architect $700-$1100.
Outsourced: Economy $800-$900, Average $2500-$5000, Premium $6000-$10000.

Other questions related to Luxury Visuals Academy

Luxury Visuals is a resource for 3ds Max and V-Ray training. It offers online courses, workshops, and more to help students learn 3D software programs. Below are some common questions you may have, also feel free to ask any questions in the comments or the community group.

Does the 3ds Max and V-ray course on your website include all the Udemy lecture materials and courses?

The course on the website includes all of the lecture materials + some bonuses. As well as a certificate of attendance. It also includes the 3D 360 Walkthrough and Camera matching to 3D into video courses too. It is much simpler to take the course as a whole from start to end, than jump about from course to course on Udemy.

What is the main software you use?

Software I use regularly; Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop + After Effects), 3ds Max, and V-Ray for 3ds Max.

What is V-Ray?

V-ray is a rendering plugin used with common 3d software applications like Max. It provides global illumination and advanced lighting, materials and creation capabilities to generate realistic lighting effects, and materials as well as highly organic volumetric objects.

Is it necessary to have Autocad / Revit / Archicad installed on my system too?

You will receive various file types from clients, luckily the majority can be brought straight into 3ds Max.

In the very beginning, you started out working for a company. Would you say that this would be beneficial for me too?

The experience of working in-house is valuable. But not essential. As long as you understand the value of systems, workflows, and structure.

How do I start searching for such companies to apply for a job? How do I even know they are legit if I'm sitting on the other side of the world?

You build a portfolio, on Squarespace and Behance. Publish work regularly and talk with studios and architects. Sites like Indeed are good for the job search. I attend 3ds London each month and companies are crying out for talent.

The key to success in 3ds Max is being a hard worker. If you put in the time and effort, you will reap the rewards. The 3ds Max software is one of the most powerful rendering tools available, and it's also a very versatile tool that can be used for many different purposes. With enough dedication and determination, you can become an amazing 3ds Max artist and make a name for yourself in this industry.

About Luxury Visuals: Over 20,000 students have enrolled in our courses. We provide the best 3ds Max and V-Ray training for professional users. If you are a beginner user of 3ds Max or V-Ray we can help you to improve your skills and make more money with these software tools. Enroll in our free course and make your first photorealistic render today!

CGI News November 21

"Simplifying the techniques used in the CGI industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

🔨 TOOLS

Corona Renderer 8

Corona 8 is due for release at the start of 2022 and it sounds like some major updates are on the way. Alongside the updates, I will be creating all new content for the Corona course. See the full press release on the Corona blog here: https://blog.corona-renderer.com/corona-in-2022-new-features-visuals-licensing-and-more/

📖 READ

6 QUICK TIPS To Increase Photo Realism

COMPUTER POWER > MORE POLYGONS > MORE REALISTIC

Want to know how to create photorealistic images? In this article, I’ll show you 6 quick tips for increasing photorealism in your 3D scene. I will be demoing with V-Ray for 3ds Max but most of these tips will be useful for any 3D artist in any 3D software.

Read the full post here: https://www.luxuryvisuals.com/jaked3d/photorealism

📺 WATCH

It's that time of year...

If you have a new skill you want to learn, a model you want, or some software you have been eyeing up there are tons of deals on at the minute. Here is a list of some of the best ones.

https://www.luxuryvisuals.com/jaked3d/2021

Thanks for reading!

Render On!

It’s that time of year…

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become a great time to get 3D software, models, and courses. Mainly because everyone has a sale on!

If you have a new skill you want to learn, a model you want to buy, or some software to buy, now is the time to get involved.

Here are some of the best offers in one place!

• Need a website? Squarespace is offering 10% off. You are reading this on a Squarespace site. Click Here to see the offer. (Use BLKFRI10)

• Need Equipment? Here is all the stuff on my desk… Click Here.

• Need Cloud Credits? Not using Chaos Cloud yet? You should, Click Here for free credits. ⭐ Chaos is also offering 20% off until 29th November using BF21 on checkout.

• I am offering Every Course I have released in a special bundle. Click Here!

• Need Photoshop, After Effects, or the whole Creative Cloud!? Adobe is offering between 39% to 70% off for the year! Click Here.

• Need Forest Pack or Rail Clone? iToo have you covered with discounts on all software. Click Here.

• BBB3viz is selling his incredible models with a 40% discount. Click Here.

• Turbosquid has up to 50% off on selected 3d models. Click Here.

🙋‍♂️ Please note I will earn some referral commission on some links at no cost to you.

6 QUICK TIPS To Increase Photo Realism with 3ds Max and V-Ray

EASY Tips For Photorealism in 3D | Improve Your Realistic Rendering

Want to know how to create photorealistic images? In this article, I’ll show you 6 quick tips for increasing photorealism in your 3D scene. I will be demoing with V-Ray for 3ds Max but most of these tips will be useful for any 3D artist in any 3D software.

Part of the reason that 3d rendering is getting more and more realistic every year is due to more computing power. Everything you see in a 3d rendering is made up of polygons. More computing power means we can render more polygons than ever before. More polygons mean more details and more details mean more photorealistic models.

COMPUTER POWER > MORE POLYGONS > MORE REALISTIC

Our job in 3d graphics is to convince the viewer that what they are looking at is real. We are modern-day magicians just with a whole lot of tech and computer power. But the tech and power alone won't cut it... so let's take a look at 6 tips to convince your viewers your visuals are real...

1. Life's Not Perfect

The most obvious giveaway that an image is a 3D render is that it's too perfect. In this image, the pictures chairs and table are all dead straight. There is no way you could do this in reality if you tried.

So a good thing to do before render time is to rotate and move things about ever so slightly. Just note that we usually do this with Snaps by degree on, so it rotates by 1 degree or 5. But now is a good time to turn this of and make very small rotations and movements.

You can see the difference when we compare these 3d renders.

If you want to explore adding more chaos to your 3d renderings, check out the Physics video where we look at stacking objects and using gravity, wind, and explosions to randomise placements of objects.

2. Same Same But Different

Using the same model is cool and all but when you have a few lined up you are going to start noticing that they are all exactly the same. In this example, we can see that the wood grain is in the same place on each chair.

This can be easily solved, even if the objects are instanced. Go into the material editor. Grab the material using the eyedropper. Add a VRayUVWRandomizer map. Plug the same one into all of the maps. You can choose by name and this will offset the texture depending on the name. Turn off the UV Rotation as we do not what the texture to rotate. And now each chair will have varied textures

3. Go Hard Or Go Home

Another giveaway that something is a 3d model is the hard edges. When we build in 3d the edges are hard by default. We can overcome this in a couple of ways. The first way is with the Chamfer modifier.

The second way is by doing it in the material with a map. Add a VrayEdgeTex Map. And we can see that has rounded the corners for us, making a more photorealistic model. 

4. Make Some Noise

Nothing in life is really flat, so nor should your 3d models. To add some variation you can Quadify Mesh. This will add some more faces to your object and then add a noise modifier. Try not to overdo this one you barely want to notice it.

5. Go Organic

It's not just hard objects that we can soften up. Years ago natural objects such as trees, plants, flowers, pillows and fabric were hard to make look realistic in 3d renders because we had so few polygons to play with.

But now we have more than enough to make things look as real as real life. With Chaos cosmos now there is no need not to have a few organic objects to your scene.

Adding a throw and positioning it with a FFD modifier is going to add realistic details. Or you can use the cloth modifier to do something similar.

Talking of the cloth modifier, we can combine the cloth modifier with cushions to drop them onto the sofa. This will make it sit nicer than if we just try to place it.

Watch the video below for the steps…

6. Keeping It Real

Keeping things real is important if you want your 3d renders to look real. This goes for lights, materials, and cameras. If you use real-world constraints in your 3d images you will get real-world results. The closer to reality our virtual world is the more realistic it will seem.

This is why it is a good idea to keep materials on a real-world scale. In the V-Ray Asset Browser keep Real World on. Then whenever we create an object and add a UVW Mapping modifier with real-world on, it will all come in at the correct scale. This is a really useful habit to get into if you want photorealistic images. 

Real-world means we are telling 3ds max that this texture is 100cm x 100cm in real life.

This goes for models too. Just eyeballing and scaling is pretty lucky dip and I would avoid this where possible. Most models available now are modelled to real-world size. But if they are not to real-world you can always check the manufactures website and make sure you are matching the exact dimensions.

There are many other things that will affect your ability to create photorealistic images, high-quality materials, realistic details, image resolution, etc... But creating cutting-edge photorealistic 3D images is no longer reserved for 3D professionals with advanced software or the graphics guru. Check out the Learn 3D page for a simplified look at creating 3d renders

Render On!

Got Problems?

Got Problems?

You can get frustrated or you can look at it as a test to find a solution.

Once you get to the Solution,

• you get to keep that solution.

• you get to use it over and over again

• you get to stack your solutions into a pile

when you stack your Solutions you get Experience.

What do problems mean? Solutions!

What do Solutions make? Experience!

What do you need? Experience!

Problems Solved = Solutions // Solutions Multiplied = Experience

.... Welcome the problems :)

Render on!

P.S Want some FREE Chaos Cloud Credits? Click Here!

You're Not A 3D Artist. 😲

You're Not A 3D Artist. You're a 3D Problem Solver. You get asked for something by a client. You then get to work on how to create it.

We get asked to do things and we figure it out.

In your career, you will be given models, files, drawings, footage, or scripts from all over the place. You need to work out how to get it into software, create it, render it, use it, composite it or send it... We are problem solvers. That's the job.

It's not just knowing how to do things. It is knowing how to solve what is thrown at you. How do you get better at solving what is thrown at you? Experience

How do we get experience? By creating a solution to a problem.
When you have solved multiple problems (solutions) you get experience.

Problems Solved = Solutions // Solutions Multiplied = Experience

Jobs won't always be easy.
Having experience will make them easier.
Experience is just having solved more problems.

Go solve some problems 😊

Render On!

No Time To Prepare?

What did you think of Murphy's Law? Did you get Practicing?

The reality is you need to practice like you are possessed. 

But I know... what if you don't have the time?

Well, did you know that Urgent (emails reply's, tidying up) and Important are not the same? 

Urgent just gets you back to baseline. (inbox 0, having a clean house)

Important is when future you looks back and has achieved something you are actually proud of. 

The most urgent thing should be to schedule time for the important and make it sacred.

That feeling of unanswered emails, people waiting on you is uncomfortable. That uncomfortable feeling needs to be translated from urgent things to important things. 

You want to feel that discomfort when the important work is not done.

Here is some important work for you... Click Here

Adversity Is Coming

Adversity is going to come, not if, but when.

The client will change things,
your computer will break,
software will crash...

You will not get through your career without encountering challenges like these.

But what can we do about adversity?

Murphy's Law! Heard of it?

Here's what we know...

1. We know "anything that can go wrong will go wrong"

2. We know that Luck favors the Prepared.

3. Training is Preparation.

Professionals train, athletes train, we should train.

Why?
The better we prepare the better we can deal with the situation.

🏋️‍♂️ You can’t walk into a gym and lift big straight away.
You won’t get through projects without heavy lifts.

⚽ Professional Footballers are good. But they still train all week. What for? Match Day!
Your Client Projects are your Match Day.

CLIENT PROJECTS = MATCH DAY

You train and practice so you know the best strategy for your Client Projects.

We are not just trying to make better images we are making better abilities, skills, and techniques.

Skills give you options.



You can't control what adversity will come. But you can control how you will respond to it.

Don't focus on the result, focus on the day-to-day grind and prepare for the high-pressure moments.

We train, so when adversity comes we will be ready.

Want my best training? Click Here

Can You Juggle? 🤹‍♀️

EXPERIENCE > KNOWLEDGE

Can You Juggle? 🤹‍♀️
Go to Amazon, buy the best-selling book on juggling.
📖 Read it.
Can you juggle?

Hell No!

You learn to juggle by juggling.
Practicing, failing, picking it up again, learning from mistakes, and improving naturally.

It's the same principle for your art.
YOU CREATE BETTER IMAGES BY CREATING IMAGES. 
You can't be an artist that doesn't create art! Go Make Some Art.

Want to uplevel your CGI skills?
Take the Course

Tactics Vs Strategy

Have you ever enrolled in a course and never started it? Remember that feeling of joy when the payment went through and knowing your life is going to change? Or you watched the first two lessons, but never picked it up again. That's because the strategy was missing.

Courses bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. They solve a problem. You can find the solution through trial and error, or learn from someone who’s done it before.

Whichever way you choose you need two things. 

1. A Tactic (the course)

2. A Strategy (the schedule to complete the course)

You can’t bridge the gap with only a tactic, you need a strategy too! That's the difference between students that fail and students that succeed.

Enrol In Course (Tactic)

+ Schedule Time (Strategy)

= Life You Want (Solution)

So, What’s The Strategy?

I’m glad you asked. A method called Don't Break the Chain (or The Seinfeld Method) The idea is to put a calendar on the wall in a prominent place. For each day you complete a section of the course, put a big X on the calendar. After a few days, you’ll have a chain. Each day the chain will get longer. This is pretty motivating, then all you have to do is not break the chain. It sounds easy because it is. And it works.

Keep in mind what is going to improve for you when you take action every day. Below is a link to the skills and tactics that helped me in creating the work I wanted to do. Combine these with the right strategy and you’ll be earning good money from CGI work in no time.

Courses For 3D Artists

CGI News: Fake Interiors, Desks, and Evermotion Subscriptions 🏢

"Simplifying the techniques used in the CGI industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

🔨 Tools

wParallax

A really interesting method to create realistic interiors using just one plane. The method is often used in video games and now we can take advantage of it for architectural visualisation.

https://wparallax.com/

📺 WATCH

CGI Equipment

If you missed it here is the current equipment I use and the home set-up. I have since moved to co-working. Shall I make a travel/remote working set-up video? Comment on the video if you think so.

https://youtu.be/ZInOLtMi8qE

🔧 Tools

Evermotion Subscription

Evermotion has announced a subscription service to access their model collection. This could be a good idea if you find yourself needing a lot of high-quality assets. There are currently 5 options to choose from.

https://evermotion.org/shop/evermotion_pass

Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter and want to support it, join a course or refer a friend.

Render On!

Official V-Ray Mentor and CGI Artist

Try Chaos Cloud. Start now with 20 free credits.

CGI News: My Favourite Website, 3ds Max Update + New Exterior Tutorial 🌳

"Simplifying the techniques used in the CGI industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

📖 Tools

Film.ai

I absolutely love this site. Whether you are looking for inspiration or color schemes, this is going to be massively useful for influencing your images.

https://beta.flim.ai/

📺 WATCH

Fast Exteriors

Take a watch of a new lecture for the exterior visualisation course on YouTube. We utilise Chaos Cosmos and Material Library to quickly put together a Car Advert proposal.

https://youtu.be/277Jb3rJBj4

📖 Tools

3ds Max 2022.1

3ds Max 2022 has received its first update. The 2022.1 update boasts Faster Smart Extrude, Deformation Modifier, Enhanced Smooth Modifier. More details can be found below.

https://makeanything.autodesk.com/3dsmax

Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter and want to support it, join a course or refer a friend.

Render On!

Official V-Ray Mentor and CGI Artist

Try Chaos Cloud. Start now with 20 free credits.

CGI News: City Building, Image of the Week, and Photorealistic Rendering 🏙

"Simplifying the techniques used in the CGI industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

📖 READ

Photorealistic Visualisation: 5 Tips

In this article, you will learn the 5 key steps to create photorealistic renderings, whether you have been using 3ds Max for years or are just starting out you should find this article useful.

https://www.luxuryvisuals.com/jaked3d/photorealistic-rendering-tips

❎ AWARDS

Image of the Week: Arif Aziz

Image of the week is from Arif Aziz who created these interior renders and received his Certificate of Attendance. Congrats Arif.

Want to make images like Arif? Click here

📺 WATCH

iToo's video demonstrates a really smart way to build cities and background buildings using their tool TheParametricLibrary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2aLaakRKj4&t=79s

Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter and want to support it, join a course or refer a friend.

Render On!

Official V-Ray Mentor and CGI Artist

Try Chaos Cloud. Start now with 20 free credits.

Photorealistic Visualisation: 5 Tips To Create Your First Photorealistic Image in 3ds Max + Vray

Introduction

In this article, you will learn the 5 key steps to create photorealistic renderings, whether you have been using 3ds Max for years or are just starting out you should find this article useful.

We will cover the 3ds Max user interface, and then we will create a virtual 3D photography studio. From there we will look at setting up the lights and camera to get the most realistic renders we can. Don't worry about alpha channels, secondary engines, or image samplers. The key to realism is simplicity.

What Software to use?

First up, for those of you that are new here… (If you aren't feel free to skip this bit). We will use Autodesk 3ds Max and V-Ray from Chaos Group as our render engine.

What is 3Ds Max software? 3Ds Max is a 3D modeling software for architects, designers, and video game artists. 

What is V-Ray? V-Ray is used to render in 3ds Max. V-Ray has a complete set of lighting, shading, and rendering tools that can be used with 3ds Max.

The following tips are taken from a free kickstarter course that can be found here. Feel free to just jump straight over there if you want a step-by-step guide. 

 Now, let's get started,

1. Learn the User Interface (UI). These are the keys to the kingdom, this is how we navigate through 3D space. The first lesson introduces the user interface of 3ds Max.

2. Get your 3d model into 3ds Max. There are plenty of places to get a 3D model if you don't have your own. In this video, I show you how to bring in a 3D model you have made, been sent or downloaded.

3. Create your virtual studio. We are virtual photographers so we need to do as real photography. This is how we achieve 'photo' realism.

4. Setting up your camera and lights. Realistic lighting is the key to photorealistic renderings. As we are creating a studio scene we will be using artificial lighting (interior lights) as opposed to a HDRI or sun.

5. Interactive render. Finally, we use the interactive render to see our 3D rendering. Interactive render saves render time and allows us to see our results before the final render. Once we are happy we can render locally or use one of the cloud services such as Chaos Cloud. As you will see when it comes to rendering our final image there is no need to change the 3ds Max or Vray 5 render settings.

If you want to explore how we can add post-production to our image then have a watch of the whole mini course.

Conclusion

Photorealistic rendering has become very popular, and it’s easy to see why. Entertainment is moving to digital. Just think back to the last music video you saw, I bet it had an element of CGI in it. Products are already there, if you viewed a product in an online store it was likely 3D. Advertising has been doing it for years. And now, photography is moving to full CGI for a ton of reasons.

Will you be prepared? Do you want step-by-step instructions to implement all these tips?

Watch all the lessons here, free!

CGI News: White Balance, 100+ Models and Cloud Updates ⛅

"Simplifying the techniques used in the CGI industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

🔨 TOOLS

100+ new models added to Chaos Cosmos

Chaos Cosmos has received its first update. The update adds over 100 new 3D models.

https://cosmos.chaos.com/

📺 WATCH

How to use White Balance in 3ds Max

Quite a few new videos have been added to the YouTube channel. Including a white balance video showing how to change the overall temperature of your image in 3ds Max and V-Ray.

https://youtu.be/VzANLfTyf_Q

🔨 TOOLS

Chaos Cloud update

Chaos Cosmos wasn't the only one to get an update. Chaos Cloud has too. The update enables us to put credit limits per image, job analytics, batch rendering, and GPU rendering.

Get 20 Free Cloud Credits Here

Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter and want to support it, join a course or refer a friend.

Render On!

Official V-Ray Mentor and CGI Artist

Try Chaos Cloud. Start now with 20 free credits.

CGI News: Project Starline, V-Ray Frame Buffer and Luxury Visuals ⭐

"Simplifying the techniques used in the CGI industry."

Here are 3 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

📺 WATCH

Google's Project Starline

Check out Google's Project Starline. It looks like some clever use of Normal Maps makes you feel like you are there on video calls.

🔨 TOOLS

V-Ray Frame Buffer Vs Output image

Some people were having trouble with the V-Ray frame buffer and the output image not matching. If you are struggling to make your output files look the same when saving your image out of 3ds Max and V-Ray then this could be the solution.

📰 ET CETERA

LuxuryVisuals.com

The Luxury Visuals website has had an update. Feel free to take a look around and let me know what you think. Be sure to check out the Tech and Blog sections.

Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter and want to support it, join a course or refer a friend.

Render On!

Official V-Ray Mentor and CGI Artist

Try Chaos Cloud. Start now with 20 free credits.

The Secret Render Button 🔘

Have you ever looked at another CGI Artist's render and thought...

"What's the secret? There is something that they know about 3D rendering that I don't."

Want to know the secret to create photorealistic images? 🧝‍♂️

It is easier to believe that there is a magic 'photorealistic image' button. Hidden deep in the render settings that only the elite CGI artists know how to access.

It doesn't exist.

Believe me, I spent a long time searching for that secret photorealistic render tick box.

In a world of 5-minute abs and master CGI in 90 minutes courses 😁, it does feel easier to believe that there is a secret button.

The truth about architectural visualisations. 👂

The truth is, it takes good old-fashioned experience. Not the type of experience you see on a 3D rendering job listing. I am talking about habit.

I can teach you everything I know. Everything I learned from my experience in architectural visualisations.

But you have to have your own experience. This goes for any of the creative industries.

If you use my experience you will learn the tools faster than I did. But you have to use the tools frequently.

You can't be a 3D Artist that doesn't create 3D art!

Experience. 📈

In the lectures, there are Q&A sections. I have the experience to answer your question because, once upon a time, I stayed up all night trying to fix that problem. That's experience.

This is how you learn and grow, not by ticking off a course as done ✅, but by using it.

This is what Alex did.

Meet Alex.

Alex took the V-Ray Certification Course and has been an active member of the student community group. It has been inspiring to watch him develop his skillset and post his architectural renders frequently.

The lectures give you the head start, but you need to hone your mind into thinking like a 3D artist in a CGI Studio. You do that by working on your 3D modeling, tinkering with light sources, and working on your own CGI projects.

This work ethic landed Alex on the Creativepool home page and allowed him to create a solid portfolio of CGI projects.

You can only access the magic photorealistic rendering button by working on your craft every day.

So what do you say? Ready to get some experience?

Check out the V-Ray Certification Course.