Chaos Corona Forum

Chaos Corona for 3ds Max => [Max] I need help! => Topic started by: lolec on 2021-02-09, 20:59:03

Title: Volume Material with reflective caustics.
Post by: lolec on 2021-02-09, 20:59:03
I'm trying to visualize the path that light takes after hitting a reflective surface.

I'm trying to use a volume material to see how light travels through space.

Volume material seems to work with refractive caustics, but not reflective.

Caustics is enabled, I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks.

ps. Alternatively, If someone knows a good workflow for visualizing light paths... The work I'm doing is similar to what a car light designer would do, so there must be a good solution for it, preferably inside MAX.

Title: Re: Volume Material with reflective caustics.
Post by: TomG on 2021-02-10, 14:45:18
Caustics don't work inside volumetric materials, a known limitation (or rather they are calculated the old way, which is pretty much the same as saying they don't work :) ). Listed on https://coronarenderer.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/12000056738-how-to-render-caustics-with-the-new-caustics-solver-

The only way to visualize light in a medium would be by faking it, by creating other lights to shine in the reflected direction directly, or otherwise adding geometry with Corona Light Materials on them etc.
Title: Re: Volume Material with reflective caustics.
Post by: Fluss on 2021-02-10, 17:12:50
If you really need accurate volumetric caustics then Indigo render is your best bet