Corona output with Self Illumination Default corona material seems buggy

[JoachimArt]

When adding the Corona output module in its default state between a coronabitmap and Diffuse slot nothing changes, which is the correct behaviour. But when adding the Corona output between a coronaBitmap and Self-illumination slot of the default material the image becomes pale, and looses its details in the dark areas.

[maru]

How exactly were you using the Corona Output map?
Generally it is intended for making a texture independent from VFB tone mapping. So if you increase exposure, the exposure of the bitmap will remain at the same level regardless of that. The typical use here is setting up a background visible behind a window. You can then increase the exposure to make the interior brighter, and prevent the background image from becoming overexposed.

If you plug it into the diffuse channel, it will behave the same way.

If you plug it into the self illumination channel, it will display the texture as "glowing", but will still consider the diffuse color and level. Maybe to fix your issue you should simple set the diffuse color to pure black? (or diffuse level to 0)

[JoachimArt]

How exactly were you using the Corona Output map?
Generally it is intended for making a texture independent from VFB tone mapping. So if you increase exposure, the exposure of the bitmap will remain at the same level regardless of that. The typical use here is setting up a background visible behind a window. You can then increase the exposure to make the interior brighter, and prevent the background image from becoming overexposed.

If you plug it into the diffuse channel, it will behave the same way.

If you plug it into the self illumination channel, it will display the texture as "glowing", but will still consider the diffuse color and level. Maybe to fix your issue you should simple set the diffuse color to pure black? (or diffuse level to 0)

Hi sorry for the slow reply, I tend to forget adding notification when new replies are written.

To explain. When you have a regular bitmap or corona bitmap connected to the diffuse channel, and add an output module inbetween, nothing changes until you make some changes inside the output module. But with the corona output module it does. Not in the diffuse slot, but in many of the other slots it does, which makes it useless in these cases. If I have a bitmap, drop it into self illumination f.example but I want to change some parameters of the image, it would be nice to add the Corona output, and change contrast or whatever, but it alters the original image by default before any parameters are changed, so its not usable.

Do you see what I mean ?

[Vlad_the_rant]

I can't reproduce this. Corona Output seems to work fine and is not changing anything by default, neither in the diffuse nor the self-illumination slot. The fact that it's not changing anything when put into the diffuse channel is indicative of it not actually changing anything by default. Putting any bitmap with or without Corona Output into the self-illumination slot when the diffuse slot is empty will mix the diffuse color of the material with the self-illumination. Maybe this is what is seen?

[Vlad_the_rant]

Are you experiencing this problem with Corona 2 and the new CoronaColorCorrect map?

[JoachimArt]

Hey sorry for the late reply, forgot to give this topic email reminders.
For me the CoronaColorCorrect created sometimes a different image on default settings when adding it without any changes. Particularly it happened on some slots, like opacity map and refl.gloss. Once I added the CoronaOutput the bitmap lost its color or contrast and various small changes could happen. If I added the 3ds max built in output it doesn't change the image unless I change the values. If you like me to reproduce it for you I can.

[JoachimArt]

Are you experiencing this problem with Corona 2 and the new CoronaColorCorrect map?

It has happened to me since before corona 2

[Vlad_the_rant]

If you like me to reproduce it for you I can.

I would be very grateful! Please send a scene with this kind of material set up and the textures for it, to ensure we're both doing the same thing. Thank you very much!

[JoachimArt]

If you like me to reproduce it for you I can.

I would be very grateful! Please send a scene with this kind of material set up and the textures for it, to ensure we're both doing the same thing. Thank you very much!

Actually now that I try to reproduce it, I'm unable to. Maybe it was fixed since I started this topic (?) anyway, I will then let you know if I experience this again :) Sorry, but I guess it's a good thing :D