Chicago Loft

[BBB3viz]

I've been fooling around with my Chicago Loft model, re-engineered for Corona (manual material conversion is fast enough), plus a few recent models.
Very fast renders in general. Two hours maximum per 2K image, but most were very usable after 45 minutes (the last image rendered for about 30 mins and is grainier than the rest).
There's a fair bit of post-work here: curves, color cast, CA, glow...

Corona Loft by BBB3viz, on Flickr

Corona Loft by BBB3viz, on Flickr

Corona Loft by BBB3viz, on Flickr

Corona Loft by BBB3viz, on Flickr

[Ludvik Koutny]

These look really great (as is standard, when it comes to your work :) ). Maybe too cold tones overall, makes it feel like it's freezing outside.

Have you used interpolated secondary GI (HDcache) or Path Tracing. Because for interiors, HDcache is provides a lot better speed/quality ratio.

And were there any obstacles (except bump not working with composite map) when using Corona on this project? :)

[michaltimko]

Last shot is awesome. I agree with Rawa. Too much blue-ish tones and contrast for my taste. But overall great renders as usual.

[maru]

There is some noise in the pictures with strong DOF - is it intentionally added?
As for my taste, the colour grading is too strong. There is this violet vs lemon visible everywhere, but that's just me. :)

[daniel.reutersward]

A little purple/blue tone for my taste, but overall as always GREAT work!! :)

[BBB3viz]

Thanks guys.

I hear the consensus on the blue tint.

Yes, this used HD Cache. I went for all-default settings and was very happy about how these worked. No tweaking at all and very fast renders. Perhaps slightly soft GI here and there but altogether very satisfying.

No bug. One problem only, but not sure it's a bug or my doing something wrong. I originally had a leather material on the long chair. Very blurry reflections. It seemed to get "dark" underneath the main highlights. As if the highlights were somehow influencing the diffuse. Very strange. It's the only time this happened. It was only on this model, but I checked the geometry, the normals, etc. Couldn't find anything...

[Ludvik Koutny]

Thanks guys.

I hear the consensus on the blue tint.

Yes, this used HD Cache. I went for all-default settings and was very happy about how these worked. No tweaking at all and very fast renders. Perhaps slightly soft GI here and there but altogether very satisfying.

No bug. One problem only, but not sure it's a bug or my doing something wrong. I originally had a leather material on the long chair. Very blurry reflections. It seemed to get "dark" underneath the main highlights. As if the highlights were somehow influencing the diffuse. Very strange. It's the only time this happened. It was only on this model, but I checked the geometry, the normals, etc. Couldn't find anything...

It could be the hybrid glass bug... which is known. But i am not sure how it could get propagated on something like leather material.

Only thing you could try to tweak is GI/AA balance parameter. When lowering it from default 16 to say 8 or 4, it will focus more samples on AA, rather than GI. That will clean up shots with strong Depth of Field faster.

So as a rule of thumb:

Regular shots - keep at 16
Shots with subtle DoF - decrease to 8
Shots with strong DoF - decrease to 4

EDIT:

This is the screenshot of a known bug. If you enclose light source in a Glass with disabled caustics, and this combination is being reflected by surface with low glossiness. It creates a problem.

I will try to find out some plausible workaround.

[BBB3viz]

Yes, this is definitely how it looked like. Perhaps because of the HDR light passing through the glass windows?

[Stan_But]

Yep, Bertrand - it's the bug. Don't blame yourself.
Very liked as you work with contrast

[Ondra]

workaround is to just use thin glass (no refraction) in windows

[Juraj]

I have to give you compliments on amount of projects published recently, amazing :- )

I don't mind the hue, the heavy post seem to be quite a trademark of your work.

[zuliban]

Great stuff BBB i really like this work, i think you just had so much fun with post production :)

[druwee]

Fantastic work as always Bertrand.  The thick dark yet somehow rather still bright post work is definitely unique to you as is super high white value balancing with Peter G. Inspiring as always

[Javadevil]

These are great, love the composition.

Is there anything in particular that makes you choose Vray or Corona for a particular project ?

cheers

[modern_babylon]

I quite like the strong colour grading TBH, but its a taste thing I guess. Great to see continued corona testing by Bertrand!