Maya and Arnold: Exterior Lighting and Rendering

Learn Arnold rendering in Maya for architectural exteriors. Instructor George Maestri shows how to set up, light, render, and composite shots for daytime and nighttime.

Introduction

• Create realistic exterior renderings in Maya
• How to use the exercise files

1. Setting Up the Scene and Environment

• Scene overview
• Setting up Arnold
• Preliminary camera placement

2. Lighting for Daytime

• Setting up environmental lighting
• Adding sunlight
• Auxilliary lights
• Interior lighting
• Adjust lighting in the Light Editor

3. Daytime Rendering

• Rendering a hero pass
• Ambient occlusion pass
• Shadow and matte pass
• Reflection pass
• Creating a selection pass
• Final rendering

4. Compositing a Daytime Shot

• Setting up a Photoshop composite
• Adjusting shadow and occlusion
• Adding reflections
• Additional compositing tweaks
• Final output

5. Lighting for Night

• Moving lights from day to night
• Adjusting interior lighting
• Adding ceiling lights
• Adding architectural lights
• Additional lighting
• Finalizing lights

6. Night Rendering and Compositing

• Rendering final scene
• Setting up the composite
• Adjusting light and shadow
• Adjusting reflections
• Adjusting the water
• Final output

Conclusion

• Final thoughts