V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max Essential Training

Master features of the V-Ray 3.0 rendering engine and learn how to extend the range of 3ds Max with advanced V-Ray tools, such as progressive sampling and hair and skin shaders.

Introduction and Important Information

• Welcome
• Software versions used
• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files
• The 3ds Max project structure
• Gamma handling
• A word about Intel Embree
• A word about HDRIs

V-Ray 3.1 to 3.3 Updates

• Introduction to this update
• Using the additional exercise files
• V-Ray and 3ds Max versions used
• Updates to V-Ray RT
• VFB improvments
• Updates to cameras
• GGX, rounded corners, and more
• Randomization and better translucency
• The Triplanar Map
• Render elements
• Lighting updates
• Aerial perspective
• Volume grid
• V-Ray proxy
• The V-Ray Instancer
• VR mesh viewer
• Odds and ends
• Next steps

V-Ray 3.4 to 3.6 Updates

• Introduction to this update
• Using the additional exercise files
• V-Ray and 3ds Max versions used
• The Denoiser
• Interactive Lens Effects
• MDL materials
• RT GPU improvements
• Resumable Rendering
• VFB Real-Time improvements
• Interactive Production Renderer
• The AL Surface shader
• V-Ray scene object
• Full Light Select Element
• Cryptomatte
• Next steps

1. Getting Ready to Render with V-Ray

• V-Ray workflow options and recommendations
• The V-Ray toolbar
• New UI elements and Quick Settings
• The revamped frame buffer with advanced color controls
• The V-Ray Render Output options
• Image sampling explained
• Understanding subdivs
• Overview of color mapping
• What the color mapping modes do

2. Key Lighting Tools

• Using 3ds Max light types with V-Ray
• Working with the V-Ray light
• Adding a spherical fill light
• The V-Ray Sun and Sky system
• Controlling global exposure
• Enabling the Environment skylight
• Working with the V-Ray dome light
• Creating a mesh light

3. Global Illumination

• Global Illumination explained
• Understanding primary and secondary bounces
• How irradiance mapping works
• Using irradiance mapping: Part 1
• Using irradiance mapping: Part 2
• How light cache works
• Using light cache
• Understanding brute force GI
• Using brute force GI

4. V-Ray Materials and Maps

• Introduction to V-Ray specific materials
• Creating diffuse color
• Making a clear glass material
• Making colored and frosted glass
• Making reflective materials
• Blurring our reflections
• Creating a translucency effect
• Using VRmats
• New ray-traced SSS shader
• New simplified skin shader
• V-Ray hair shader

5. Quality Control with Image Sampling

• Using the fixed-rate engine
• How to use the adaptive engine
• Working with the adaptive subdivision engine
• Progressive sampler
• Fixing super bright sampling problems
• Using universal settings

6. Working with Cameras: The V-Ray Physical Camera

• Physical Camera setup
• Physical Camera controls
• Depth of field
• Creating a Motion Blur effect

7. Working with Cameras: V-Ray 3 & the 3ds Max Physical Camera

• Where did the V-Ray Physical Camera go?
• Adding a Physical Camera to the scene
• Overview of the Physical Camera controls
• A primer on exposure values (EVs)
• Automated Exposure Control
• Controlling exposure manually
• Correcting a skewed perspective
• Creating depth of field
• Adding Motion Blur effects

8. The V-Ray FX Tools

• Caustic effect setup
• Generating the caustic effect
• Using VRayFur
• Stereoscopic 3D rendering
• Vr-Ray Metaballs
• Proxies
• The VRayClipper
• Depth of field: Using a perspective viewport
• Using Render Mask

Conclusion

• What's next?