Lighting and Rendering

Artwork Works in Progress
1

GourdHouseRender7.jpg1644×2300 323 KB

This is a combination of procedural and image textures. It takes ~44 min to render (Cycles). I’m using a laptop with 8GB RAM and 2.3Gz. No GPU.

RenderSettings.png346×837 50.2 KB


Adjusting the materials and lighting is pretty tedious - even at 20 samples in preview.

I wonder if anyone can advise on the lighting. I suspect that’s what’s really slowing things down. Do I have too many lights? Or maybe that’s just the way it is!

LightingSetup.png1241×886 132 KB

The two lower lights in front are to offset the sun shadow and add color with visibility
The blue area light is a fill light on the front of the gourd
The sun is the main light.
The blue spotlight is for rim lighting but it needs work - or a different approach.

Thanks!
Dan

2

Hi Dan
I’m no sure if i follow you. Maybe try World > Environment Texture with HDR sky as a lightning source instead of lamps.
Nodes below (not my idea, I recommend Andrew Price blog)

env.png1230×519 71.5 KB

It works sth like this (light is to bright but may be adjusted)

tree2.png380×540 299 KB

3

Go for hdri lighting. it will be more effective.
And give some more bump.

4

I like the style and the use of a fruit / gourd for a house. The elements of the house all look good, but one thing that stands out to me is that the bends in the tall grass seem too creased and rigid.