Mental Ray Training Resources

djohnson129 · August 12th, 2007

I just typed a long message and the window closed so I'm keeping this short...
I'm looking for any advanced training resources (dvd or book) that can help me learn mental ray in 3d max 8 better. I'm new to making photo-realistic lighting but have been doing character animation in college for a couple years. So does anyone know of any good resources...either free or that I can purchase? All the ones I've checked out are either for vray or mental ray in maya.

My current project is attached. I'm still in the process of modelling and texturing, but I started setting up the lighting and I just cant figure out how to make it look realistc (like in all the renders I see here). Any help would be appreciated a ton ;D

Brian Bradley · August 12th, 2007

Hey David,

May be of some use to you!

www.mentalboutmax.com

Regards
Bri

PS - All modules use Max 9, so some things won't
apply to Max 8. Check out the free downloads to see!

djohnson129 · August 12th, 2007

oooooo goodie! thats the most useful site I've seen since looking for help! THANK YOU!
got another question....how important of a role do the shaders play in these realistic renders? I keep seeing people talk about different shaders for different things, but most of the time they're shaders I dont have. Where can I find professional shaders?
Sorry if these questions have already been answered a ton of times. I'm very limited on how much I can use the internet while at school or work....so I dont have a lot of time to browse the forums.
Anyways I'm gonna go check out that site more.
thanks again!

P.S.- Can I get just as a little hint on what I need to do next to make my bathroom look better? Is it the shaders I need to change or the lighting?

Brian Bradley · August 12th, 2007

Hi David,

To answer your first question, Shaders do play a VERY
large part in the final quality of a render, but then so do
modeling and lighting. The better you are at each of these
facets of 3D, the more quality you will get from your
finished render. As for professional shaders, MR ships with
more than enough stuff to produce top quality. Master
those first and worry about the extra stuff later!

As to improving your scene, I would strongly recommend
sitting down with some photos and getting a feel for what you
are shooting for. Even lighting and lack of shadows appear
to be two of your biggest problems at the moment. Look at
photo reference and see what is missing.

Hope that is some help,

Regards
Bri

djohnson129 · August 12th, 2007

thanks that does help. I'm thinking about getting the interior lighting videos from mental bout max, and possibly the one on shaders....do you think they're gonna teach me what I need to know? Is there any other resource you recommend that's not just a redo of the owners manual and is geared for 3d max and mental ray specifically?

-thanks again

djohnson129 · August 12th, 2007

are the ones from the gnomon website worth it even though they use vray?

Brian Bradley · August 13th, 2007

Hi David,

The idea behind the MBM modules is to build up a
complete MR training library. As such everyone
of them has a piece of the picture to add to the
puzzle, you just need to decide which part of the
picture you want to work on first.

The Gnomon DVD's by Chris Nichols are really good,
but they are pretty VRay specific. In terms of lighting
principles there is stuff to be learned for sure, but
the application is for VRay so for MR users they have
a limited value.

As for other resources, make good use of forums such
as this one and CGTalk. Go through the MR tuts that
ship with Max as they get you up to speed pretty well
with basic MR functions and terminology. Most of all
give yourself plenty of time to practice.

Regards
Bri

valentine- · August 13th, 2007

Hi David,
You might like to have a look at "Rendering with mental ray & 3ds Max" by Joep van der Steen. The book gives a good overview with many examples suitable for first time users to advanced. It has specific chapters on mantal ray and lights, materials, shaders ect. I think it sells for about $50!
Good luck
Valentine

djohnson129 · August 13th, 2007

Thank you guys ;D
I got cox internet at home now so I can browse the forums more! Woot! I have gone through all the tutorials that came with max, I know the terms fairly well. There's just something missing....practice perhaps...as well as I'm still using max 8 and have yet to install 9...but that's probly not it. I just downloaded a bunch of furniture from one of the sites you gave me Brad, so I'm just going to arrange a room with them so I can go straight into practicing the lighting and such. Thanks again and be sure to hear lots more from me soon enough

-David

Brian Bradley · August 14th, 2007

Should also have mentioned www.mymentalray.com

Regards
Bri

August 12th, 2007	#2 (permalink)
Brian Bradley Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greater Manchester Age: 43 Posts: 422 Name: Brian Bradley	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources Hey David, May be of some use to you! www.mentalboutmax.com Regards Bri PS - All modules use Max 9, so some things won't apply to Max 8. Check out the free downloads to see! __________________ 3Ds Max - Mental Ray - VRay - Brazil Training Modules www.mentalboutmax.co.uk The MBM Blog www.mentalboutmax.blogspot.com Vray Learning Resource www.vrayelite.com

August 12th, 2007	#3 (permalink)
djohnson129 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Az Posts: 83 Name: David Johnson	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources oooooo goodie! thats the most useful site I've seen since looking for help! THANK YOU! got another question....how important of a role do the shaders play in these realistic renders? I keep seeing people talk about different shaders for different things, but most of the time they're shaders I dont have. Where can I find professional shaders? Sorry if these questions have already been answered a ton of times. I'm very limited on how much I can use the internet while at school or work....so I dont have a lot of time to browse the forums. Anyways I'm gonna go check out that site more. thanks again! P.S.- Can I get just as a little hint on what I need to do next to make my bathroom look better? Is it the shaders I need to change or the lighting?

August 12th, 2007	#4 (permalink)
Brian Bradley Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greater Manchester Age: 43 Posts: 422 Name: Brian Bradley	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources Hi David, To answer your first question, Shaders do play a VERY large part in the final quality of a render, but then so do modeling and lighting. The better you are at each of these facets of 3D, the more quality you will get from your finished render. As for professional shaders, MR ships with more than enough stuff to produce top quality. Master those first and worry about the extra stuff later! As to improving your scene, I would strongly recommend sitting down with some photos and getting a feel for what you are shooting for. Even lighting and lack of shadows appear to be two of your biggest problems at the moment. Look at photo reference and see what is missing. Hope that is some help, Regards Bri __________________ 3Ds Max - Mental Ray - VRay - Brazil Training Modules www.mentalboutmax.co.uk The MBM Blog www.mentalboutmax.blogspot.com Vray Learning Resource www.vrayelite.com

August 12th, 2007	#5 (permalink)
djohnson129 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Az Posts: 83 Name: David Johnson	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources thanks that does help. I'm thinking about getting the interior lighting videos from mental bout max, and possibly the one on shaders....do you think they're gonna teach me what I need to know? Is there any other resource you recommend that's not just a redo of the owners manual and is geared for 3d max and mental ray specifically? -thanks again

August 12th, 2007	#6 (permalink)
djohnson129 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Az Posts: 83 Name: David Johnson	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources are the ones from the gnomon website worth it even though they use vray?

August 13th, 2007	#7 (permalink)
Brian Bradley Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greater Manchester Age: 43 Posts: 422 Name: Brian Bradley	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources Hi David, The idea behind the MBM modules is to build up a complete MR training library. As such everyone of them has a piece of the picture to add to the puzzle, you just need to decide which part of the picture you want to work on first. The Gnomon DVD's by Chris Nichols are really good, but they are pretty VRay specific. In terms of lighting principles there is stuff to be learned for sure, but the application is for VRay so for MR users they have a limited value. As for other resources, make good use of forums such as this one and CGTalk. Go through the MR tuts that ship with Max as they get you up to speed pretty well with basic MR functions and terminology. Most of all give yourself plenty of time to practice. Regards Bri __________________ 3Ds Max - Mental Ray - VRay - Brazil Training Modules www.mentalboutmax.co.uk The MBM Blog www.mentalboutmax.blogspot.com Vray Learning Resource www.vrayelite.com

August 13th, 2007	#8 (permalink)
valentine- Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NY Posts: 1 Name: Valentine Dolan	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources Hi David, You might like to have a look at "Rendering with mental ray & 3ds Max" by Joep van der Steen. The book gives a good overview with many examples suitable for first time users to advanced. It has specific chapters on mantal ray and lights, materials, shaders ect. I think it sells for about $50! Good luck Valentine

August 13th, 2007	#9 (permalink)
djohnson129 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Az Posts: 83 Name: David Johnson	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources Thank you guys ;D I got cox internet at home now so I can browse the forums more! Woot! I have gone through all the tutorials that came with max, I know the terms fairly well. There's just something missing....practice perhaps...as well as I'm still using max 8 and have yet to install 9...but that's probly not it. I just downloaded a bunch of furniture from one of the sites you gave me Brad, so I'm just going to arrange a room with them so I can go straight into practicing the lighting and such. Thanks again and be sure to hear lots more from me soon enough -David

August 14th, 2007	#10 (permalink)
Brian Bradley Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greater Manchester Age: 43 Posts: 422 Name: Brian Bradley	Re: Mental Ray Training Resources Should also have mentioned www.mymentalray.com Regards Bri __________________ 3Ds Max - Mental Ray - VRay - Brazil Training Modules www.mentalboutmax.co.uk The MBM Blog www.mentalboutmax.blogspot.com Vray Learning Resource www.vrayelite.com

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Mental Ray Training Module	Brian Bradley	Mental Ray	0	June 20th, 2007 04:49 AM
Maya v. Mental Ray Shaders	hd_leach	Maya	3	May 9th, 2007 12:13 PM
Virtual Partners Training is looking for a Mental Ray Instructor	Virtual Partners	Job Board	0	November 6th, 2005 04:35 PM
Max 7 Lights with Mental Ray	OllyNicholson	3ds Max	9	July 21st, 2005 02:13 PM