why bother with mental ray..,
use maya software and depth map.., light link .., sample the colour of the bounce and key lights from the environment (eg, sample the colour of the ground for the bounce lights)..,
use an array of directional lights
ill do an example its easier to show
the ones pionting up have their colour sampled from the line of site from the ground.., different for each light depending on the ground
the ones pionting down have the colour sampled (eye dropper) from the 'sky' so some will be the colour of the clouds (from line of site) and some blue sky.
shadows can be done using a spotlight (perambula will give a fall off) or directional light.., depth map shadows.., easy and quick
maya renderer is good with some effort.
keep the bounce lights light linked and low intensity
you can use as many light in each array as you want for accuracy and have them at different angles.., some at -45 degrees.., some at -39 .., ect.., hope you understand this
you could almost create a complete sphere of them if needed but usually the bounce and sun arrays are grouped separately
take it easy and life will be easy
Last edited by mirek03; 16-07-2008 at 07:23 AM.