Introduction to Maya - Modeling Fundamentals Vol 1
This course will look at the fundamentals of modeling in Maya with an emphasis on creating good topology. We'll look at what makes a good model in Maya and why objects are modeled in the way they are.
# 1 16-04-2012 , 04:25 PM
Alec Carson
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tonkawa, OK
Posts: 3

Hash-like distortion when rendering using real flow mesh and caustic materials

hey guys.... very new to this forum. I'm kinda stuck with a problem that neither my teacher nor anyone else i have talked to seems to know how to fix. I'm working with caustic photons and dielectric materials in maya... after importing a mesh from real flow. i keep getting a hash-like distortion on the final render. any idea what might be going wrong?

i'll post the most recent render picture with this post. maybe someone can help.

user added image


Last edited by ACars441; 16-04-2012 at 04:35 PM.
# 2 16-04-2012 , 04:40 PM
joverall22's Avatar
Lifetime Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 306
Hard to tell without seeing your render settings. Is this Mental Ray? do you have any noise or blur attributes on? It looks like some of the liquid is going through the glass on the bottom left or is that suppose to be a splash over? What are you using for a light source?


- Jake
# 3 16-04-2012 , 04:41 PM
NextDesign's Avatar
Technical Director
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,988
It could be that the realflow mesh is actually penetrating the glass. Put a lattice on it, and scale it down a bit so that it isn't intersecting. Then give it a render, and see if you still get the artifact.


Imagination is more important than knowledge.
# 4 16-04-2012 , 04:57 PM
Alec Carson
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tonkawa, OK
Posts: 3
First off, thanks for responding! I really appreciate it.

-Joverall22: Yes this is in mental ray, and no, I don't have any noise or blur attributed to that material. Bottom left is a splash over. as for a light source, i have an hdri dome for the scene lighting, and a spot light with no intensity, but it is emitting caustic photons. I'll try to post my render settings after the rest of my classes today.

-Next Design: originally i thought that as well. however, i did animate the real flow mesh, so when i scrubbed back my timeline to before the glass was full, and did a render, i was also getting the artifacts in the empty glass.

i want to try to put this in my demo reel, but i think i'm going to have to toy with the viscosity of the mesh in real flow again... its looking kind of jello-y lol. but first i have to get this distortion figured out.

# 5 16-04-2012 , 05:01 PM
NextDesign's Avatar
Technical Director
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,988
I have some time, send me the file and I'll take a look. Make sure you bake the mesh into the scene.


Imagination is more important than knowledge.
# 6 16-04-2012 , 05:05 PM
honestdom's Avatar
The Nurb Herd
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
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Sorry can you point out the distortion? i'm not sure what's the problem and what's just low-res compression. user added image

# 7 16-04-2012 , 05:17 PM
NextDesign's Avatar
Technical Director
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,988
Look at the black areas near the stem.


Imagination is more important than knowledge.
# 8 16-04-2012 , 05:36 PM
honestdom's Avatar
The Nurb Herd
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Posts: 2,381
ah cool, i zoomed in.
does the glass have a thickness?
how is it lit?

# 9 16-04-2012 , 05:45 PM
Alec Carson
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tonkawa, OK
Posts: 3
Ok, I'll bake the animation. And where do I send the file?

Honestdom: yes it has thickness, and refer back to my second post about the lighting.

# 10 16-04-2012 , 05:49 PM
NextDesign's Avatar
Technical Director
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,988
Either PM me a link, or PM me, and I'll send you my email address.


Imagination is more important than knowledge.
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