Caustics on pool
Caustics on pool
Man, I keep failing to get any caustics on my pool water. Any obvious reasons anyone can think of? I am following the SKindigo water tutorial to the letter. So far, nothing gives me the caustics. Also, takes forever to develop.
- Polinalkrimizei
- Posts: 648
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 6:59 am
Re: Caustics on pool
Hi rivera-b,
please share more infos about your scene, and if possible an example. Are you rendering with MLT?
And yes, caustics are a bitch considering render times...
please share more infos about your scene, and if possible an example. Are you rendering with MLT?
And yes, caustics are a bitch considering render times...
Re: Caustics on pool
I've rendered this pool from different angles and under different light conditions. Here I have two Light sources inside it, I like the texture and light filling the pool, but on the night or day scenes, I still get no caustics, even after an all night render time.
I suspect it is a mistake on my part, but I can't put my finger on it.
I suspect it is a mistake on my part, but I can't put my finger on it.
Re: Caustics on pool
Anyway, I like this water and I think it is fine.
And perhaps I just don't understand the nature of caustics.
And perhaps I just don't understand the nature of caustics.
- Polinalkrimizei
- Posts: 648
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 6:59 am
Re: Caustics on pool
Hi rivera-b,
I am no caustics expert either. BUT I would expect that in real life, there would probably be no caustics in your night scene, as caustics happen when a strong light source (=sun) hits the pool from above, causing caustics on the pool walls and floor by interacting with the ripples of the water volume.
So I would think that in your daylight scene, caustics should appear if
- the light source is strong enough and hits the water directly (perhaps you can play with the angle of the sunlight?)
- the pool has real ripples for the sun to deal with
How do you "ripple" your water? When using a displacement map, make sure the subdivison of the water is really high, and perhaps try another map. When using a shader, just play with the values to get more ripples/make the ripples a little deeper.
Rendering with MLT enabled (=using CPU only) should make the caustics appear early on.
Have you tried following the tutorial step by step, without the nice villa in the background?
Best of luck
I am no caustics expert either. BUT I would expect that in real life, there would probably be no caustics in your night scene, as caustics happen when a strong light source (=sun) hits the pool from above, causing caustics on the pool walls and floor by interacting with the ripples of the water volume.
So I would think that in your daylight scene, caustics should appear if
- the light source is strong enough and hits the water directly (perhaps you can play with the angle of the sunlight?)
- the pool has real ripples for the sun to deal with
How do you "ripple" your water? When using a displacement map, make sure the subdivison of the water is really high, and perhaps try another map. When using a shader, just play with the values to get more ripples/make the ripples a little deeper.
Rendering with MLT enabled (=using CPU only) should make the caustics appear early on.
Have you tried following the tutorial step by step, without the nice villa in the background?
Best of luck

- Polinalkrimizei
- Posts: 648
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 6:59 am
Re: Caustics on pool
... just found an old render from 2012 which followed pretty much the tutorial, it seems to work 

Re: Caustics on pool
Thank you! Will tweak the subdivision and the sun angle and see what happens.
Cool image by the way! lol
Cool image by the way! lol
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