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Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:17 pm
by Alyosha
Hey,
I've been experimenting with indigo demo version (2.6.1.) and the exit portal that I set in windows (yes I made sure that it covers the whole opening, I made sure the normals are aligned correctly and yes it's only a flat plane) turns out pitch black in the render itself.
Aparently the portal works though, by the obvious change in lightning after I put it in, but the plane used for the portal renders pitch black. Haven't assigned any mat whatsoever to it either, just the portal.
Omg halp!
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:15 am
by Headroom
You need to apply a material to that plane called "EXIT PORTAL". How to do that depends on your specific 3D software and the Indigo exporter for it.
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:44 am
by galinette
Do you use an envmap?
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:56 am
by Alyosha
I use maxigo, and I use the exit portal modifier, is there also a separate portal material? I've read something about it on the forums but I couldnt find it among the max indigo materials.
I'm not using env map I'm using daylight system thingy as far as the exporter goes.
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:16 am
by snorky
wait... wait!
where is your point of view?
backside of exit portal IS black (no light)
please post a sample image
p.s
http://www.indigorenderer.com/forum/vie ... 37&t=10413
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:31 am
by Alyosha
Thanks guys, snorky got it right, I just had to physically turn around the portal planes, lol, didn't even notice it had two different sides:-)
Works like a charm now, thanks:-)
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:37 am
by snorky
Alyosha wrote:Thanks guys, snorky got it right, I just had to physically turn around the portal planes, lol, didn't even notice it had two different sides:-)
Works like a charm now, thanks:-)

Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:50 am
by Headroom
I am still not quite sure what you are trying to achieve.
Exit portals are a means to speed up interior renders. Meaning your camera is located inside of an enclosed space with exterior light entering the enclosed space through openings. These openings can be covered with exit portals with the surface normals pointing towards the inside.
This will clip all lighting evaluations on exterior structures. If you have a tree in front of the window and want to see the shadows of the leaves inside you won't be able to use exit portals. The only thing you can see through exit portals is the sun-sky environment but no exterior structures.
If you are doing an exterior rendering where the camera is located outside exit portals are utterly useless.
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:21 am
by Alyosha
I AM doing an interior render...and I didn't plant any trees so no fuss. Still, that's good to know - will that change anytime in the future?
Because the speed increase is obvious, 30 mins into the render at 1024 and the thing is almost ready to ship...not that complex scene, but still....I remember having to wait longer without the portal.
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:20 am
by elDiego
I'm having the same problem, and I cant manage to fix it. my room is all black and i'm standing looking at it and in the wall behind my camera i draw a door and window (juste planes) and made them exit portals when i render i see all black. please i would apreciat the help . thanks
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:28 am
by elDiego
here is a section of my sketchup 3d model...hope you guys can help.
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:41 am
by CTZn
Your camera must be inside the room ElDiego, no light will pass through the exit portals in the direction opposed to their triangles normals. If you need a view from the exterior, then you should not use exit portals at the windows and doors.
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:55 am
by elDiego
no no, my camera is inside the room, this is just an interior section so you guys see the model. i'm standing here. (see image attached)
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:02 am
by CTZn
Okay, my pardon.
Portals normals are pointing inward ? They'll stop the environment light otherwise.
Does the render do better without exit portals ?
Or with Reinhard (auto) tonemapping method ?
Re: Exit portal pitch black halp!
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:06 am
by elDiego
yes it works once i removed that whole wall and let natural light inn.