stm31415 wrote:
> 
> Well, let me explain why I used them, and hopefully someone can tell me
> where I went wrong.
> 
>  radiosity {
>         #if (pass1)
>          pretrace_start .04    <--- The pretraces, I reduced in size to get
> a little more variation in the colors and shadows of that big, blank far
> wall, by avoinding large sample areas.
>           pretrace_end   .01   <--- See above

Pretrace settings only influence the way samples are taken, you will 
hardy achieve any general change except in artefacts.  The pretrace_end 
should be choosen with respect to the error_bound so the majority of the 
samples are taken during pretrace.  Your value probably is too high.

>          error_bound .1 <-- I reduced the error bound until it looked good.
> Larger is too low quality, and lower changes very little.

Lower error_bound != higher quality!

>          nearest_count 20 <--I was using this because that's what Tim Nikias
> reccomended for 2 pass radiosity. Ensures more even samples, as I
> understand it.

This first of all immensly increases render time and memory use.  And 
your argument does not even mention it increases quality in this case.

>          count 1200 <-- I used a high count because it looked better. Low
> count gives the bland results I posted in p.b.i.

You mostly need a high count because your other settings require it.

>          recursion_limit 5 <--- I have several panes of glass in the scene.
> Without a higher recursion limit, the scene gets very dark.

Transparent surfaces are influenced by max_trace_level but have no 
relation to recursion_limit - this is only relevant for the diffuse 
reflection iteration.  The idea of two pass radiosity is to avoid 
refractive/reflective surfaces in the first pass.

>          max_sample 2 <-- Increaced for the lights upstairs, which have a
> high ambient.

max_sample *limits* the brightness of samples and does not increase it.

>       nearest_count 20 <-- Tim, again

complete nonsense in combination with 'always_sample off'.

>       max_sample 1 <--So I can see the partitions in the lights, now that
> the light from them is calculated

Changing this in the second pass is a possible artefact creator.

Again my recommendation: start with the default and only change settings 
when you see they have the intended effect.

Christoph

-- 
POV-Ray tutorials, include files, Sim-POV,
HCR-Edit and more: http://www.tu-bs.de/~y0013390/
Last updated 23 Sep. 2004 _____./\/^>_*_<^\/\.______

Post a reply to this message