IRAY Shadow Catcher on OBJECTS? - NOT on the default ground

alondan

Hello all,

I'm made a few primitives, and I put them in a way that I need the character to cast a shadow over them (based on backdrop for example)
I need the character the cast shadow on the objects, but I don't want to render the objects make them invisible in render but leave the shadow cast over them.

I don't need the Ground / Floor default shadow catcher on HDRI.
I looked for this but the only tutorials I found for latest version of DAZ3D IRAY were related to the Floor shadow catcher, not objects.

Sorry about my bad English and thanks ahead for any help in this tricky issue! 

Richard Haseltine

Select your shadow-catchers and go to Daz Studio Formats>install location>Scripts>Utilities, then double-click Create Advanced Iray Node Properties (where install location is the folder you had DIM install the default resources, or the Daz Connect folder if you isntalled via Connect). Then in Parameters under Display there should be an Enable Iray Matte button - click to set it to On.

alondan

Thank you for the fast reply Richard,

I followed your instructions, it is exactly what I saw on a video tutorial on YouTube and it's not working for me, I'm using the latest version of DAZ3D, I did double click on the script (after the primitive is selected).
I enabled: "Iray Matte" option under the Parameters and when I hide / unhidden the primitive I see no effect at all.

Just to be clear:
I want the Sphere to cast it's shadow on the Cube, but I want the cube invisible on render, only to show SHADOWS cast on it.




Here is a video, maybe you can tell me what did I miss?

Thanks ahead!

alondan

Maybe the script is not supported on the latest DAZ3D / IRAY version?
Can somebody please tell me and look maybe I did something wrong on the video I posted earlier?

Thanks ahead!

 

Richard Haseltine

It seemed to more-or-less work when I tried it, though the effect was weaker than I expected. Hmm, I turned off the specular but I didn't adjust diffuse colour as Mec4D suggests here https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2637676/#Comment_2637676

prixat

You don't need to turn it off in the scene tab, activating the advanced node does everything.

You may need to do a proper render in realmode. It might be the Interactive preview, though I have not tried it in the latest version.

alondan

The thing is that on YouTube I watched few tutorials it works on both interactive view (IRAY) and of course final render.
also, I don't see any change when I play with the specular or even change Plastic to Matte on the material surface.

Either I'm missing something, or it's not working on the latest version which is too bad because I'm sure everybody can use this effect.

I attached the same basic scene file (it's RESET before applying anything to it) so you can try the steps for yourself and update here.
Can somebody capture a NEW VIDEO TUTORIAL for the latest version of DAZ3D 4.9 ?

prixat

First I changed the shader from 3Delight to Iray, and ran the script

Then I made it mid grey, ideally you want to match surface of the object you are going to put in.

That's it, and you're right, it works in Interactive too.

alondan

Can you please attach the file so I'll see what I did wrong?

prixat

Sure, file attached...

alondan

Thanks!
I opened your file, and I rendered (because I didn't see any difference in live preview)
I'm not sure what's wrong but it's like the "Enable Iray Matte" paremater added from the script doesn't affect, it's not even a surface issue.

Do you use also the latest version of DAZ3D ?

Because... I think that something is probably wrong on my DAZ3D settings maybe?
Any idea how can I fix that?    help please

prixat

It's the current release 4.9.4.122.

Try making the cube completely black.

I noticed the Render settings you are using have a very high 'Environment Intensity' value. Try returning them to the defaults.

alondan

I tried it, it doesn't matter what I change on the Render, Environment, or even surfaces... 

it's like the script Enable stays... disable, DAZ3D ignores it even that it says "enable"
that's why even your file is not working when I render... same results as "no shadow catcher" at all.

My only guess is that the script isn't not supporting the latest version of DAZ3D 4.9+  or something on my general settings is messed up somehow.
because everything works great, but this issue...  

I'm confused, I really want to make this work.. :(

alondan

OK.... so I don't want to give up yet, It seems like it works for everybody but me.
and as you can see on my video, I just did everything also attached a scene file for others to setup from scratch.

So I need your help to try help me solve the mystery of why it's not working on my DAZ3D 4.9  64bit  (latest version available to this date).

Facts after testing:
1 - It is nothing to do with material / surface tweaking changes
2 - The script is there, It is adding the Matte parameter so it supposed to work.
3 - THE PROBLEM is that after I ENABLE it, there is no affect at all, not on the live preview and not on render...   

I'm wondering, is there a way I can maybe MAKE DAZ3D to make it work?   
1 - Could it be because of a DOME setup?  (I did try to enable / disable the Ground under Environment, still no change)
2 - Could it be because of Camera settings?  (I didn't even use camera by default, but when I create camera, still,.. no change)
3 - Any other settings you think that I need to tweak that may cause the reason for the plugin's "Enable" parameter to not affect and make a shadow catcher?

Any help will be very appreciated, I'm very curious to try it and make some nice composites with shadow catcher.
Thanks ahead and sorry about my bad English. ​

This video tutorial on YouTube, is exactly what I did on my video and offline again on other new scenes from scratch.
What could it be?

Padone

My advice is to start with a simple fresh new scene with just standard options. Render it without enabling the shadow catcher and check the shadows, see if they are good. Then enable the shadow catcher and render again. My example below. If this doesn't work you may check the log to see if there's any error. Hope this helps.

MEC4D

To take effect you need to change the viewport to Textures only or any other and set it back to Nvidia Iray and everything will works as expected, adding the script to your model does not update the engine automatic for that reason you need to reload it manually. 

alondan said:

OK.... so I don't want to give up yet, It seems like it works for everybody but me.
and as you can see on my video, I just did everything also attached a scene file for others to setup from scratch.

So I need your help to try help me solve the mystery of why it's not working on my DAZ3D 4.9  64bit  (latest version available to this date).

Facts after testing:
1 - It is nothing to do with material / surface tweaking changes
2 - The script is there, It is adding the Matte parameter so it supposed to work.
3 - THE PROBLEM is that after I ENABLE it, there is no affect at all, not on the live preview and not on render...   

I'm wondering, is there a way I can maybe MAKE DAZ3D to make it work?   
1 - Could it be because of a DOME setup?  (I did try to enable / disable the Ground under Environment, still no change)
2 - Could it be because of Camera settings?  (I didn't even use camera by default, but when I create camera, still,.. no change)
3 - Any other settings you think that I need to tweak that may cause the reason for the plugin's "Enable" parameter to not affect and make a shadow catcher?

Any help will be very appreciated, I'm very curious to try it and make some nice composites with shadow catcher.
Thanks ahead and sorry about my bad English. ​

This video tutorial on YouTube, is exactly what I did on my video and offline again on other new scenes from scratch.
What could it be?

 

alondan

Padone said:

My advice is to start with a simple fresh new scene with just standard options. Render it without enabling the shadow catcher and check the shadows, see if they are good. Then enable the shadow catcher and render again. My example below. If this doesn't work you may check the log to see if there's any error. Hope this helps.

I tried your Example Scene File and rendered it and it WORKS! just like in your example JPG.

BUT... it is not working on the viewport like it shows on the YouTube video tutorial I showed above.
I tried to change the Preview mode into something else such as the "Texture Shaded" (and any other modes) and Than back to IRAY to refresh it like MEC4D suggested, but still... on the viewport it is not working.

1 - Padone, since your example scene works, What did you change on any properties to make it work?
Because I started from scratch and it's not working, yes I get good visible shadows but I don't want a white dome but any of the HDRI for extra realistic lights like in YouTube example video above. so before I apply any I want to make sure what I'm missing.

Any specific things you changed on the scene that I need to follow such as Render properties? surface? anything on the objects?
I'm trying to understand why it's not working when I emulate step by step your example from scratch (but with HDRI background)
 

To take effect you need to change the viewport to Textures only or any other and set it back to Nvidia Iray and everything will works as expected, adding the script to your model does not update the engine automatic for that reason you need to reload it manually. 

2 - It works only on actual render, but not on the viewport even after I  change the viewport to Textures only (or any other mode) to refresh back to IRAY preview mode.
Any idea how I can make it work on the viewport?

Thank you guys for helping in this, I see a progress at least I know it can work and it's all thanks to your help :)

MEC4D

That should working , your viewport port my be set not on Photoreal mode , but on Interactive mode in iray  for viewport and render on Photoreal mode , check the Draw Style tab and under Drawing see if it is set on Photoreal under Draw Mode while having the viewport active , this is only what I came up with , I hope it is 

alondan said:

Padone said:

 

To take effect you need to change the viewport to Textures only or any other and set it back to Nvidia Iray and everything will works as expected, adding the script to your model does not update the engine automatic for that reason you need to reload it manually. 

2 - It works only on actual render, but not on the viewport even after I  change the viewport to Textures only (or any other mode) to refresh back to IRAY preview mode.
Any idea how I can make it work on the viewport?

Thank you guys for helping in this, I see a progress at least I know it can work and it's all thanks to your help :)

 

alondan

Thanks MEC4D, 
Yes both Render Settings: Render Mode and the Drawing Settings are set to Photoreal mode.
I just play guessing to see the viewport react, so I switch the Drawing Settings to Interactive, and I saw the opposite effect on the scene, I mean the object cover things and the shadow become solid, that's why i'm confused. 

I may not understand you completely because of my bad English, sorry about that.
So I need to change both? I'm a bit confused, I want it to act like in your video tutorials (which are AWESOME btw)

UPDATE:
OK, after playing with BOTH on Phororeal, I can see the shadow now on the preview!

QUESTION:
In one of your video tutorials, you show how you HIDE (masking) parts of the scenes but I didn't understand how do you tell the object to be a Shadow Catcher or a Mask ?

Thanks ahead and sorry for the confusion, Maybe if you'll got the time you could make an updated 2017 video tutorial that shows the settings of everything so before even apply a shadow catcher or mask using the script so newbies like myself won't ran into so many errors, it will be a very supportive and appreciated guide for the community of course if you have the time.

MEC4D

My settings are set to Render Mode Photoreal and the Drawing Settings to Photoreal mode. and you should see the shadows on the model with the matte function on in the viewport, also set off the ground under Environment, sometimes he ground plane can go below the ground and you will not see it , but since you stated it renders ok , I am lost here , if you use ground plus matte function script on a model set the shadows to manual mode under Environment tab , maybe some screen shots of your viewport can give me some idea to see what is going on  

AbnerK

I followed MEC4D's advice to change the Draw Settings to Textured Shading then Back to Nvidia iRay. I have to admit I didn't understand why I was doing it or think that it made any sense, but it worked! I was so incredibly frustrated because I'd had it working first time when I watched MEC4D's YT video months ago but I didn't save the plane I'd used and couldn't remember the file I'd used it in. I couldn't, for the life of me, get it working today. I was pulling my hair out! (I need to add that this time when I was watching the video I didn't get the bit about changing the Paramateres to Enable Iray Matte, but after forllowing his actions rather than the text I got it). It was only the changing of the Draw settings that made it work. It must be a glitch in Daz studio because it makes no sense to change a setting then immediately change it back. But hey, if it works, it works. Yeah. Now I have to load the scene again that I wanted it to work in in the first palce. :D

Kitsumo

jimmac-donald said:

I followed MEC4D's advice to change the Draw Settings to Textured Shading then Back to Nvidia iRay. I have to admit I didn't understand why I was doing it or think that it made any sense, but it worked! I was so incredibly frustrated because I'd had it working first time when I watched MEC4D's YT video months ago but I didn't save the plane I'd used and couldn't remember the file I'd used it in. I couldn't, for the life of me, get it working today. I was pulling my hair out! (I need to add that this time when I was watching the video I didn't get the bit about changing the Paramateres to Enable Iray Matte, but after forllowing his actions rather than the text I got it). It was only the changing of the Draw settings that made it work. It must be a glitch in Daz studio because it makes no sense to change a setting then immediately change it back. But hey, if it works, it works. Yeah. Now I have to load the scene again that I wanted it to work in in the first palce. :D

I think that's just to make Iray recognize that something has been changed. I believe you can make the object invisible, then make it visible again and it'll have the same effect.