Help with lights

[vic3d]

So I have this scene with a very high count of polygons. The parking lot will be filled with cars, there will be more trees and with more detail... I have been watching Ian's tutorials on the different ways to light a scene, but I can't figure out what to do here. Please help. The problem I guess is I need to be able to render each frame under in 5min aprox. I have a 3.06Ghz iMac. Thanks.

[fantomaz]

Have you tried Photons?

Alex

[Tomas Egger]

Ola Vic3D,

First test is use a HDRI map like a Adaptive Sky Map, you can have a version to light the scene (512 x 512 pixels), Since our Engine sample the pixels to light our scenes, a small map will be really faster than Huge HDRI maps and one Higher resolution to add in the World Info window in the Raytrace Reflection and Refraction tabs.

Then you will rotate the Adaptive Sky map as your taste to light your scene :)

I feel it will reach the render time you need, if you want later, or miss it, add another light to push more and mimic better a Sun for example, if this is the specific case.

Any Prb, do a really simple prj, I will be glad to help you.

Thanks

Tom

[vic3d]

Thanks so much guys, I have experimented with both methods and have decided to go with HDRI, I have a little trouble finding the right HDRI lightprobe but I think I am getting there. It is also very fast so that helps a lot. Any ideas on how to get the HDRI to give me shadows for the trees? I guess the shadows are too soft to show up.

Thanks.

Vic.