Are you looking to add more realism to your VRAY Sketchup renderings? One way to achieve this is by using IES lights.
IES, which stands for Illuminating Engineering Society, is a file format that contains data about the distribution of light emitted by a specific light source. In this tutorial, we will learn how to use IES lights in VRAY Sketchup to create stunning and realistic lighting effects.
Step 1: Downloading IES Files
The first step is to find and download the desired IES files. There are several websites that offer free IES files for download. Once you have found the ideal file, save it to a location on your computer where you can easily access it.
Step 2: Importing the IES Light
Open your VRAY Sketchup project and go to the ‘Materials’ tab. In the ‘In-Model’ section, click on the ‘Create Material’ button. This will open the ‘Create Material’ dialog box.
Note: Make sure you have already created a light source in your scene before proceeding with this step.
In the ‘Create Material’ dialog box, click on the small arrow next to the ‘Diffuse Color’ option. From the drop-down menu, select ‘Bitmap’. This will open a new dialog box where you can browse for your downloaded IES file.
Select the appropriate IES file and click on the ‘Open’ button. The selected IES file will now be applied as a texture map in your material.
Step 3: Adjusting Light Settings
In order to see the effect of the IES light in your scene, you need to adjust some settings. Go back to the main VRAY Sketchup window and click on the ‘Options’ tab. In the ‘Options’ dialog box, select the ‘Lights’ tab.
Under the ‘Intensity’ section, you will find a parameter called ‘Multiplier’. This parameter controls the strength of the IES light. Increase or decrease the value to adjust the brightness of your IES light.
Tip: It’s a good practice to start with a low multiplier value and gradually increase it until you achieve the desired lighting effect.
Step 4: Placing and Positioning IES Lights
Now that you have created and adjusted your IES light material, it’s time to place it in your scene. Go back to the main VRAY Sketchup window and select the ‘Lights’ tab.
In this tab, you will find various options for creating different types of lights. Choose the one that suits your scene best. For example, if you want to create a point light source, select ‘Point Light’ from the drop-down menu.
Note: The type of light you choose will affect how your IES light is positioned and oriented in your scene.
To place the IES light in your scene, simply click on a location where you want it to be placed. You can then use Sketchup’s transformation tools (move, rotate, scale) to position and orient the light as desired.
Pro Tip:
- Experiment with different IES files to achieve various lighting effects in your renderings.
- Combine multiple IES lights in your scene for more realistic and dynamic lighting setups.
- Adjust other VRAY Sketchup settings such as exposure control and global illumination to further enhance the realism of your renderings.
By following these steps, you can easily use IES lights in VRAY Sketchup to create stunning and realistic lighting effects in your renderings. Remember to download high-quality IES files and experiment with different settings to achieve the desired results. Happy rendering!