Reflections in a mirror (SOLVED)
I have a mirror who looks perfect for what i need, but it doesn't reflect images. When it is highlighted and I check for shaders in the smart content menu, there are no shaders there. The shaders don't show up when I am in the surface menu either.
Is there a (reasonably) simple way to get the mirror to show reflections?
Post edited by reserv888 on
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Please give a link to the mirror that you are using, it will help
Mirrors are one of the hardest shaders to make and get right. Also, special attention needs to be made on your lighting. If you don't have the proper lighting then you won't ever see a reflection.
yes, it's very simple. Even with a default shader. Just turn reflection up to 100% and reflection colour to white.
But remember you must have something in the scene for the mirror to reflect (just like real life)
yes, it's very simple. Even with a default shader. Just turn reflection up to 100% and reflection colour to white.
But remember you must have something in the scene for the mirror to reflect (just like real life)
A real mirror would have strength under 100% and/or colour dimmer than white - the main thing is to have a fairly high strength and not map applied to reflection colour, which should not be very dark. It's also important that the side of the your items that faces the mirror be lit, and of course that the angle of view be such that you could see the reflections.
Mirror Reflections per DAZ PA Maclean as posted on the DAZ Old Forum Archive --> http://forumarchive.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=16922
Unfortunately Cloud Flare isn't playing nice right now, so the forum archive is giving me an error message.
The following is pretty much what Mac had in his tutorial as far as settings for mirror reflections. Just be sure to have your character/object placed close to the mirror, and I usually use a back/rim light pointing to my character or object so the mirror can see it.
Settings Mac suggested are:
Diffuse Color RGB 255/255/255 (white)
Diffuse Strength 0%
Glossiness 99%
Specular Color RGB 255/255/255 (white)
Specular Strength 100%
MTO on
Ambient Color RGB 0/0/0 (black)
Ambient Strength 100%
Opacity Strength 100%
Reflection Color RGB 255/255/255 (white)
Reflection Strength 100%
Refraction Color RGB 255/255/255 (white)
Refraction Stength 0%
Index of Refraction 0
Lighting Model - Glossy Plastic
Diffuse Color - If you want colored reflections, add the color to Reflection Color. You can add the same color to Diffuse, and use Diffuse Strength to lighten it.
Diffuse Strength - Values at anything up to 20% will lighten the color without washing it out completely. I find 20% is about the maximum.
Glossiness - Lower values don't seem to work too well. I use a minimum of 90%, but usually 99%.
Reflection Color - Vary this for colored mirrors. Or use darker grays for deeper mirroring without affecting color.
Refraction - I know refraction has some sort of effect, but for now, I prefer to leave it out the equation altogether.
Lighting Model - I can't see much difference between Glossy Plastic, Glossy Metallic and Plastic. The others are no good at all.
Here's an example of a render I did 4 years ago in DS 2.0 following Mac's suggestions. Be sure to click to see unsquished.
Is anyone going to mention the Render Settings? If your Max Ray Trace Depth is not set to at least 2 you will not get a reflection even if the surface is set up properly.
I have attached a pic with a working mirror, just to show there is no problems with the surrondings, lighting or Max Ray Trace. The one I want to use is the oval mirror.
@JimmyC
The mirror i want to use is from Dream Home.
http://www.daz3d.com/dream-home-great-room-details-eclectic
@Miss B
In the attached pic I have used your suggested settings.
@Jaderail
In the attached pic I have used MRT 4.
First it seems you have NOT set the surface of the Dream Home Mirror after you loaded the Texture set to it. That needs to be done after as the Eclectic textures will replace the settings you did if done before.
Second to get a Reflection your Camera MUST be at an angle to the mirror that would SHOW a reflection in it.
Or not rendering at an angle to reflect. Your at a straight on view which isn't going to reflect.
My guess is that both items are using the DAZ default shader...so copy the 'working' mirror's settings (Surfaces with the mirror surface selected, right click, Copy Selected Surface). Then paste it to the one from the Dream Home...
Thx everyone for your input. Special thanks to mjc1016 who found the solution (copy and paste...). Spcecial thanks also to Miss B whos solution was close but had one major "error" I found interesting.
I have posted two pics. The oval mirrors are the once I want to use. The working three part mirror behind them is there for reference.
Lets call the oval mirror to the left "Miss B" and the oval mirror to the right "mjc"
As you can see in the first pic, only "mjc" cast a reflection.
When I compared the settings of the two mirrors (just to understand what made the difference), the Diffuse Color of the working "mjc" mirror was black (0.0.0). Miss B:s was white. When I turned the diffuse color down to black in "Miss B", that mirror worked wonderfully as well, (see pic).
So thanks everyone again for your time and sharing your knowledge.
That's interesting, as I've not had that problem. I'm glad, though, that you did get it working. :coolsmile:
Depending on the rest of the settings, white for the diffuse color can 'overdrive' the reflection...making it brighter than what it is supposed to be reflecting.
Once again, thx everyone for helping me get this working. This is what I what i was going to use it for.
A vampires ball seen in a mirror.
Were there DS presets for the material or is it a Poser prop. Point being, you shouldn't have had to do that. If its a poser prop then yes it would need done because Poser and DS read material differently
@Frank
It is a mirror from Dream Home, bought at DAZ.
Most the Dream Home series was made to work in DS and Poser. Not sure why the proper setting wouldn't apply unless its a difference between DS3 to now
There were a few early items without DS settings in the base items, though the add-on texture sets generally did have them.
Most of the stuff I looked at was pre DS4. I thought the setting were pretty universal. That's the one thing I really liked about DS. Was there a DS installer with this pack? Which pack exactly has the mirror in it?
@Frank
The mirror comes from these sets:
http://www.daz3d.com/dream-home-great-room-details
http://www.daz3d.com/dream-home-great-room-details-eclectic
OK the Grate Room Details has 2 zips. Did you possibly only install the one. The DS Mats were a separate installer
Depending on the rest of the settings, white for the diffuse color can 'overdrive' the reflection...making it brighter than what it is supposed to be reflecting.
I suppose, and I don't think I've done any where the mirror is facing directly into one of the lights, or even straight-on to the rendering camera. That might also make a difference.
Anyway reserv888, I like your render a lot. It turned out great. :coolsmile:
Thank you Miss B. That was very kind of you.
I checked and have booth of them installed.
Seems no-one pointed out - you need to have light falling on the parts you want reflected.
Very true, that caught me out at the beginning too!
I take the Fifth...
A real mirror would have strength under 100% and/or colour dimmer than white - the main thing is to have a fairly high strength and not map applied to reflection colour, which should not be very dark. It's also important that the side of the your items that faces the mirror be lit, and of course that the angle of view be such that you could see the reflections.
Someone did...post #4.
Hello, I am having a similar but very odd problem with reflections ... it seems my girl wants to be a vampire against my wishes!
As can be seen in the attached screen caps, when I render the scene she does not reflect in the mirror surface, but her jewelry, shoes, and hair do! All the visibility settings are set correctly. The lights are standard spots and points. Her skin uses SSS, but her nails do not, and they don't reflect in the mirror either. The mirror surface is standard, and I've used it without problems before. I'm not a novice, but I must be missing something simple which I hope will be obvious to someone! Thanks, TB
Fantastic advice from everyone and what an end result huh? that looks amazing!
I have sat here staring at my screen for over an hour, watching another perfect reflection on the windows of an apartment,
The clear reflection shows a pretty girl dancing alone. (it is now animated)
I have tried everything to make this work ... but nothing did .... until I happened upon this thread.
Thank you so much for 'unknowingly' revealing the answer to a puzzle I have struggled over for weeks and thought it would never solved ...x (I love scouring this forum.for help)
Tia