Glass Against Black Background

Tutorial By Bharat. Bhagwat.

Software 3D Studio Max 6 & Above.

This tutorial explains , how to create a glass object against black background.

First Create any object , here we will create a Champagne Glass shape from a line-lathe.

Create a line shape , right click on it and convert it to Editable Spline. Select the entire line and from the Control pannel scroll down to ''Outline'' change the value to 1.0 and click on the Outline button. You will get something like the following figure.

Use Lathe to create a glass shaped object. You should get the Champagne glass as shown bellow.

Name the object as Glass.

Now we create the glass material. Open the material editor.

Select the first ( or any ) material slot and name it as Glass Material

Set the Specular Highlights parameters as shown in the following image.

Note : Different effects can be obtained by experimenting with

the value of Glossiness.

Now scroll down and expand ''Maps''.

Check the box for Refraction and click on the ''None'' button

next to it and select Raytrace. Leave the values as they are.

Apply the material to the Glass object we have created.

With the default lighting you should get something like the following image.

Nothing much to see..isn''t it..? Well, let us create something to reflect on the glass so that it will show us the full shape of it. In the Top view port create a thin Tube surrounding the glass object.

(Refer to the image bellow).

"Right Click" on the Tube in any viewport to open the editing menu and select ''Object Properties''.

(Refer to the image bellow).

From the Object Properties Menu in the General catagory Un-Check the ''Inherit Visibility'', the ''Visible To Camera'' and ''Cast Shodows'' . This will not render the Tube as we require it only to reflect it''s map on the Glass object.

Open the Material Editor again and select any material slot other than the ''Glass Material'' one.

Name it Reflector.

Click on the button next to Diffuse and double click on the Bitmap button.

Browse and select any scenic image that you want to reflect on the glass.

(Remember to keep it dark and simple.) I have used the following HDRI image that I got from a very helpful web-site.

Apply the material to the Tube.

Now in the Perspective Viewport, zoom in between the Tube and the Glass objects to get the close up of the Glass. In the Front Viewport create a Plain and apply black color to it.

Name it Background and place it behind the Glass object so that in the Perspective Viewport it will cover the entire background behind the Glass.

Now render the Perspective Viewport.

With the Default Lighting you will get something like the following.

Now we will add some (2-3) Omni lights to enhance our image

(also set the value of Glass Material - glossiness to 50).

Place some Omni lights set them up the way you want but Exclude

the Tube from all the Lights Except Omni1.

And Exclude the Background (Plain) from ALL the lights.

Refer to the image bellow.

( I have Excluded the Tube from all other lights but the Omni1).

Placement of lights may differ according to the requirement.

But keep the Omni1 about half way up to the hight of the Glass.

Render the Perspective Viewport. You should have a beautiful Champagne Glass, as in the Image. Add more lights at various positions to enhance the stem of the glass but remember to exclude the Background & the Tube from all of them. (See the Sample image with clear stem).

Done....Your comments are welcome. Please e-mail to....

bharatbhagwat@yahoo.com