Issue with Kristinka and Vray

[Clagman]

Hi all. I've been at this all day and I'm stumped. The issue is simply this. Render sample Kristinka models results in spheres rather than strands (no loft just sphere per segment). Hand built scenes (super basic) same result. Switch to MR renders fine with same setup. First foray into hair for me, I usually only model hard surface stuff.

Any ideas? I'm using SI 2013, KH 3.1

[Mathaeus]

Hello,

As far as I know, V-Ray likes absolute strand shape size. There's node called "_kH3_strand Size In Absolute Units" in latest download, made by guy from Chaos group. Node sets the type and size of strands, convenient for V-Ray. Maybe this helps. Didn't tried it, anyway.

[Clagman]

Thanks Anto. Tried this suggestion but all it seems to do is make the sphere size larger or smaller, they are still unconnected sphere shapes rather than strands. Typical strand setups do work. A tough one to figure out.

[Mathaeus]

Typical strand setups do work. A tough one to figure out.

maybe V-Ray expects some of attributes, crated by factory nodes for strand creation. Kristinka Hair sets only minimum. Should be a really small problem in entire process

[Clagman]

I noticed on the vray forum they had it working with one of the sample model, apparently only by adding world unit node. I've posted there asking for the "secret method". So far no response but hopefully someone knows. Perhaps my specific build has bug.

[Mathaeus]

I noticed on the vray forum they had it working with one of the sample model, apparently only by adding world unit node. I've posted there asking for the "secret method". So far no response but hopefully someone knows. Perhaps my specific build has bug.

Might be 'self.StrandDeform' or something else created by factory "Create Strands". Wild guess, anyway...

[Pancho]

Could you solve this problem? Same issues here. No segments, only spheres.

[Pancho]

Tried the kristinka compound. No difference except from the size. Points and segments render the same. Both as points.

[Mathaeus]

Could you solve this problem? Same issues here. No segments, only spheres.

Well if someone has a working solution, inside kH stuff, and that someone is willing to share, maybe I could try to incorporate it. That's all I can offer.

All my personal experience with 3rd party SI renderers is related to 3Delight. Afaik this one has a bit different way of taking data from ICE, more like method for Shave. I think all strand segments in point cloud are taken as just one huge array, divided into small pieces. Drawback is requirement for fixed count of strand segments in one point cloud, but advantage seems to be resistance to many 'common' issues, related to rendering ICE strands. At least that's my impression.
What I wanted to say here, unfortunately I'm far away of feeling for anything else than 3Delight and a bit of Mental Ray for SI.

[Pancho]

Do you refer by "fixed count" to the point that all the strands, never mind how long or short they are, need to have the same amount of segments?

[Mathaeus]

Do you refer by "fixed count" to the point that all the strands, never mind how long or short they are, need to have the same amount of segments?

Yes. That's why there is no node in latest kH pack, able to create variable strand count.
But this is my personal experience related to 3delight, that's all. For V-Ray, I think best way is to ask V-Ray developers.

[Pancho]

I already did ask them, waiting for a reply. But thanks very much! I'll give it a try. Somehow it needs to work. At least in there example video it did! : )

[Clagman]

I'm pretty sure this is fixed in the nightlies, so sp1 should take care of this problem.

[Pancho]

So, you didn't succeed neither? Tried a basic setup, but no luck so far. Vray for SI 2013. Sigh! To good to be true, that something works properly.

[Clagman]

So, you didn't succeed neither? Tried a basic setup, but no luck so far. Vray for SI 2013. Sigh! To good to be true, that something works properly.

I find it to be quite good for being so young. Try the latest nightly, all sorts of new features in it. Kristinka works like a charm in it as well.

[Pancho]

That's what they proposed too. But how do I find the nightlies? In my download slot I only find the adv version I initially downloaded.

Cheers!