KeyShot 4.1 Beta - Caustics tests

[DriesV]

...
Now we need the ability to do volume caustics - they are gorgeous but very elusive 
...

+1
I definitely categorize participating media as a 'nice to have' feature.
However, volume caustics can be quite costly as they can take a very long time to become free of noise.

Dries

[KeyShot]

If there is a need for it then we might be able to do it using some of the newer simulation techniques:
http://graphics.ucsd.edu/~henrik/papers/volumetric_radiance_using_photon_points_and_beams.pdf

[KeyShot]

Forgot to add: amazing test scenes Dries. Thanks for your help in making us push this to the next level.

[DriesV]

HELP!!
I'm developing a fetish for optical simulations in KeyShot 4.1...

Btw,
Henrik, I'm really loving the close interaction with the KeyShot development team! It's fulfilling to see that user feedback is actually being listened to and used to make the program better when possible. **hat off**

Dries

[Esben Oxholm]

Wow. That is cool! Can't wait to try it out myself.

[DriesV]

From white stripe, to wide dispersed pattern, back to a white point.
I needed a really fat lens to refocus the extremely dispersed light...

Dries

[DriesV]

Wow. That is cool! Can't wait to try it out myself.

Esben, your 3D glasses are going to look awesome with these caustics.

Dries

[DriesV]

I put another lens in my optical stack.
This one is aspheric (stretched along z axis).
Note that at the end the dispersion gets inverted.
In the low exposure shot you can clearly see that the 'focus point' is indeed very bright.

Dries

[DriesV]

I just realized I hadn't used any mirrors yet...

Dries

[DriesV]

Here's a little more cooked version.
Also a low exposure shot to show the brightest areas clearly.

Dries

[em3d]

so excited for this, it just keeps getting better and better.  wooooooo!

[DriesV]

Getting funky with caustics...
This time I used a parabolic reflector (y=0.5*x^2 (interval for x:-5 to 5); revolved surface) with a point light in the focus point. This creates a highly focussed light beam, which is very efficient to use for caustics (no light is spilled).
I'll be posting some variations of this scene tonight.

Dries

[DriesV]

Same setup, but with an additional polished metal ring placed inside the caustic pattern.

Dries

[Esben Oxholm]

Wow. The one in the middle is beautiful. I could hang it on my wall!

[DriesV]

An elaboration of an earlier shot.

Dries