CineRender: Light Mapping and GI Method

Simply stated, the Light Mapping method works as follows: Entire sample chains result, which can be calculated very quickly (also for high numbers of reflections) and in consideration of other sample chains – faster than all other GI methods.

Note that the rendered image will more often be brighter due to the high sample depth, which is higher than that of other GI methods. To compensate for this brightness, reduce the Intensity value. Please click the above image for a quick video tutorial.

Advantages:

• Very fast GI calculation (with very high sample depths)
• Light Maps can be saved and re-used to a certain degree (these are dependent on the angle of view)

Disadvantages:

• Light leaks can occur (these can be minimised by reducing the Samples Size value and by not using interpolation. Using thicker objects instead of single polygon surfaces also helps).

For more information see this GRAPHISOFT HelpCenter article Radiosity Maps.