I've been learning Vray (after giving it a slagging to anyone who would listen). It's not that I don't think Vray is good - I think it's pretty spangly actually - just that there seems to be a prevelent 'Vray look' that I really don't like at all - over-lit, lacking contrast, and too clean (for my tastes). Modern appartments with Le Corbusier sofas and big panel windows or car renders with OTT reflections, no subtle colour variation and no deep shadows...ugh!
I thought I'd try some automotive renders myself as a way to learn Vray (Cinema 4D'smaterial system is not yet up to the job of producing a car paint shader unfortunately so my hand was forced). Here's my first attempt at a studio shot. The Golf model was downloaded from 3D02.com (link: http://www.3dvia.com/james357/media/4461687A4C5E7042), the Audi A2 also from 3D02 I think. They're not mine anyway, just in case you wondered.
Here's a few variations on another vehicle, trying to get a rich, deep look and a decent paint shader (not bad but the reflections are a mess, will be working on some decent soft panels for Vray as my C4D ones don't really work right).
A black(ish) one. Trying to keep some colour in the image so I was trying some different tints in the mids, not sure if purple and green was such a good idea...:
"Butterfly room". Cinema 4D GI render - lighting and composition test.
Head study #1 (I decided to learn ZBrush - this is my second attempt at a head model. Rendered in Cinema 4D)
This is actually a REALLY old image done in Lightwave (I did it for a Computer Arts tutorial and used it in one of my books). I needed to dig it out for someone, could only find a lowres Jpeg but did a quick colour reworking in Photoshop anyway, and it looked lots better.
