Chrome with nothing to reflect?

[DigitalPutty]

Hello!

I have a huge problem here that Ive been working on for the past week trying to get right.

Im modeling an iPod for my job and I got the chrome to look like I want when there is something next to it to reflect. But when there is nothing 'out there' to reflect the chrome ... isnt chrome! Obviously. Ive tried adding a reflection map (at least I tried to - dont know if I did it right), I tried adding an image plane with a mapped photo on it. That didnt work. I need to get this chrome working so that I dont get my arse kicked.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
3DSM 8.3 and Mental Ray (no option of VRay)

Most recent render -- > Chrome (http://www.digitalputty.net/3d_wips/chrome.jpg)

[DigitalPutty]

No ideas? :hurt: :ugh:

[Fredddy]

Errmm...but thats the point of reflections. There has to be something to reflect.
You cant get a reflection of...err...well...nothing.

[DigitalPutty]

Well right ... but, cant ya fake it?
What about all the studio renders where they show a white background and there are reflections.... :(

[Fredddy]

Try using a map into the environment slot.
That should give some reflection.

[vannostrom]

HDRI in environment slot

[Descon]

you could just fake it the way you have in that photo, by stacking a couple of Ipods ontop of each other, or back to back etc... alternately, vannostrom has the only other solution, HDRI maps

[DigitalPutty]

Where can I find some free nice HDRI? I have the kitchen.hdri and some I found on a website but, I need more! :D

The kitchen HDRI for the iPoops was too warm and the chrome looked weird since it was reflecting a kitchen. HAHA! Ill try to post a render soon. Right now working on the speed modeling challenge.

[Fredddy]

There are quite a few here
http://hdri.3dweave.com

[Ghosty!]

'3D World' mag usually includes a few HDRI maps each month on their content CDs. After a while they start to accumulate...

[brentagain]

a studio setup say for photography,will use light boxes.
Basically large white panels suspended above the subject.
It generally just gives reflective surfaces something to reflect.
In your case simply white planes with a self illumination setting behind and above the camera.Also if you have to stay with traditional lights for your project and can`t use anything fancy[ie hdri]..which is more for illumination really.then simply enclose your scene in a giant sphere then map whater image you want to the sphere,that way you`ll stay within the use of traditional lights and you`ll reflect something that fits the scene.
Ive seen a lot of renders of say chrome wheels and such with a museum or church reflected.it looks pretty strange to tell the truth:)

[DigitalPutty]

That is what I was thinking with the kitchen. Sure, an iPod can sit on a table in the kitchen but, the chrome was reflecting it too much.

Ill try that set up sometime. Right now I have a 'zillion things I gotta do... including learn Maya Nurbs modeling. :( AACK!