V-Ray 6: Lessons & Details
This is the 5SRW study program for V-Ray for Rhino. It explains what you will learn, the topics covered, and how the training is organised.
Who this training is for
This training is for people who want to learn or improve their skills with V-Ray for Rhino, typically for architectural visualisation and related still images.
It is suitable both for users who are new to V-Ray for Rhino and for more advanced users who want to improve the quality of their renders.
What you will learn
The tables below are the study-program syllabus: first a short Rhino primer, then the detailed V-Ray for Rhino topics. They cover lighting, materials, camera and exposure, the rendering workflow, and practical scene work using the 5SRW photographic approach.
How 5SRW applies to V-Ray for Rhino
5SRW (5-Step Render Workflow) is applied here to V-Ray for Rhino: framing, lighting, materials, final render and post-production, using Rhino cameras, layers and mapping together with V-Ray lights and materials.
Learn more about the 5SRW method.
How the training is structured
This page shows the syllabus. First comes a short Rhino primer (6 lessons), followed by the V-Ray for Rhino topics table. You can also explore the learning environment, including the lesson interface, demo access and signup options.
Software version: V-Ray 5/6
Rhino primer (6 lessons)
A short supporting primer covering Rhino interface, viewports, layers, gumball and mapping. It is not a complete Rhino modelling course.
| Lesson# | Rhino from scratch | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rhino from the scratch – Interface | 6′ 07” |
| 02 | Objects and Viewports | 13′ 09” |
| 03 | Layers and Selection | 15′ 28” |
| 04 | Edit tools and Osnap | 14′ 41” |
| 05 | Gumball - How to Scale, rotate and copy the objects with this tool | 7′ 23” |
| 06 | Textures and Mapping - how to manage the mapping with the Rhino modifier | 9′ 20” |
V-Ray for Rhino — topics covered
This table is the detailed learning-content syllabus: what the student will learn, lesson by lesson.
| Lesson# | V-Ray for Rhino | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Introduction to V-Ray for Rhino | 6' 07'' |
| 02 | Render setup – Two ways | 09 ’11” |
| 03 | V-Ray Sun and V-Ray Physical Camera | 04' 57'' |
| 04 | How V-Ray Light works | 08' 30'' |
| 05 | Create a studio light hierarchy | 08' 42'' |
| 06 | Fix overexposurers with V-Ray Frame Buffer | 02' 00'' |
| 07 | How V-Ray IES works | 04' 30'' |
| 08 | Start creating V-Ray Materials | 10' 45'' |
| 09 | How to light with HDRls | 5' 24'' |
| 10 | Understand Color Mapping | 5' 24'' |
| 11 | First Light Balance an exposure settings | 4' 25'' |
| 12 | Shiny and opaque reflections / Fresnel concept | 7' 48'' |
| 13 | How to master DOF – Depth of field | 4' 40'' |
| 14 | Photoshop techniques for vintage effects | 5' 55'' |
| 15 | Place objetcts randomly with RayFire (alternative lesson in 3ds Max) | 3' 52'' |
| 16 | Use HDRI to create nice reflections on small objects | 3' 13'' |
| 17 | Photoshop filters to create amazing bump maps | 3' 25'' |
| 18 | SpotLights and VRaylights for complex light balance | 10' 58'' |
| 19 | How to create/model a photorealistic floor | 5' 50'' |
| 20 | Create materials for Carpets and Curtains | 4' 02'' |
| 21 | The ‘Sandwich’ technique to control overexposures in Photoshop | 4' 16'' |
| 22 | How to create an interior light hiearchy mixing IES and VRayLights | 15' 37'' |
| 23 | VRayLight material, Wood and Pool material | 2' 59'' |
| 24 | How to composite using two layers of Ambient Occlusion, with flare effects | 2' 47'' |
| 25 | Create a light balance for exteriors, using V-Ray Real Time (RT) | 15' 14'' |
| 26 | Handle Fresnel IOR to create photorealistic glass / exteriors | 19' 52'' |
| 27 | Use the Render Elements VRayLightSelect / VRayExtratex (sky replacement) | 14' 23'' |
| 28 | Realistic natural light | 12' 20'' |
| 29 | Translucency: VRay2Sided Materials and VRay SSS2 | 14' 13'' |
| 30 | Have the full control of DOF with f number parameter | 6' 34'' |
| 31 | Use VRay Reflections, night effect | 12' 21'' |
| 32 | Photographic composition and night balance (exterior) | 16' 50'' |
| 33 | How to use VRaycompTex to improve texture details | 16' 57'' |
| 34 | VRayFur to easily create amazing grass | 11' 26'' |
| 35 | IBL, how to use HDRI maps with a VRay Dome | 19' 07'' |
| 36 | Unwrap modifier to map different surfaces | 12' 02'' |
| 37 | Fad, Proglow and Vignetting techniques with Photoshop | 10' 34'' |
| 38 | Studio lighting setup for lowkey scenes | 14' 51'' |
| 39 | Complex materials using reflection/Glossy maps | 17' 54'' |
| 40 | How to use VRayLens controls to create Bloom & Glare | 13' 32'' |
| 41 | DNA – Lights and spaces for lighting schemes | 4' 22'' |
| 42 | Daylight Loft, VRayportal for natural light / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 43 | Natural and bright light in Bonilla Lighting / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 44 | Exterior, Winter Villa / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 46 | Use VRayLens to get the magic into ‘Magic Room’ / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 47 | VRayDome + VRaySKy create the magic ‘Lake House’ / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 48 | VRaySun + Portal + IES + VRayLight in Black&White interior / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 49 | VraySphere Light and IES in Art Room / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
| 50 | Use VRaySun multiplier for Caravaggio Style / Lighting Scheme | (scene) |
Learning outcomes
After working through V-Ray for Rhino, you should be able to:
- build V-Ray lighting hierarchies in Rhino (studio, interior, exterior and night)
- control exposure and camera behaviour with V-Ray physical camera tools
- create and refine V-Ray materials for typical interior and exterior surfaces
- use the Rhino tools the course actually teaches (viewports, layers, gumball, mapping) where a scene needs them
- output render elements and finish stills in Photoshop using the techniques shown
- apply the 5SRW order of work on new V-Ray for Rhino scenes
Scenes included in the Course
Different scenarios, each one explained with the 5SRW Method, using the photographic approach.
Lessons and scene for/compatible with 6/5 / V-Ray NEXT / 3.xx