Continuing from his first DVD, Global Illumination: Exteriors, Christopher Nichols explains how interior global illumination differs from exterior GI. Christopher focuses on the concept of digital sets and explores issues of interior lighting for GI, including the variety of light sources that can be used, as well as how space plays an important role in lighting. Christopher demonstrates the differences between regular light sources, environment light, IES lighting, area lights, and even how geometry and shaders can affect the lighting of a scene. Additionally, since bouncing light plays an important role in interior GI, this lecture looks at some special techniques such as using V-Ray’s photon mapping and light cache. Christopher also explores the idea of baking lighting into textures, which is a useful technique for some situations. With Global Illumination: Interiors, you will see the rendering of an interior space in a whole new light.
Christopher Nichols
Visual Effects Supervisor
Sway Studio

Christopher Nichols received a Bachelors in Mathematics and Fine Arts from Colgate University. He went on to get a Masters of Architecture from Rice University, where as a lecturer he taught the principles of architectural visualization and animation. After a long career in architecture, Christopher entered the world of feature film visual effects, specializing in color and lighting. Having spent several years at Digital Domain and Sony Pictures Imageworks, Christopher has credits on such movies as The Day After Tomorrow, I, Robot, Stealth and Ghost Rider. He is currently a Supervisor at Sway Studio.
Topics Covered:

Principles of Global Illumination
Specular and Diffuse Reflection
Comparison of Different Techniques
Sky Lights
Image Based Lighting
Using HDRIs
Animation Issues in GI
Baking Lighting Animation
Chapters:

Key Elements from the Exteriors DVD
Interior Versus Exterior GI
Lighting Interiors with Exterior Light
Other Interior Light Sources
Lots of Secondary Bounces
Baking Lighting into Textures
Lighting Scenario 1
Lighting Scenario 2