X3 Ray Trace

[Susan Jeffery]

Here's the test I ran. Standard Med quality no Photon map.

Photon Mapping calculates how light bounces around the room. For a truly realistic ray trace, you will need photon mapping.

The lighting needs work and I haven't figured out how to get it to look right.

My magic recipe is to turn my interior ambient light way down (15% or less) and then start placing lights in my scene. This will give you a good idea of how the lights you are placing are lighting the scene. Also, a little post image correcting can work wonders.
Select the adjust image properties button then adjust the sliders (image attached). I almost always increase the intensity and contrast to brighten the scene.

Also I can't get a good stainless look (stove and dishwasher). I tried several different ways to get it to look shiny but haven't come up with anything yet.

Use your rainbow tool to adjust the material properties. Select predefined metal and stainless steel. Lighting in the room will bring out the "shininess."

I couldn't get the sunlight to come through the window either.

For sunlight through your windows, you will need a high level of caustic photons. Place a parallel light outside your window, angle it down 45 degrees and crank the caustic photons.