Well, it's a multi-step process. I'd first export it as an object and then import it into Blender. Once in Blender, you can create your scene. You then install the Lux script into Blender which allows you to use Luxrender as the render engine instead of Blender's.

If you wouldn't mind posting your 3dm, I could do a tutorial of how to get MOI files into Blender and then how to do a simple studio setup in Blender and then in Luxrender as well. I've been wanting to do that for a while now.

Great idea! Here is the model, split into six components (by intended material). Looking forward to the tutorial.

Awesome!

I'm pretty busy this weekend, so most likely I'll get working on it next week.

Here's a render in Lux render. I didn't optimize the geometry right on export so there is some faceting visible on the bulb and base.

All of these images are created using a single render in Luxrender. I created each bulb and set each light to be it's own Light Group. In Lux, you can then change the amount of light gain for each light group during the render at any time. Luxrender is an unbiased renderer, which means that it can produce realistic images at the tradeoff of time. The render never finishes but slowly converges on the correct physical solution. You just watch it until you are happy with the quality of the image and then stop the render.

I let this run overnight and then stopped the render. I then adjusted the gain of each light group to show the effect of each bulb on the scene. You can also change the color of the each light on the fly in Luxrender as well.

This is what I'll be showing in more detail in the tutorial along with the general use of Blender.

Fantastic ! I am so proud that my humble model turned out so well.

Looking forward to your tutorial.

I've been wanting to try a light bulb render in modo. Here's my attempt.

I think you guys will get a better looking render if you change the initial model a bit. For the bulb, you actually want a two part piece, first a thin shell, and then the solid core. When rendering, if you set the shell to be glass and then the core as the light emitter, you'll get a much better representation of the actual lamp. It's especially obvious when you look at the sides of the bulb (relative to the camera), where in a real bulb, you'll have a small patch of transparent glass, as the emissive coating is on the inside of the glass. If the bulb is lit and putting out a realistic amount of light, of course, this will mostly (but not entirely) not be visible. It's a thin layer of glass, and it won't matter unless the bulb is going to be seen in closeup.

Wanted to try this myself too. Here's my shot at it in modo. Didn't change the model at all though.

Very nice!

Would you mind posting your Modo settings for the light?

Here's the settings for mine. I also used an HDR probe to get some reflections off the filament. I'm not sure about modifying the model since it's yours :-)

I've attached the modo file for my setup, feel free to have a play. The shaders are all from the presets that come with modo, but I've tweaked them a little to get the effect I wanted.

The light is the fluorescent preset.

Like RAY I didn't want to mess with your model ;-)

Thanks gentlemen. Feel free to tweak my model if you deem it worthwhile and post the results. It is only a simple model that can and should be improved upon. I am not too happy about the screw area for example, and it is missing stencils etc. Still a long way to go for it to compete with the work of the masters, I am afraid. Let’s see how far we can push the envelope with this one.

Nice Model. Thanks.

Here is my render.
Rendered with Finalrender on Cinema 4D
Rendertime 1 min 40 sek.

Very nice! I like the "warm" tone of this render.

Hello Phil:

What format do you use for export to blender?

Thank you in advance

David

P.S. A quick explanation. Waiting for a sure good tutorial of your "pipeline" for exporting to blender ;-)

Well I had to try. The fluorescent bulb is hard.

Cant leave it alone. I guess I'll use this as a light source training tool! Will have to keep massaging the flourecent.

I can't leave it alone either. Here's the same image brightened up and tweaked a little. I also made a model with a tube inside a tube but can't really get anything useful out of it.

Thats a great result Ray. I like the area where the bulb touches the floor. Did you get that with the render or touchup? Much Better!

Thanks. I did a bunch of re-renders adjusting the luminosity and colors. Then post with Picasa to add contrast and balance the lighting.