Click through for the original res images and save them in a folder. Name this folder and know where it is. Follow these and nothing else. Check everything. Then check them again.
The first image is an example of units setup, to be done as soon as you open a new file. Use either metric or imperial as required, but ensure that the Display Unit Scale and System Unit Scale match. Images two and three show test quality settings. Use these for quick previewing of lighting and material effects at low resolution. Images four and five show final quality settings; use them only when rendering your final images. These settings will take much longer to calculate, but will produce a clean image for publication. You may use these settings for final production renders at high resolution in a pinch, but ideally you would show me your file so we can set optimal settings for your specific project.
Click the coloured button in each section to toggle between Basic, Advanced and Expert modes. This will give you access to more parameters for finer control. All settings shown above are in Expert mode.
In the case of a rendering issue, making sure all values match the given settings will allow you to rule out the settings as the cause. Note- All settings here are meant to be used with physically accurate scene setup- lights defined in lumens and kelvin, cameras in exposure and materials created with realistic physical properties.
Do not touch Caustics. Seriously. Don't.
Bottom line: Do exactly what the images show, leave them that way and you should be fine.
These are settings for V-Ray Next (update 2) running on 3D Max 2018. There is some overlap if you're using older versions of either, but you shouldn't be. If you haven't the software, contact me and I'll see about getting it for you.
This is complex software you're dealing with; it will always have bugs. If something doesn't seem right, let me know immediately so it can be dealt with. Don't wait for it to get worse, especially if you're a week away from a deadline.
Go forth and render.
