I use a program called Print2CAD that's pretty good. But there are no magic bullets out there - you still have to do some work. The converted document will have a lot of very screwy lines and the vector data won't be very accurate.

What about TIGs exporter? http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=33448

Unbiased presets like "19. Metropolis Light Transport" are always safe, they take longer to render, but if you are not familiar with biased settings, you probably will save time. You might want to look on http://www.kerkythea.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9803 for some biased optimization, but generally better start from basics with getting started tutorial http://www.kerkythea.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=42&func=fileinfo&id=89 and Fast Start 4Architects http://www.kerkythea.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=63986#63986 Also read trough the tutorials master list http://www.kerkythea.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5720 There is not much benefit from caustics in model like this (if you looking biased speed). Also you appear to have some modeling issues with light components, make sure that they don't intersect with geometry (as that gives moire pattern on surfaces).

ok, this has been really a great help to me. thank you everybody. I've read that other thread which is helping me understand better. The examples that best fit what I was originally thinking was pretty close to the last post (by andybot). i"m experimenting with it now. If moving towards a true glowing dusk shot, i'm guessing a different task alltogether. I need to spend more time playing with when there is no deadline looming. Thanks. If I get something worth sharing I will post it. GREG

Ok, here are some results: i'm still not sure if this is the only problem / solution, but time will tell. I made a test file in SU containing ungrouped objects / grouped ungrouped objects ungrouped groups / grouped groups ungrouped components / grouped components in the first group of 3 all faces were frontfaces in the second group of 3 some faces were backfaces in the third group of 3 all faces were backfaces [image: ZI5c_severalfacesreversedSU.jpg] The result in Max was, that only the objects containing some reversed faces got these faces triangulated. If all faces were reversed, no face got triangulated. [image: V2qG_reversedfacesgettriangulated.jpg] Then i tried some objects, checking what i saw in the video- and i'm quite satisfied with that, i don't see the reason for me to quad everything as long i don't work together with someone who needs quaded objects or whose program triangulates everything if it's not getting quad geometry. Btw, "removeinnerfaces.rb" works great. [image: a1xV_severalobjects.jpg] [image: 0dhU_severalobjectsinmax.jpg] One thing to mention is that some backfaces corrupt adjacent faces, as you can see in the Max file. Some get triangulated themself, some triangulate their neighbours and show themself as a "strange material" We'll see if there are still problems coming up not getting solved by checking for backfaces.. Anyway, it's a litte piece in the puzzle- maybe someone can take advantage from that in the future..

About the Mainstream like V-ray.... Have you ever teached Autocad users to Sketchup? They only ask me why Sketchup has not this or that function and tend to make Sketchup to be a primitive Software. They are often sluggish to change the way of thinking. No offending, but I have my autocad spinsters along my courses So Autocad will be the leader in the next years...that's mainstream. But that's in general with human thinking. V-Ray stays longer on the market and have a great customer community. So it is Mainstream, too. In the Render Community, where Professionals are working, the names are beside each other. Who needs speed tend to V-Ray, who needs quality tend to Maxwell.( biased and unbiased are quite different to compare ) The V-Ray comunity is larger by nature, not more. You'll find a lot of Help for V-Ray - here in the Forum too. Let's say single supported I thought the same about Maxwell and be on the track to learn it deeper. Now the Pluggin is really well implemented- thanks to JD- and well documented - thanks Jason too - so it makes it a lot easier now. Although - shame to me - I'm Maxwell owner since the alpha stages Congretulation for a 6- core I7

SketchUcam, generates 'g-code' direct from SU... john

Have you updated to the latest version 1.49.01 ? If so - then you should report the issue to ChaosGroup.

Don't forget to check out PixPlant and CrazyBump. Personally, PixPlant is better value as it does the seamless textures. I trialed ShaderMap and found it a bit of a memory hog.

I would also say that exporting to scale to PDF or EPS or printing to PDF would be the easiest way. To create a 'to-scale' raster image is also possible, but it is more complicated, and you will have to go through an image editor: in SU, create a parallel view. Draw an empty frame with known dimensions round your model. export an image to a high resolution. Open the exported image in Photoshop. In Photoshop, crop the image to the frame you drew. If your background is uniform, you can use the Trim command Resize the image to the dimensions your frame should have on paper and to the desired final resolution. Now, if needed, you can crop the image further, when you save it, it will retain its dpi value so that it will get placed to Indesign to the right scale. Anssi

I would start by adjusting the Gamma setting - Color Mapping > Gamma

@ Dan Thank you very much for sharing your project! @ xrok1 We are completing the development of the ARplayer and exporter for iOS. It will be available soon. Thanks Graziano

Excellent, id be happy to, my user name is the same on ArtVPS FORUMS

Hi, those are plugins: Skin; Subdivide and smooth. Anyway, if you are interested in Subvide and smooth I suggest to buy Artisan instead by the same author. It's a lot better.

Hi Adam, This is looking good, [even on 10.5.8...] is there a way to set up mouse preferences to mimic SU's? john

@jason_maranto said: :enlight: Yeah, external linking is definitely the way to go for complex organic geometry -- I've always been a fan of Whaat's work and the Indigo plugin is no exception. Thanks for showing this feature off for us Best, Jason. Thanks Jason, and thanks Jeff for showing this feature. I am hoping to finally get around to doing some video tutorials for this sometime. It's been on my TODO list far too long.

Also the new version of Lumion is coming out soon, with some aspects of it re-written, to give it more of a realistic style

OSX 10.6.8, LightUp Plug-In 2.7.9.0 enabled returns undefined on navigator.mimeTypes["application/x-lightup"] EDIT: works in Chrome after I installed Safari plugin (LightUpWebPlayer.pkg)

This "Tip section" is very important, Adam. Please, add more of them. I have LightUp but unfortunately have not had the chance to use it in a "real project" although I am always amazed what it can do. These little tips and tricks make me want to finally apply it for one of my projects.

I meant to look at rhino .3dm model. Wanted to see if anything is different.