Hi I have a similar problem.(On PC with SketchUp8 and Maxwell Free Plugin) I tried to give it a file extension (.jpg)but it keeps telling me --> "The specified directory \ blabla ... does not exist" I´m going mad I just want it to save the image without the BS! Has anybody had the same problem? If so how did you solve it?

The "Trial" version should give you all the features of the full pro version (which includes animation) but it expires after 14 days, so just register on shaderlight.com and they will send you an activation key which unlocks the pro version. Once your trial is up Shaderlight will revert to the free version which as iichiversii says does not allow you to use the animation feature.

This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks guys. Just a quick question, but is there any way to set the X and Y in the rubyscript to the current sketchup active window size? Something like, but not necessarily / keys = { ;filename => "c;/tmp/write_image.png", ;width => ActivewindowResX, ;height => ActivewindowResY, ;antialias => false, ;compression => 0.9, ;transparent => true } model = Sketchup.active_model view = model.active_view view.write_image keys

@unknownuser said: @unknownuser said: @dtrarch said: Kerkythea 32 bit under 20 min to finish. Twilight same as Kerky. Try Kerkythea Echo Boost, it will go even faster than Twilight! And if you run on 64bit, you will get much more speed. Make a test and come with the results ! The Intel Embree kernel is faster than all of them and runs only on the CPU. It renders the Imperial Crown in about 20 secs. Give any modern CPU based renderer a four socket workstation (four independent xeon CPUs, 40 physical cores) , that was used in my understanding in said Embree demo, and you will get a pretty fast renderer. Anyhow Embree is a nice demonstration about how CPU (=intel) based renderer can compete against GPU (=nividia) And it was not 20 sec, if you where referring the intel video, "a prefect image takes about a minute to compute". No doubt Embree is a impressive collection of ray tracing kernels. The original Austrian Imperial Crown by Martin Lubich http://www.loramel.net/showroom/3d/

@unknownuser said: The .vob files (native Vue object files) exported from Sketchup do not auto-update when changed but it's a good idea. I will make the suggestion to the developers. That would be great Dave. Thanks. @unknownuser said: You can always use the VuePython script that is generated (in the folder next to the exported model with the textutes) to make importing faster and more automated. I do use the VuePython script initially... it works great! I use the .vob files when I need to update a part of the model in a scene that I have already been working on in Vue. The auto update would only save a few steps, so it is not a big deal. The only time it is a big issue is if I have replaced a bunch of materials in Vue... updating the model means redoing all of that... I only noticed the material editor in version 2 of the exporter a few days ago. I think that might solve some of those problems... now I just need some time to play with it. Thanks for the help!

Hi guys, not sure what I'm doing wrong here with this resynthesizer plugin... 2012-02-09_1355.swf For some reason it is not finding the adjacent content; rather the trees!!!

It is a pretty killer combination -- I use it in Maxwell as well. [flash=853,480:223gj451]http://www.youtube.com/v/88_x_WFGaO8?rel=0&hd=1[/flash:223gj451] Best, Jason.

MXED linked in would we incredible. The material editor in the plug-in is well done but some of us advanced users want more advanced settings.

I might be using CryEngine right now for visualizations if it weren't for the fact that they won't spell out their licencing costs. The Architecture portion of their licencing website still says "Coming soon", it has for several years now. One thing to keep in mind is that CryEngine requires a hefty graphics processor for real time playback, meaning you usually can't just pack a file and send it to a customer. Unity Pro is becoming more and more attractive as they add features, you pay them $1500 once and your good for life, no other fees ever. It also works on WebGL, iOS, and Android. UDK has a $2500 per seat per year licence for anyone using UDK for in-direct income projects, and $99 per direct income project. +25% of any revenue related to the UDK software after $50,000 in sales. UDK also can build for iOS and Android.

I made a quick test of Shaderlight 2.0 and Maxwell for SU along with a few other apps a while ago: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=41848 I found a few issues with Shaderlight and the results were not as realistic but it is faster than Maxwell.

Thanks Tom. And you should Francois, it's not my design. It's not apparent from this particular image but it's actually a houseboat named Watervilla de Omval. It may not be too far from you actually as it's in Amsterdam. Here's a link with a lot of good photos, floor plans, and an address http://architecturelab.net/2010/11/watervilla-de-omval-amsterdam-by-31architects/ Richard, my goodness, you're still around? I thought you'd fallen into a hole long ago I seem to see you so rarely these days! I hope you're just too swamped with work these days. As grandma always says, you really should come around more often Anyways, thanks for the congrats, it means a lot coming from you. -Brodie

Aaron, here's my thoughts: Wall tool User to input profile details [width, height, Layer, etc]. As you build the wall sequence, each segment is 'grouped' to allow for individual edits in future. [I've attached a quick vid of what 1001bit tools do. It's not bad but does require additional user input to draw on axis as well as snap cursor seems a little 'loose' unlike the SU standard...] 2012-01-31_0819.swf Just on this topic, I believe a plugin's operation and UI should be identical to that of SU. It would just make the users experience seamless.... Now with wall segments. Give the user the option to either build walls with Mitre or butt end. The reason is so the user can edit a particular wall segment individually. Eg: extend wall segment vertically to create a parapet wall or rake a wall top to follow roof pitch.... 2012-01-31_0833.swf In addition to the Wall tool there should be a Wall Edit tool to change from Mitre to Butt end for unique situations. This should be very easy given that such boolean operations are able to be done via Solid tools. [image: T9xS_2012-01-31_0851.png] I'll post more on windows, doors, etc later..

A previously activated trial code will not be able to be activated again for 2.1 so it will be running as the free version. If you would like to contact us at support@artvps.com we would be happy to arrange another trial for you. Martin

Nice find! Thanks!

Thank you. I try it now in the maxwell forum too and will post the answer here. Sure. I cleaned the plugin folder. I even de- and reinstalled SU and no effect. And I am sure I have the right version for my system. And the 2 files are in the sl folder. So lets see what the maxwell forum says. Peter

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..