Thanks guys...and point taken about the birds (a bit too Hitchcock maybe :`) Here's a quick fix blend, more later I'm sure: [image: 87mT_tn_zSauderApts-lu3.jpg]

Yes, that would be a solution... good idea

thanks for the comments boys

Hi igor Wow, you seem to eat, live and breath SU & Podium. Do you ever do anything else but model and render? You got some really good stuff on here. You obviously enjoy it. Are you hoping to get into the 3D biz after your studies? Hope you have lots of fun with your new computer. My new one arrives next week and I can't wait!! Its about time you started using bumpmaps. No excuse now with all your new technology on your desk. And it will really improve your renders. If you haven't already then you ought to post some of your work over on the Podium forum http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/supodiumforum Kev

@plot-paris said: sounds pretty advanced, the stuff you are producing there (even if I can barely see the effect you are trying to create - may be my badly calibrated monitor though ) and now I fully understand why you prefer maxwell's external material management to indigo's "all saved in SketchUp" approach. to set up this multilayered material in in indigo would be near impossible. Richard, I am truely impressed how detailed your knowledge of material-compositing is. I would love to see some more of your tests! Thanks plot (again!!) Mate I'm not so good with complex materials though have some idea how to use the editor long hand to get the result I'm after. Yes regarding Indigo's approach! This material has 4 layers to achieve the effect I'm after (the one you can't see!!;) ); Layer 1. Colour Map / Clip Map 1 / Bump Map - Diffuse. Layer 2. Colour Map / Clip Map 1 / Bump Map - Reflective. Layer 3. Colour Map / Clip Map 2 / Bump Map - Reflectance. Layer 4. Colour Map / Clip Map 3 / Bump Map - Reflectance. All said if Maxwell wasn't an unbiased Physically based renderer then nearly all of this could be done via one simple layer. So its a bit of a catch 22 - you can create amazing materials though sometimes like here you need to go to a lot of trouble to create alternatives to produce an otherwise rather simple effect.

If your using kerkythea, id suggest switchint to a biased render method, if i remeber correctly theyre a lot faster for doing interior scenes (which is a lot of the reason your lights take so long to render.) In indigo there isnt really a lot you can do other than sit it out. Oh, and if your using the latest version of indigo you can put all the lights on seperate layers nd adjust how powerful tey are while the renders going. Useful stuff

Good stuff (except that plant...) Are you using bump maps and displacement maps? (doesnt look like it ) if not its definetly worth trying them out, they can add a lot to the render.

Chris, Long time no see 'eh! I love the images, very cute and fitting for the subject. The popping primarys and the whimsical outlines are very effective. Not sure I would say the same on a different project with less flora and different subject matter, but it all seems very original to me. Very cool man.

Thanks mate appreciate your support! I love using the wire trees, I'd love to make some other types of model scale trees though find it hard to note any other good examples!

looks like you had fun... but for my clients, they just wouldn't "get it".

Nice job Eric! I can't decide which I like better..? I think in general I tend to think "night renderings" are just too dark. I prefer a dusk setting. Then you can get those really pretty colorful skies.

What fun...way to go Mike! I'm interested too in whether this will be a custom new build by the boat manuf or a sweat-equity on an existing hull?

Thanks you all who viewed my collection. To Ross: Yes Im an Architect by profession and I do this for a living but for 5 years I think Im still a Neophyte. I would need a lot of PR (not just talent and a good computer ) to be successful in this industry. Almost all of the churches you saw are free from my charges because these are the structures that I could really experiment the some hidden powers or abilities of skecthup and most especially if im just going around killing time. Although most of the preists appreciate my works as well. Thank you for all the very kind words replied. I really appreciate it. To tell you guys the truth, I never had the patience to wait for a photorealistic renderings (but i will still dip in my foot if I ever find time to play around like christmas season), you could just see it that I only use photoshop and sketchup. All realtime. Dave's watercolor style really rocks i'll tell you \m/ . Someday I might play around also styles and share it as well. I hope you all enjoy viewing! Tesmeko keep sketching

Hi Genaro, I have fixed your image. The problem is that the host you keep your images at adds an "imagemax=1152" tag at the end. Overwrite the numbers to 640 (by experience) and the image can be displayed. And to add something contributional as well: Really great renders and I especially like this last one with the moon just hiding behind the building. First it seemed to eme that the clouds are moving and I really had to look hard that they dont! Just lovely.

@steelers05 said: Thanks guys. Yeah the refelctions where added in Photoshop and the cut out job as well. Im not gonna lie, there was a significant amount of post processing, as you can probably tell from the images, but it seemed to work out considering that im still not the greatest at photoshop. I'd say you did a fine job.

PS stefan. jsut a quick one. although, i am doing some now with vray itself.

Thanks Biebel. They don't have it on itunes but I found it on YouTube so I can at least listen to it.

@gaieus said: (Good they didn't built them - or did they? ) your comment is the cause for a fit of paranoia....

Lighting is wonderful.Superb mood and quite realistic.

"no strong modeling skills" ??? Lol. This is great! The renderings are effective and the use of ground patterns and texture is very helpful to the image. As for a building, at present it seems to be a mission control center for Nasa. Hence windows only pointing towards the launch area. The rest: a durable protective shell and the windowless rooms where they man/woman the terminals. It would be appropriate for the Cape.