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    [Plugin] SU2POV for GSU6

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    • Didier BurD Offline
      Didier Bur
      last edited by

      Hi

      @unknownuser said:

      if I import the .skp light components should they function in a similar manner as if they had been loaded via the scripts?

      Yes.

      @unknownuser said:

      Will the components only work if they are placed on the su2pov layer or will they on other layers too?

      If they are on other layers, their geometry can possibly be exported (if this layer is active) and will inhibit light from lighting the scene. The script automatically hides the su2pov layer to prevent this problem.

      @unknownuser said:

      Am I correct that quotes need to be put around the N in ......Output_File_Type="N" ....?

      No, no quotes needed, just: Output_File_Type=N

      I'll publish a minor release soon: you'll have additionnal output options such has image size, image format, antialias on/off, alpha channel on/off.
      For the image size you'll be able to render the same size as your SU window, or common sizes, or choose your size as usual within pov-ray.
      But remember, I want to keep this thing as simple as possible...

      DB

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      • JClementsJ Offline
        JClements
        last edited by

        Didier:

        I DO appreciate your designing the script to keep "keep it simple". It is partcularly useful for "beginners" or "casual" users like myself and I thank you for doing so.

        I was a bit frustrated that the Point and Area light scripts didn't work as designed for me but since I can import the light components manually it is not that big of a deal.

        I do wish cylindrical (smoothed) surfaces could be handled better since they are prevelent in many of my models, but what the POV renderer does offer will be helpful in certain instances. **Question:**Do you think Fred06's the forthcoming subdivision scripts would be helpful in POV generating better renderings of smoothed surfaces?

        John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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        • Didier BurD Offline
          Didier Bur
          last edited by

          Hi again,

          @unknownuser said:

          I was a bit frustrated that the Point and Area light scripts didn't work

          Small bug found and fixed. I will publish the patch asap.

          @unknownuser said:

          Do you think Fred06's the forthcoming subdivision scripts would be helpful in POV generating better renderings of smoothed surfaces?

          Yes, as it will creta more faces to represent curved surfaces.

          Now let's go to sleep ๐Ÿ˜‰ ๐Ÿ˜

          DB

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          • I Offline
            ilay7k
            last edited by

            also
            i catch this when selected Phong Matt in mat.converter, something is wrong.
            resent mat.options is normal

            @unknownuser said:

            If you change the color of a Point Light component (by painting the selected component without editing the component), then the SU display of ALL Point Lights are changed to that color as well even though the actual color properties of individual Point Lights (as seen in its Entity Info) are different.

            it likes feature of light-group(described in manual of pov-ray).
            i remember about unique-function...

            John, you work with studio-lighting setup?
            i add some info in pov-ray editor, for example about area-lights...it's simple...

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            • Didier BurD Offline
              Didier Bur
              last edited by

              Hi,

              @unknownuser said:

              If you change the color of a Point Light component (by painting the selected component without editing the component), then the SU display of ALL Point Lights are changed to that color as well even though the actual color properties of individual Point Lights (as seen in its Entity Info) are different.

              The PointLight component in "Windmill.skp" is not the good one ๐Ÿ˜ณ because to avoid what you describe, the material of the component must be "default". But I formerly painted the bulb with a yellow material. The su2pov_pl.skp component in the Plugins/su2pov folder is OK.
              Sorry for all these little inconveniences...

              DB

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              • JClementsJ Offline
                JClements
                last edited by

                Note sure is this is a bug or not.

                If you change the color of a Point Light component (by painting the selected component without editing the component), then the SU display of ALL Point Lights are changed to that color as well even though the actual color properties of individual Point Lights (as seen in its Entity Info) are different.

                ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

                Comments:

                I understand the script is targeted more towards architectural rendering. My work is primarily illustrating non-architectural models. Many times I turn on "Use Sun for Shading" to control the contrast of surfaces, but do NOT display shadows as shadows often 'hide' smaller, intertwined geometry. If it is possible to turn OFF shadows in the POV rendering (as an option) and there is a broad enough demand for this, I'd like you to consider that in some future release.

                Likewise, being able to use Point Lights or Spot Lights to subtly accent a part of a model withOUT displaying the bulb would be handy. Perhaps there could be an option for this in their respective edit dialogs at some later time.

                This may go over the "adding too much complexity" threshold, I hope its not the case. ๐Ÿ˜’

                Regards, John

                John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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                • Didier BurD Offline
                  Didier Bur
                  last edited by

                  Hi,
                  Version 3.1. released (at top of this thread)
                  @John: your suggestions have been included ๐Ÿ˜‰

                  DB

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                  • I Offline
                    ilay7k
                    last edited by

                    thank you for update!
                    Keep it simple!
                    it's simple 5-min test work with all Finish mats(with photoshop)
                    used 2bounce-settings(1 picture...phong matt) and skylight-settings(for 3 pics,... glass, glossy) and without photon-mapping ๐Ÿ˜ž (a few dark places)...then layer post-processing in pshp

                    Please look at export mat like Phong Matt....i used 3.6 pov-ray


                    544964-iC2.JPG

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                    • Didier BurD Offline
                      Didier Bur
                      last edited by

                      Hi,
                      Small bug fix this morning, thanx to ilay7k.

                      DB

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                      • I Offline
                        ilay7k
                        last edited by

                        Thanks for update
                        esc-pushing error(for placing lights) was fixed by Didier in latest...
                        John feel free for download it...

                        Can somebody tell about megapov?

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                        • JClementsJ Offline
                          JClements
                          last edited by

                          I thought I did as I downloaded yesterday. Perhaps a bad link exists. That's the benefit of having the version level listed in the menu. ๐Ÿ˜„

                          John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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                          • JClementsJ Offline
                            JClements
                            last edited by

                            Hi Didier, a brief follow up.

                            I haven't had a chance to try the new options except the render with Alpha Channel and I do like that a LOT; I still can't believe that SU isn't capable of doing this natively with their PNG expoxt filter.

                            What I can tell you is that the two light tools do work for me ONLY IF:

                            1. I import each of their two respective .Skps FIRST so they are registered in the model's component library.
                            2. Then, after selecting a tool from your menu, pressing ESC. This allows the scripts to respond to subsequent mouse clicks.

                            I am not sure if #1 is related to what the user's default component directory is or not or if it has to do with SU's installed location (mine is C:\programs\SketchUp 6...) .

                            Could you include the script's version number in the end of the script name listed in the Plugins' Menu? That would help identify if the latest version has been installed.

                            Hopefully, I can be more deligent this weekend and re-try all the settings of your lastest release.

                            Regards, John

                            John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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                            • Didier BurD Offline
                              Didier Bur
                              last edited by

                              Hi John,

                              @unknownuser said:

                              1. I import each of their two respective .Skps FIRST so they are registered in the model's component library.
                              2. Then, after selecting a tool from your menu, pressing ESC. This allows the scripts to respond to subsequent mouse clicks.

                              I am not sure if #1 is related to what the user's default component directory is or not or if it has to do with SU's installed location (mine is C:\programs\SketchUp 6...) .

                              All this is fixed now. The compos are loaded from a path relative to the Plugins folder, which Ruby can find by itself. So no matter where your SU main folder is, it MUST load components if they are not already present in the model. I've tested it hundreds of times believe me...
                              BTW good idea to put the version number in the menu ๐Ÿ˜‰

                              DB

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                              • JClementsJ Offline
                                JClements
                                last edited by

                                I tried downloading again and I see no difference in the light tools and no version level in menu description so I can't verify if I am downloading the wrong version.

                                Can you post the zip here ... at least temporarily until Monday?

                                John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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                                • Didier BurD Offline
                                  Didier Bur
                                  last edited by

                                  Hi,
                                  Here it is:


                                  Replace old su2pov3.rb in your Plugins folder. (it just adds the version number in the menu)

                                  DB

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                                  • I Offline
                                    ilay7k
                                    last edited by

                                    John put time-slider in the right end at shadow-toolbar and export with lights
                                    and some explanation in POV sample scenes and help-system too...

                                    Strange, i haven't esc-effect...


                                    ![my "crappy" light-test(skp-balcony scene)](/uploads/imported_attachments/tCIb_testl.jpg "my "crappy" light-test(skp-balcony scene)")

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                                    • JClementsJ Offline
                                      JClements
                                      last edited by

                                      Didier, thanks for posting the .Rb.

                                      The component lights are now being found, I no longer have to manually import them prior to using the script,and the version level is displayed.

                                      I still have to press the ESCAPE key to initiate creating the lights with mouse clicks, however.

                                      Questions (of course :} ๐Ÿ˜ž
                                      **1-**In your documentaton you mention that the Sun is automatically "shut off" at night. I had assumed that was when the model was Set to Use Sun for Shading, but this happens as well when it is not set for Use Sun for Shading and also when the rendering setting of Lights is set for lights only. Is this what you intended?

                                      **2-**I was curious what the default is for when the script is turned to night mode. Is it a prescribed amount of minutes before the sunset time listed in the Shadows Dialog?

                                      **3-**In your documentation you show the Sun actually being rendered in the sky. How is this done, is it automatically placed (per SU's sun position) once the script is run the first time for a model?

                                      John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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                                      • Didier BurD Offline
                                        Didier Bur
                                        last edited by

                                        Hi John,

                                        @unknownuser said:

                                        I had assumed that was when the model was Set to Use Sun for Shading, but this happens as well when it is not set for Use Sun for Shading and also when the rendering setting of Lights is set for lights only. Is this what you intended?

                                        I never noticed any difference with that checkbox ticked or not. Here is what the SU help says: "Click on the Use Sun for shading checkbox to shade the faces of your model based on the position of the sun. SketchUp uses standard shading that follows the camera when Use Sun for Shading is not enabled."
                                        Not correct, at least by me: no standard shading that follows the camera. It makes no difference, that's why the script doesn't take care of it...

                                        @unknownuser said:

                                        Is it a prescribed amount of minutes before the sunset time listed in the Shadows Dialog?

                                        Almost. The script calculates the "slope" of the sun rays and when it is less or equal than 0 radians it considers that it is night time (sun rays slope is negative during the night because the sun is "behind" the ground). Between 0 and 0.2 radians the color of the sun light is slightly modified (at sunset or sunrise).

                                        @unknownuser said:

                                        In your documentation you show the Sun actually being rendered in the sky. How is this done, is it automatically placed (per SU's sun position) once the script is run the first time for a model?

                                        This is done this way: the script evaluates the angle between camera direction and sun rays vector, and calculates wether the sun is in the field of view or not. When it is, the component "su2pov_sun" is inserted at the right place, then removed after the export is finished. The component uses a png image that goes from white to transparent to mix the sun with the sky color.

                                        Regards,

                                        DB

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                                        • JClementsJ Offline
                                          JClements
                                          last edited by

                                          Thanks, Didier, for the feedback.

                                          "..When it is, the component "su2pov_sun" is inserted at the right place, then removed after the export is finished. .."

                                          Very clever programming.

                                          Regards, John

                                          John | Illustrator | Beaverton, Oregon

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                                          • jujuJ Offline
                                            juju
                                            last edited by

                                            @jclements said:

                                            Thanks, Didier, for the feedback.

                                            "..When it is, the component "su2pov_sun" is inserted at the right place, then removed after the export is finished. .."

                                            Very clever programming.

                                            Regards, John

                                            +1!

                                            Save the Earth, it's the only planet with chocolate.

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