Anyone who has used Shaderlight. Opinions?

CalypsoArt · 27 Jan 2011, 00:20

Anyone used Shaderlight and can give me real world opinions as to its' operation.(I'm hoping to hear from actual users.)

At present I have Podium, I bought it when it first became available, however, I never got a good handle on it. Trying to discover the correct light intensity and material reflection for my images was just too time consuming. Render, then tweak, render then tweak. Finding the correct distance to place lights, placing cover lights at a safe distance to fake the illumination, these just did not work for me. I often ended up with washout, or not enough light, and usually some artifacts. When I did get good renders I could never figure out why. Often the settings were the same used that previously gave me a bad render. I did visit the Podium forum and asked for suggestions but the tone of some responses just turned me off--off the forum, and Podium. (Nothing like the help I've gotten on the SU & AC forums) That said, in the recent past I have not needed to render for most of my work, but I am wanting to do more of it for myself.

I discovered Shaderlight on this forum. I visited their site and went through all their tutorials.(Still trying the place the region of the "Haich" sound LOL) Shaderlight really seems a lot easier. Still, I understand Podium has been improved, and the upgrade is about $30. Shaderlight is $199. However, if it is really as easy as it seems in the videos, it would warrant me paying for it. I was hoping to download the free version to try, but all the parts that matter Area lights, Spots, skylights etc., are withheld. I was hoping for a trial version to practice with that maybe limited the resolution export or something. Anyway, I'd appreciate any opinions of users on the actual usage.

Thanks

Ecuadorian · 27 Jan 2011, 02:56

Here's another vote for fully-functional, either resolution-limited or time-limited, trial versions of software.

fuzzion · 27 Jan 2011, 05:13

Any 'Sketchup Guru' wanna answer this ?

txapulin · 27 Jan 2011, 10:35

The short answer is that you get a 14 days trial when you download Shaderlight. Just try it and see if it is what you need.

wyatt · 27 Jan 2011, 14:18

Daniel Tal wrote an article about Shaderlight in the latest issue of LAM. You can read it here: http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416152063&rf=usa_clt_lam&o=ext

CalypsoArt · 27 Jan 2011, 22:14

@txapulin said:

The short answer is that you get a 14 days trial when you download Shaderlight. Just try it and see if it is what you need.

I'd much prefer a resolution limited. Or at least a 30 day trial. 14 days is just too short for me. I almost always have to travel or something come up that would prevent me from being able to fully test in as little as 14 days.

ericschimel · 28 Jan 2011, 03:32

I use Shaderlight all the time and I really like it. I have been meaning to do a writeup of it on my blog...

Here are some renderings that I have done with it. I like it way better then Podium.

http://picasaweb.google.com/114037787353191392780/ShaderlightRenders02#

If you have any questions about it, ask here or email me, I'd be happy to help.

CalypsoArt · 28 Jan 2011, 15:35

@unknownuser said:

I use Shaderlight all the time and I really like it. I have been meaning to do a writeup of it on my blog...

Here are some renderings that I have done with it. I like it way better then Podium.

http://picasaweb.google.com/114037787353191392780/ShaderlightRenders02#

If you have any questions about it, ask here or email me, I'd be happy to help.

Thanks. I am leaning towards a purchase, and a resource for the tricks would be great. Nice work by the way. It would probably draw focus, but the cat would surely be looking out that window, lol.

david_h · 28 Jan 2011, 16:04

I have Podium, Kerky , Twilight, plus I have played with Shaderlight, Hypershot and Vray for SU. After seeing Pete's Demo in boulder of Thea, I am leaning toward a purchase of that. What does this mean???

I'm rendo-schizophrenic.

And I suck at all of them.