FREE Maxwell Render for Sketchup (free version).

Cubcrafter · 24 Aug 2012, 19:24

Thanks,

I know just enough now to be dangerous so I'm going to watch those 8 videos on the web site again and go thru the manual. They will have more meaning to me now.

Thanks,

Larry

utiler · 27 Aug 2012, 03:55

I have a question. I have edited the GE aerial image I bought into my model as well as applying transparency to my trees but when I run Maxwell, I can't work out how to show these textures / colours other than a highly polished highly reflective material!!!!

Is it something to do with my transparency?

jason_maranto · 27 Aug 2012, 12:01

SketchUp (SKM) material opacity lower than 100% is interpreted by the Maxwell plugin as becoming more and more "AGS" (A simple material made to mimic glass reflections) as it reduces opacity. The solution to create these type of "false transparent" materials in SketchUp to Maxwell is to use images in PNG format that contain transparency data (as an alpha channel) for creating your SketchUp objects -- the Maxwell plugin will render these PNG based "SKM" materials as normal diffuse-type materials while respecting the transparency data in the images alpha channel.

Best,
Jason.

utiler · 27 Aug 2012, 22:18

Thanks Jason, I'll give it a whirl!

utiler · 28 Aug 2012, 01:29

Got it, Jason!!
Another thing; with the latest release I notice that when you click the Fire render button it starts rendering straight away... can that be changed? I recall the previous versions would allow you to edit the parameters of the render before firing up!!

pbacot · 28 Aug 2012, 04:19

Just open the scene editor without hitting the Fire button... but I haven't upgraded yet. Doesn't that still work?

jason_maranto · 28 Aug 2012, 11:58

In the Maxwell Scene Manager>"Options" tab>"General" subsection you should see a "Start Maxwell Fire" option, which you will want to set to "Manually".

Best.
Jason.

utiler · 29 Aug 2012, 00:31

That's what I needed, thanks Jason!!

pbacot · 7 Sept 2012, 06:02

Is the requirement for Silverlight 4 with Fire going to end soon? I now have the choice to watch movies or run Maxwell... Whereas it's so slow I would like to do both at once

jason_maranto · 7 Sept 2012, 08:52

Silverlight is being phased out -- the Grass palette is a preview of this, as per this post: http://www.maxwellrender.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=357436#p357436

Best,
Jason.

pbacot · 7 Sept 2012, 15:44

Thanks Jason! That's interesting and good to hear. Peter

utiler · 9 Sept 2012, 21:33

Am I right in saying that Maxwell doesn't recognize section cuts and hence won't render floor plans?

jason_maranto · 10 Sept 2012, 09:59

Maxwell does not currently recognize section cuts (because they are not real geometry) -- Maxwell has something similar called Z-Clipping, which can be used for floor plans... however it's worth noting that Maxwell also has some issues with non-perspective based camera views. So a true floor plan would be tricky (though if you are willing to accept a slight fudge factor it can be done).

Best,
Jason.

utiler · 10 Sept 2012, 20:00

Thanks Jason,

Are you talking about the full Maxwell Suite or Maxwell for SketchUp?

As for non perspective based views I guess I could wind out the FOV to near 0 and render..?

jason_maranto · 10 Sept 2012, 20:43

Both. Maxwell cameras always operate in 3-point perspective, so orthographic and 2-point perspectives are "approximate" matches... which is often close enough. The plugin should automatically make the adjustments for you.

To be clear about what I said before: you can setup section cuts using SketchUp, but you would have to "bake" them into the geometry, either manually or via a plugin.

Best,
Jason.

utiler · 10 Sept 2012, 23:42

Thanks Jason, you're da Maxwell Man!!!!!

peterboodts · 28 Sept 2012, 12:54

Small (dumb?) question.

When I add a picture to an object in sketchup and render using Maxwell for Sketchup then the image doesn't render.
Do I do something wrong ? or do I need to set some settings to make it work ?

Peter

jason_maranto · 28 Sept 2012, 12:59

Could you clarify exactly how you are adding the picture?

Best,
Jason.

utiler · 31 Oct 2012, 07:18

Hi Jason, Is there a way to view the mxm files from the Insert dialog box? [See attached screenshot]

Would be nice to know what the materials look like rather than relying in names...

jason_maranto · 31 Oct 2012, 11:04

The full render suite installs a thumbnail viewer so that you can view the material previews like you would any other program thumbnail... however I'm pretty sure the stand-alone plugin does not have this due to the lack of MXED.

I really feel like the lack of MXED is crippling to the stand alone version and I hope this is resolved somehow in future updates... as a user of the stand alone plugin my number one request would be to either improve the material editing controls in the plugin itself or include MXED in the package and I would make those requests directly here:

301 Moved Permanently

(www.maxwellrender.com)

If enough users make the request I'm sure something would happen.

Best,
Jason.