Thea Render is about to be launched..(edit available now)

AdamB

@adamb said:

I tried to get the author of WxSU to address the issue but didn't anywhere and got tired of endless support of LightUp regarding this issue.

Thanks Adam for the explanation. I am in contact with Peter and hope to have the 'sleep' issue resolved soon.

Well good luck..

I just downloaded your installer to check the WxSU version and ensure I'm not just becoming grumpy in my old age, and indeed WxSU still has this special code in "App.rb":


    # This is the main entry point to the WxSU;;App object.  This method performs some thread kludges 
    # so that wxRuby and SketchUp play well together.
    # After creating an App object with 'new', call 'start' to initiate wxRuby.
    # For example;
    #   WxSU;;App.new.start
    def start
      if (not is_main_loop_running)
        @thread = Thread.new { main_loop }
        @thread.priority = -1  # Kludge to lower the priority of wx; seems to work really well
      end
      return(self)
    end

Now wash your hands.

EarthMover

I had problems previously with WxSU when Chris Fulmer used it for one of his color plugins and I had to delete it.

It seems now the same problems for me with the SU2TH exporter. Once I use the exporter and call the WxSU plugin, I am able to export to Thea just fine, but to try and go back and continue working in the SU window, I am having SU freeze up. I tried it with three different scenarios, including a simple scene export with just a box. To go back and work in SU after exporting causes SU to lock up. It's the exact same thing that was happening after running Chris's plugin and for me. It was always traced back to the WxSU tie in.

dtrarch

Thomasz

Thanks

Will give it a try

Dave

tomasz

@earthmover said:

to try and go back and continue working in the SU window, I am having SU freeze up.

Yep. It is an issue that is present in SU7. Surprisingly It doesn't appear in SU6. I believe it is related to how SU deals with separate threads. I need to look at it much closer.

tomot

Its really sad! but a fact of life I suppose, that all these plugins sooner or later cause problems. Even my Windows Tools ruby which I wrote last year, now has problems running under SU 7. And it was not till I uninstalled Vray 01.05.30 that all my exiting SU problems went away.

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26342

Its almost enough to make me watch Idol or Survivor.....but not quite

dtrarch

Thomasz

Install for V7 worked as you suggested and thanks again.
Quick eval for Thea.
Very technical and full featured.
Not for the point and shoot user that wants a quick and easy output.
Kt as it stands actually seems easier to get to solution for Photon mapped output.
No object animation either.

Hmmm?

Dave

AdamB

@pixero said:

@unknownuser said:

@pixero said:

Anyone but me who gets a wxSU warning/error upon SU launch?
It warns about possible problems with other plugins like LightUp.

Can you post exact message, please?
SU-2-Thea uses WxSU 0.3 version in which interaction issues with other software has been resolved.

Here it is.
Maybe it's LightUp's own wxSU warning?

You can disable LightUp warnings like this by opening the Ruby Console and typing:

Sketchup.write_default("LightUp", "Warnings", false)

But be aware that currently WxSU does have fundamental problems working with other plugins.

tomasz

@dtrarch said:

Quick eval for Thea.
Very technical and full featured.
Not for the point and shoot user that wants a quick and easy output.

Unbiased methods give excellent results without touching any settings. TR1 is especially efficient with exterior shots. Biassed method requires serious knowledge, but once set-up correctly is way faster then unbiased.

@dtrarch said:

No object animation either.

The exporter is still in beta stage and lacks animation and environment settings. During open beta all bugs should be ironed out and missing features added.

reymond

how is the speed?
is as fast thea as vray?
does someone know that?

I use Maxwell, is not as fast as vray but a perfect quality.

dedmin

just try it - there are more things to consider than the speed. Price, platforms, plugins, interface, possibilities and variations. If You use Thea You can easily use Kerkythea or Twilight. You can use it with SketchUP or with other plugins or with any application that can export 3ds or obj. You can use it on PC, MAC or Linux. You have biased and unbiased render in one package. Price as of now - €161.16 Thea Render application license + 2 node licenses.
Give me a better offer?

dtrarch

Thomasz

Problem with SU 7.1 here too.

Lockup on run and had to re-install the plugin again as well.
Could use some "Camera" pre-sets as used in Thea as there seems to be over exposure in the default Thea render settings.
f stop shutter speed iso etc.

Truth is that KT, Twilight are plenty good enough for most presentation work.

Thea is of course the next step up for close in and interior killer PReal for those who need that level of output.
Sort of KT on steroids.

Pricing is fair but not compelling.

Dave

Richard

@reymond said:

how is the speed?
is as fast thea as vray?
does someone know that?

I use Maxwell, is not as fast as vray but a perfect quality.

Be mindful it ain't anywhere as easy to get a grip with!!

Frederik

@richard said:

Be mindful it ain't anywhere as easy to get a grip with!!

Que...???

Would you mind elaborating a bit more on this, Richard...?

From what I've seen on the Thea Forum, users find the UI (in particular the Material Editor) really easy and intuitive...

Richard

@frederik said:

@richard said:

Be mindful it ain't anywhere as easy to get a grip with!!

Que...???

Would you mind elaborating a bit more on this, Richard...?

From what I've seen on the Thea Forum, users find the UI (in particular the Material Editor) really easy and intuitive...

Mate I'm just responding to red's point that he has maxwell! Although the response to Thea is good though for me (I'm not a manual reader) so finding the UI no where near as easy to use as MR studio.

Albiet Thea has some amazing features, lighting setup for points and spots is BRILLIANT!!!!! The general workflow is unfortunately very clicky, the material editor has some great points though at the same clicky again. Hiding stuff in drop downs is for me not ideal.

I have to be honest I probably got a bit disappointed on first trial and still riding on that - for some reason get pig headed about reading manuals, I normally give up at that point and deem a workflow unintuitive. I understand a lot of tool tips are missing and realise this will ease things a great deal.

One thing I would love to see is the option when opening studio is a button that straight up says Unbiased / Biased / Hybrid mode - if selecting Unbiased about 60% of variables disappear.

I guess too it's hard when your spoilt with simplicity!!

Having to adapt to a seeingly more complex workflow for the want of some VERY creditable enhancements is just something I might have to get my head around! As I said i have probably just felt some disappointment that some things seem to have been made overly more difficult than possible!

Though will still stand by my point to Red that maxwell's workflow is remarkably much easier so beware of that!! And possibly simply by the way everything is on show and one doesn't need to hunt!!

Rant Rant Rant!!

Frederik

Thanks for taking your time to elaborate on your first post...
Much appreciated, mate...

I haven't played with Maxwell for some years, but back when I did, I gave up because I found it far to complicated... (besides, my focus was on other render apps.)...

@richard said:

...the material editor has some great points though at the same clicky again.

I won't and can't deny that there are some "clicky-clicky" elements in Thea UI, but I'm also quite certain that Giannis and the team will find new and more intuitive ways to avoid these and many of these will thereby be illiminated over time...

@richard said:

I have to be honest I probably got a bit disappointed on first trial and still riding on that...

I appreciate your honesty...
However, Please remember that Thea Render is in first open beta stage...

@richard said:

I guess too it's hard when your spoilt with simplicity!!

I agree 100% with you here...
Moreover, when you're used to a certain workflow it can be difficult to adapt another UI (I.e. if you're used to work with Adobe's various apps. it's difficult to adapt Corel's apps., although they do the same and have many equal functions)...

@richard said:

Though will still stand by my point to Red that maxwell's workflow is remarkably much easier so beware of that!!

I've taken your point further and I know that Giannis and the team will listen to your comments and work on new ideas to make things easier...

dtrarch

Richard

Good posts and I agree with your comments.
Very strong and fast render engine.
Very quick export from SU thanks to Tomasz.
Interface seems very clunky just like KT and no user defined keystrokes to help the workflow.
Lots of power but not a lot of fun to edit and use.
Very good value for the experienced user.
I you really need it then get ready to go back to school and study hard.
Thea is not a point and shoot application.
Just a beta however so it is fair to check it out again when it is more polished and fixes are in place.

dtr

Richard

Mate I was starting to feel I was one of the only who felt that!!

I agree that as in beta things may change, I do worry slightly that the interface may have been designed to build on that of kerthy (haven't seen) and may then be somewhat branded to stay the same!

I have to example Bonzai here where although the zbrush user base may find it easy and familiar, rarely would an outsider find it user friendly. Where they had an opportunity to catch a larger audience (a large SU audience maybe) they have surely have missed the mark! I remember on a PPB thread regarding Bonzai one of the developers tapped in and despite EVERY forum post suggested that the interface was far from intuitive he stood strong and defended their choice!

Can the same be the future of Thea? Right now is the time to make change - before final release I feel, not that change needs to take place sure, but trust that a certain behaviours are norm in forums that are linked to a software. People tend to shy from being critical and I'd suggest for true crit developers need to look at discussions in other forums to get the picture. I have to be honest that part of me would never post this to the Thea forums!!

Probably typical of beta's I'm involved with from time to time, a feature request may be made, then you get replies on workarounds - I don't want workarounds I want the bloody feature! Classic case in the SU beta's I've been requesting for years now the option in the material editor to have a user option to enable a texture to be non scaling ie: when you stretch say a grouped cube painted with brick, the brick size is maintained yet simply tiles with the stretch. Man did I get hammered for the suggestion by other users suggesting NO we want textures to scale with the object!!! Man all I want is the option and for what I thought was a valid and obvious reason!!

This could also be compared to Kerthy / Twilight - Kerthy is free! Twilight (well almost free) user pays, why would someone pay for an app when the same is avaiable freely? They aren't the same!! UI makes all the difference!

As Frederik suggest it can be difficult to switch apps, sure! I know myself and as suggested by a few posts on the PPB from other experience renderers, these days I'd a majority have the same aptitude to open a software without a manual and start production with one or two hours, I've spent at least double that with Thea and am still unable to find the darn button that opens the texture editor so I can see the effects of my tone mapping changes - what the??

All said I do have high hopes for the future of Thea and if only to see the friendly developers prosper for their efforts, their involvement is unsurpassed and reward is rightful! I just hope they can see the valid points of crit amongst the forest of praise!

tallbridgeguy

Richard I think you have some valid points about thea.

I'm an older bridge engineer and the interface is a little daunting for me. I doubt any new user of rendering packages could just jump in and produce something. (It took me about 3 months to get some decent stuff out of kerkythea. Which I now like very much)

So here are my downsides to thea.

steep learning curve for the UI. Not something you find in a typically software package and difficult for a non rendering person to pick up. (I don't even know what a proxy is?) I often feel intimidated on this site in regards to rendering systems and this UI didn't help. I don't need or want big push me buttons but I don't need to fly the shuttle either.
beta software. It is hard to work with the software when there are few material libraries, lights, etc

Upsides:

Price, price, price. It seems to be the cheapest product on the market with what may be the most sophisticated rendering engine.
Involved owners. I can't believe I received an email response from the owner.
Loyal staff and community. Great people on the forums.
4)Technical. I am frankly amazed by the level of science involved in the program. I'm not worthy

Finally, I am probably going to buy thea based on points 1 and 2 above. I can't stress how rare it is to hear from an owner who loves their product.

I can learn the interface but I would have liked something that takes less time than actually drawing the model. I think some presets would be great where you could import a model and select "outside 5 pm" to get some quick stuff and then when you have time dive in the technology pool.

And finally, I wish I was swimming in Australia....

Richard

Mate the developers involvement in every thread is something that went straight to my heart, they deserve every success with this product if only for that effort!!!

I absolutely can guarantee you that only in the very rare circumstance and generally NEVER with something as involved as the technical apsects of such a system would you get that level of response!

As for the swimming - mate you obviously don't keep up with the growing number of shark attacks here, funny as a young bloke (now likely about your vintage) I would happily surf for hours in a spot next to a deep channel where trawlers would float by throwing off the dregs of their mornings catch. These days I'm so nancy if a bit of sea weed brushes my leg I'm walking on water out of there!!

notareal

@tallbridgeguy said:

...
I can learn the interface but I would have liked something that takes less time than actually drawing the model. I think some presets would be great where you could import a model and select "outside 5 pm" to get some quick stuff and then when you have time dive in the technology pool.

And finally, I wish I was swimming in Australia....

It's a bit hard to talk about features that are not completed yet. Even I could say that Thea development, as a commercial software, has been fairly open for those that been interested about it - we really are studying different options for workspace presets, user preferences and so... In my opinion, in Thea development, the highest priority has been in solid rendering cores and how engines use the same materials and lights. When the hard core was solid for production, it was time for the public beta - feature wise it might been a bit early, but also it do give users a greater change to affect on the development. The roadmap of Thea Render for next releases is released (download pdf).

Australia sounds great... Winter been far too long here.