FREE Maxwell Render for Sketchup (free version).

Paul Hanusiak

I can't get the emitters for the Maxwell Render plug-in to work in SketchUp 8 Pro. I am running the licensed version (the $95 one) not the full suite. I've read through the manuals and a couple of forums and I've tried all the typical fixes such as reversing the faces etc. The scene is all black. Any ideas?

I'm running an Mac G5 Pro, with dual quad core Xeon processors, 8gig RAM and OSX 10.6.8 if that makes any difference but I don't think it's a hardware issue, more likely a software thing. Could it be a Silverlight issue? I can't seem to find what version of silverlight Maxwell installed.

jason_maranto

Silverlight is just for the UI, it should not have much to do with the rendering itself which is Maxwell -- but Silverlight 4 is the recommended version.

Have you tried the newest version of the plugin (2.6.10 which has some fixes for emitter issues)?

Also some things to try:

Context click the group (or component) and choose Maxwell> Separate By> Material
On the Output tab change the setting for "Use Instances" to "No".
Make sure there are no other materials applied to the geometry (backface or edges) which may potentially confuse the engine.

Best,
Jason.

utiler

Not sure what I'm doing wrong with the glass settings but when rendered it previews very dark. Is it a sun setting or am I doing something other incorrectly?

Cheers,

jason_maranto

Using "real" glass has some issues and is not recommended for general Arch Viz. They created a solution made particularly for windows called AGS (Architectural Glass Solution)... you will find it listed under the character types.

Alternately, you can simply use the default character type and reduce the opacity of your SketchUp material and the plugin will automatically convert it to AGS (this would be my preferred method).

If you still want to use "real" glass be aware that the panes of glass must be "closed volumes" (SketchUp Solids) and have all the dimensions and details (including thickness) of the real-world window panes... this is also true of any other dielectric (water, gemstones, etc.) and any object that has regular SSS applied (thinSSS materials do not have this issue).

Best,
Jason.

Zoom123

Jason,

Since members without a license can not use the Maxwell forum, where can I ask questions and get answers about Maxwell for SU? I couldn't find some contact email address for non licensed users.

Since now there is a free version of Maxwell wouldn't it be appropriate to have at least one section of your forum open for the users of the free version (who are also potential clients for the paid version)? I could use Skethucation, but it would seem more appropriate to ask Maxwell specific question in a Maxwell forum.

jason_maranto

I don't have any control over those things -- I don't work for Next Limit, I'm just a regular user (albeit very enthusiastic).

There are actually quite alot of very knowledgeable users here on this forum -- I may be the most consistently vocal about Maxwell but that is only because I support the videos I made for the plugin. I like to know where people are having issues because it helps me to better understand where I can improve the next time I do a tutorial.

Also one of the top SketchUcators on this forum (Brodie) is a multi-contest winning user of Maxwell and is an excellent resource not only of SketchUp advice but Maxwell advice as well... but there are many other (perhaps) less vocal Maxwell users here who can help if need be.

We are not "official" support and don't pretend to be, but for alot of problems users might encounter we should suffice.

To be clear though, I agree with Next Limits policy on this -- I do not care to allow non-paying users to take precedent over paying users in any way... and I think it would be unfair (to paying users) to give the same rights to non-paying users. As it is there is a fairly large gap in the $900 I paid for Maxwell and the $95 licensed users of the stand alone plugin paid -- as far as I'm concerned we are already treading that fine line where other users of the full Maxwell Render Suite (especially those antagonistic to SketchUp) are likely to begin resenting some aspects of this new option.

I also feel the same about SketchUp Pro -- I do (and have for some time) resent that as a paying user there is not a "licensed-user only" forum hosted by Google... I feel that paying users should have more direct access to (and priority from) the dev team for feature requests and bug reports. It's one of the factors that makes me seriously wonder whether I should continue to financially support the software (SketchUp Pro).

I would rather give my money to a company that understands the value of a paying customer.

Best,
Jason.

Zoom123

I appreciate the help that other users can offer here but I continue to believe that a section in the Maxwell forums would be appropriate. Maxwell could explicitly state that there will be no official support in this section so it really wouldn't cost them anything.

I am sure that if paying clients of Maxwell don't mind that a free version of Maxwell was made available they will not mind a sub-section in the forum. Non paying users can be restricted to that section only (something which is very easy to do with forum software).

I continue to compare Twilight Render and Maxwell for SU and I think they are both great. Since I upgraded my PC (i7 2600K overclocked to 4.5GHz) I don't have any speed issues with Maxwell anymore. And now they added IES lights my other major concern was eliminated. My only issues with Maxwell now is the inability to test the production engine and the inability of non-licensed users to post in the forums - which results in low forum activity in general ("Maxwell for Sketchup (Standalone)" section has just 3 topics). In comparison Twilight Render has a ton of great info in their forums. A lot of the content is available to all, while they also have a section for licensed users. I think this is a better approach.

jason_maranto

I think you may be slightly confused -- the Maxwell forums content is available to all to read as well, and there is absolutely tons of info there (just not in the new section for the stand-alone plugin)... all for free and for anybody to read.

I myself have posted several thousand free materials for Maxwell that any user can use and made many hours of free tutorials that anybody can watch -- I'm not sure what else you might need for free.

The only thing left is support (bug reports and feature requests).

My feeling is if you use a free software you get what you pay for (as far as support) -- which means none.

However I should reiterate that my opinion means nothing since I am just another user... Next Limit will make those decisions as they see fit.

Best,
Jason.

bravoddb

@jason_maranto said:

Silverlight is just for the UI, it should not have much to do with the rendering itself which is Maxwell -- but Silverlight 4 is the recommended version.

Have you tried the newest version of the plugin (2.6.10 which has some fixes for emitter issues)?

Also some things to try:

Context click the group (or component) and choose Maxwell> Separate By> Material

On the Output tab change the setting for "Use Instances" to "No".

Make sure there are no other materials applied to the geometry (backface or edges) which may potentially confuse the engine.

Best,
Jason.

I Had the same problem, i found that I have to make the emitters group, and the they worked,

Jason
Where can i download the newest version?, I'm a licensed user

Thanks

Bravoddb

jason_maranto

Yes, it is always best to use modeling techniques that will render problem free -- definitely some of the normal shortcuts of modeling in SketchUp do not work out so great when rendering in Maxwell.

You can download by:

go to http://www.maxwellrender.com/
click the "log in" link in the upper right hand corner.
once you've logged in you can navigate to the download area
the first link in the download area is for Windows users and the second is Mac.

Whenever a new version is officially released this will be where you can get it... however if you keep an eye on the Maxwell forum he (JD) often posts pre-release "open Beta" versions of the plugins.

Best,
Jason.

Zoom123

I am referring to tutorials and info specifically for the standalone sketchup plugin. I know about your 8 video tutorials but I couldn't find much else.

Burkhard

Try the VTC online Videos from Jason http://www.vtc.com

jason_maranto

You won't find anything specifically besides those because:

A) It's too new still

and

B) The stand alone plugin is simply a subset of Maxwell -- nothing applies to the "stand-alone" plugin that does not also apply to the normal Maxwell plugin (and Maxwell in general)therefor it's rather pointless to do 2 (or more) sets of videos for essentially the same product.

Also I would not be waiting for tutorials that are SketchUp specific when it comes to Maxwell because it is its own thing -- it is far better to read the online information (and watch the videos) for the main render engine... this is where the good information is anyway, and it applies to all the plugin equally.

Best,
Jason.

utiler

@jason_maranto said:

Alternately, you can simply use the default character type and reduce the opacity of your SketchUp material and the plugin will automatically convert it to AGS (this would be my preferred method).

Thanks Jason, that is what I do for glass in SU but I thought I would have to set reflectivity settings, etc..

brodie

@zoom123 said:

My only issues with Maxwell now is the inability to test the production engine

The same engine used by the free version is that used by the paid version so you have unlimited access to the production engine. The main thing you're missing out on is Maxwell Studio which I believe you can test in the demo.

@unknownuser said:

and the inability of non-licensed users to post in the forums - which results in low forum activity in general ("Maxwell for Sketchup (Standalone)" section has just 3 topics).

I don't have much of a position on this although I agree with many of Jason's sentiments. But if I were in your shoes I'd want a dedicated forum as well that I could ask questions of. That said, Jason and I would be more than happy to get you any answers to questions that come up. Jason's tested more aspects of the program and probably done more test renders than would be imaginable. And although he has an excellent training series he continues to give a plethora of free advice. I've been using Maxwell in a production setting for several years now in association with SketchUp and also try to answer any Maxwell questions I come across here.

-Brodie

Paul Hanusiak

I got them to work. I ended up just starting from a new, basic model to test it out and got them working there. I couldn't get them going on the larger model until I copied into a new model and saved under a different name so it seems to have been a glitch with my file. It's all working now.

Thanks guys. It's great to see such fast responses online.

Zoom123

@unknownuser said:

Context click the group (or component) and choose Maxwell> Separate By> Material

On the Output tab change the setting for "Use Instances" to "No".

These things do not seem to apply to the Standalone version.

I downloaded the IES example component from the Maxwell forums but I can't get the component itself to be shown lit. (but light is still coming from it). Backlight and Reflector are both set to "Yes" in the options.

jason_maranto

IES lights only show the pattern of light given by a fixture (as measured in a lab, inside a sphere) -- the sphere is not an actual light source (it is simply there to reproduce the testing environment) and therefor does not emit light (I usually hide it).

This is why I usually say IES lights are best used "off-camera" where we can see the results but not the "fixture" itself... If you must see the fixture "on-camera" you can either physically model it and use regular emitter materials or you can fake it with a hybrid emitter/IES approach.

Equating an IES file with a "spot light" you might find in a typical Biased renderer is a mistake -- they are not the same things at all... an IES file is supposed to be real-world data about a real-world light fixture (whereas biased spotlights are idealized CG constructs). Of course you can falsify IES data and make it anything you wish, but it defeats the purpose of why IES files were created in the first place: http://www.iesna.org/

It is possible that those context menu options would not be in the "stand-alone" plugin since they are relevant to how the file will output into an MXS file or Maxwell Studio... and since the "stand-alone" plugin does not allow you to save as MXS file (or output to Studio) there would be little need for those options.

Since I finished the introductory videos, I only use the full Maxwell Render Suite (since I do own a copy) and the associated plugin... so I've not kept track of any new additions to the "stand-alone" plugin since then.

Best,
Jason.

Zoom123

Thanks.

Are there any tutorials on how to create hybrid emitter/IES luminaries or other best practices in creating luminaries that will be on-camera?

Is it ok to physically model lamps with Maxwell, or could it result in very slow rendering?

jason_maranto

I've seen some good posts on the Maxwell forum about IES files in hybrid arrangements and you might want to do a search there to see what other people who work more in that field do... I'm not Arch Viz (more sci-fi/fantasy) so I tend to not worry about those types of things very often. There are many other Maxwell users on this forum who are more qualified than me to comment on this and I hope one of them chimes in here...

As far as physically modelling light fixtures it can be done, and with amazingly realistic results, but it often does come at the costs of higher rendering time. In particular there are two areas that can increase rendering time and both are related to caustics:

Overly smooth reflections -- this is simple to fix, just make the reflector material rougher... and generally this is more true to life, I've noticed people often tend to overestimate how "smooth" a surface really is.
Caustics seen through dielectric(glass)/SSS materials -- this is particularly bad if the emitter is completely encased... unfortunately this is a known issue with Unbiased rendering in general and if anybody manages to solve it using truly unbiased techniques it will be big news.

Best,
Jason.