Rayscaper New Releases

Krass

Thanks! This extension looks quite comprehensive. But I still think you should have created a new thread for this extension rather than in this post dedicated to Rayscaper. From the beginning of your posts, I haven't found you very encouraging regarding the enormous amount of work done by Pixel Cruncher. What do you think?

Alattab

@Krass Okay, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean that. All I meant was to clarify the automatic material recognition feature.

pixelcruncher

No worries, folks, I appreciate suggestions and the love for Rayscaper! I've been working on a feature like this for a while, but I never finished it. I will launch it soon. But yes, Rayscaper will try to be smart about material names and will have user-configurable rules for matching them. I'm trying to make it so it doesn't get in your way; if you don't like it, you don't have to use it.

Alattab

Please don’t be upset; all I want is to support RayScaper so that it stays at the forefront and meets every need.

Alattab

Is it possible to turn a line or a series of connected lines into something that glows like a strip light?

Krass

The only way is to use an emissive material. Any small, thin face will work or line converted to tube. But you need a face to apply the material on. You can convert your lines instantly into tubes with Lines to tube function from JHS power bar extensions bundle

pixelcruncher

Hey, Rayscaper users!

Rayscaper 1.0.1 is available. You can get it via:

The SketchUcation store.
Direct download: Rayscaper_Win_1.0.1.rbz.

I recommend upgrading to the latest version.

Auto Setup: Your First Render Looks Right

A SketchUp material is a color and maybe a texture: it doesn't say that a surface is glass, polished brass or a mirror. The name often does. When you render a model for the first time, Rayscaper now reads the names of its materials and sets them up: "Window Glass" becomes Glass, "Brass" becomes polished Metal and "Antique Mirror" a mirror. It reads names in several languages.

A banner tells you what it changed. Tools > Auto Setup Materials... shows every guess: point at a material to see where it is in the render, and correct or revert what doesn't look right. Guesses it isn't sure of stay suggestions for you to apply.

Lighting for an Interior or an Exterior

Auto Setup also asks whether your model is an interior or an exterior, and sets the exposure, light bounces, bloom and sky for it. An interior without lights gets an offer to add one.

Material Rules

Do you name your materials your own way, like M_GL_* for glass or "Verre"? Tell Auto Setup what your names mean with material rules. Your rules come before its own guesses and apply to every model.

See Auto Setup in the manual. If you set up your own materials, you can turn it off there in one click.

Auto Setup is still a bit experimental: it can guess wrong, and it doesn't know every way people name their materials yet. Your feedback is much appreciated! If it set up a material wrong or missed one, or the lighting doesn't suit your scene, please reply here with the material names (or the model, if you can share it).

What Changed?

Add Auto Setup: when you open a model without Rayscaper settings, Rayscaper sets up its materials from their names. A banner says what it changed, and Tools > Auto Setup Materials... lets you review, correct or revert every guess.
Add the lighting of Auto Setup: choose interior or exterior, and it sets the exposure, bounces, bloom and sky for that kind of scene.
Add material rules to Auto Setup: tell it what your own material names mean. Your rules come before its own guesses.
Animate the field of view between SketchUp scenes in Render Animation, so a zoom between scenes and Two-Point Perspective scenes render as SketchUp shows them. Animations whose scenes have different fields of view now render differently than before.
Fix auto exposure blowing out renders with a transparent background.

Full release notes: rayscaper.com/manual/release-notes

Help Me Build the Community

If you like Rayscaper, please share your renders (final or work-in-progress, it doesn't matter)! This is motivating and helps me showcase its capabilities to new users.

Follow me on X.

Happy Rendering!
Thomas

Krass

Hello Thomas,
Thank you. I’d like to know if the "round corner" feature is difficult to develop for your program. I’m referring to that "fake" round corner effect, which generates rounded edges where there weren't any before?

Alattab

@Krass Thank you for what you mentioned regarding rounded edges; I often favored using them in Thea Render. it is related to matrial

Alattab

@pixelcruncher It seems that, in the end, you will arrive at something unconquerable.

Alattab

@Krass I see that your smile is even broader than mine regarding the new update; would it bother you if I offered another suggestion?

Krass

no, of course not

Alattab

@Krass Thank you