Rendering SU models a little advise please?
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I highly doubt the few days...
what's your definition of up and running and what's your definition of new user? if they are proficient in Autocad then they are miles ahead of others... and still miles behind the pros...
with a cost of 2500 to 5000 depending on version... and the steep learning curve and the relative ease of cheaper and free programs, I don't recommend 3Dmax... but if you already have it and you're willing to learn it is the most powerful in my opinion... massive files with out lagging, the engine behind it is quite powerful.
here is one of my renderings using Max
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two other considerations...
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when importing SU models into max, it usually takes a lot of cleanup...
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most of the really kool stuff in max is done via plug-ins and they almost all cost money... and these people are sooooo proud of their plug-in... they're expensive...
example... Brasil r/s was used in that model and look here at it's cost...
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thanks for the feedback guys, i have strated going through some of the 3dsmax tutorial and it is a bit more tricky than i had anticipated.... i mainly just want to learn the rendering side- im not hoping to go into visualisation but im not completely satisfied witth the quality of work at the moment using artlantis unless anyone knows of any good tutorials out there?
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there are literally thousands of 3DMax tuts out there... you just have to get creative with your search terms in google...
here are a few...
http://www.the123d.com/tutorial/3d-studio-max-tutorial.shtml
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also you should look in our rendering forum, and check out the free and cheap rendering that's available... and they import sketchup models and materials better...
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My definition of newcomer is someone who has never used the package before, but is familiar with using a computer - not necessarily CAD. I've found an AuotCad background to be of no real benefit as the programmes work in such different ways. As for 'up-and-running' I mean producing visuals which I am happy to put in front of long-standing and valuable clients.
The problem, I think, is that people are overwhelmed by the huge range of tools in MAX, and try and learn too much at once. Instead, I get new users to focus only on the tools which they need to do the job - which in our case rules out all the high-end animation, character-rigging, simulation and particle tools.
And disagree about the plug-ins, which I've never needed to use - especially as the later releases of Max include so many in the standard version. Most of them just offer a quicker/faster/easier way of producing something which the standard toolset is capable of.
All that said, since discovering SketchUp, MAX doesn't get used much round these parts anymore Wink
A.
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work in such different ways? they're made by the same company... and they have the same commands... same ui and all...
anyway.. we'll just have to agree to disagree on the max part...
that's what is so great about forums... the questioner is always likly to get a variety of opinions and chose either the one that fits him/her best or a compilation of them all... either way the user that asks the question always wins... and thus others down the road win as well...
I've always hated it when people agree with me... so boring and I don't learn anything from it...
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@krisidious said:
...either way the user that asks the question always wins...
...or gets completely and ultimately confused...
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I used Viz (Max's little architectural brother) for 2 yrs, and was just about to purchase V-ray because I tired of the plain (flat) old Viz renders. I started using Mental Ray and got good results on exteriors, but was worried about going to interiors when I found Kerkythea. ... after 2 years in VIZ I was considered better than most at my work in VIZ (but it's like giving a haircut to someone one-hair-at-a-time-painful-to-use), I was very ready to find something simple- can't I just get a good render engine for SketchUP w/out the hassle?!
I would say that Kerkythea is not your average 'cheap or free' program. It integrates more easily with SketchUp than Max, and you light it up inside of SketchUp... add materials in SU, etc... but then you have choice of ray tracer (which is VIZ scanline render - but KT renders faster than VIZ in that mode) or you have automatic wonderful preset Radiosity settings (PM+FG in KT-speak), plus you have unbiased methods (MLT+BiPT very similar to Maxwell) and for exteriors I use Progressive Path Tracing (similar to Vray, as I understand) No other program, free or pay can offer you that.
My gallery is here and it has side-by-side comparison with Viz, Viz+M-ray, and Kerkythea.
I'd say if you want something more advanced than Podium, and just about as easy to use, but with as many or few advanced options as anyone could want, then Kerkythea is the way to go. SketchUp is free, Kerkythea is free. AutoCAD-$4000, VIZ-$4000, V-ray $1000. hmmm... I did the math, the work, and compared. I decided.
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Some lovely renders on your site Fletch
What kind of render times are you looking at in Kerkythea?A.
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render times - well, it depends from render to render. I have a quad core too.
it is very comparable to other high quality render engines... and the new KT beta I'm testing is much faster than the current official release, but I'm not at liberty to say more right now
on interiors I get great results using the KT preset 'Photon Map Medium +AA' this will generally get me something very nice at 2800px wide in about 30mins. for exteriors I us an unbiased render method called Path Tracing Progressive - this takes some time to clear up, but gives me nearly instantaneous 'preview' renders. So it's great for both uses. Since I'm on a quad, in less than 30 mins I will have great exteriors (assuming lit only with Sun and Physical Sky) Sometimes if the scene is extremely reflection and poly-heavy I can wait up to an hour or two for large px renders. For interiors of extreme high lighting quality and more than 2000px wide on unbiased render preset such as Metropolis Light Transport you can wait up to 12-13 hrs (I start it, go home, come back to finished render the next morning) This is similar to high qual + high res Vray or Maxwell renders.
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