@kwistenbiebel said:

In some cases it could be a benefit that export would be done in phases, in 'chunks', so the RAM can be cleared somewhere in between. The generated mesh .xml files could automatically be merged into one geometry file.

I don't know if what I describe is possible.....

What we would do is write the geometry to a file - this is what exporters like KT do - and then read the file with a separate process. So the RAM usage during export would be minimal.

However, we want to make sure that the two processes are communicating. For instance if we change brightness settings in the render window, we want to remember those settings in SketchUp so we can reuse them.

Or, If you change the view or some other setting - like sun brightness - in SketchUp you would like to modify the rendering without saving and reloading the geometry.

We are researching the best way to have two separate processes be aware of each other and communicate, and then we will run some tests - such as exporting a large model to a file - to see if it will be of value to separate the processes.

(But this thread is not just about rendering - we have similar problems in our export to 3D PDF application, in our Component Reporting application, etc.)

@dtrarch said:

Hi All

Both Win 2k and XP will access 3.4 GB of ram.(if you have 4GB installed)
Just find BOOT.ini and add the /3GB switch at the
end of the string....../fastopen/3GB

Just go to system properties (win key+pause break) to check.

dtr

But a single process, like SketchUp, can only access more than 2GB of RAM if it is compiled and linked to access large memory (> 2GB). It looks like SketchUp was not built to handle large memory.

I know. I want to see if there is a way to run the renderer in a separate process, rather than in a DLL. That would let us use the full 2 GIG for just the rendering.

Our original renderer "RPS Ray Trace", also based on AccuRender used to run as a separate process. But many things were much better when we started running it as a DLL instead.

But it might be worth trying to switch back.

@kwistenbiebel said:

That sucks

Go imagine that when you have a render plugin embedded in SU, it needs to share the amount of RAM (= less than 2 GB).
No wonder that things become buggy when trying to render slightly bigger scenes.

You can use dumpbin.exe to determine if a program can handle large addresses and therefore take advantage of more than 2GB of ram (if you set the /3GB flag.

SketchUp.exe cannot handle large addresses.

Here is the report from dumpbin when run on dumpbin.exe

FILE HEADER VALUES
14C machine (x86)
3 number of sections
45712B6B time date stamp Sat Dec 02 01:29:47 2006
0 file pointer to symbol table
0 number of symbols
E0 size of optional header
123 characteristics
Relocations stripped
Executable
Application can handle large (>2GB) addresses
32 bit word machine

Here is the report from dumpbin when run on SketchUp.exe:

FILE HEADER VALUES
14C machine (x86)
4 number of sections
4753D734 time date stamp Mon Dec 03 04:15:16 2007
0 file pointer to symbol table
0 number of symbols
E0 size of optional header
10F characteristics
Relocations stripped
Executable
Line numbers stripped
Symbols stripped
32 bit word machine

SketchUp.exe does not have the "Application can handle large (>2GB) addresses" flag.

It sounds like, without the /3GB switch, each process can access only 2GB of RAM.

However, SketchUp would not take advantage of the /3GB switch unless it was linked properly with the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE switch. I'll have to read more to find out how to determine if an app is compiled with this switch. Does anyone know if SketchUp is LARGEADDRESSAWARE?

It it worth while putting 4 meg of RAM into my system?

Isn't there a limit to how much RAM XP can use?

I thought it was about 2 meg total?

But another person said it was a limit of 2 meg per process, so that the extra RAM would provide space for Windows itself and other processes without having to swap.

Has anyone built and used a 4 meg machine?

Does the task manager ever show that you are actually using the additional ram?

The new IRender nXt has its own forum and gallery on the nXt site.

Check it out if you like: http://nxt.accurender.com/

No - just outside the window - behind the balcony.

Notice how almost all of the image in the egg is visible outside of the window.

The model author says he used the egg shape rather than a flat image, so there would be a better effect when changing views.

Rendered with IRender nXt - using the indirect lighting effect. (I added a left wall and ceiling to enhance the indirect lighting effect.)

From the 3D Warehouse: Emirates Palace - Grand Room by ChrisBenc.

@unknownuser said:

"This model is for the 3d Challenge. The egg shaped object hiding behind the wall is the surface that the actual view out the window is textured on."

The egg was a clever idea. I placed some lighting in the Egg so it would be visible, and provide illumination through the window.

One more note - In checking the Ratings on the 3D Warehouse, I see there is another rendering of this model:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Cartographer.Tom/3DSTUFF/photo#5133554523756127458

OK - I had to do one more - brightening up the image, and anti-aliasing the alpha border.

This is it though!

I believe it is a photograph of a plastic model

I'll make a rendering of the SketchUp model with plastic materials and post it here.

Maybe this would be a better image:
(Note: this is a photograph of a plastic model, and not a rendering of a SketchUp model )

from> http://www.keithmcneill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/3c.html

Although to replicate it better, I need to set the materials to plastic rather than metal.

Oops - I posted the image to my previous post before I saw that you have made a new one.

I'll add it here (at full size), instead.

(The jaggies around the image is because I rendered it to an alpha background, and placed it over the earth image, rather than rendering it directly on top of the earth image. Sorry...)

About enough for this model... I am anxious to grab something else from the 3D warehouse and try it...

Thanks Joe. I'll fix them

Here are some samples from clients who actually purchased RPS 3D PDF:

http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=RPS_3D_PDF_Full_Version_Samples

Here are some samples from client who used the trial version:

http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=RPS_3D_PDF_Trial_Version_Samples

From this view, the satellite would only reflect the sun. I have it reflecting more sky.

But I was trying to make a pleasing rendering, not a photograph. And to show how nice these SketchUp models can look when rendered with a little reflection.

@anssi said:

@ross macintosh said:

That last one is really cool.

Except that the light in real photographs is much more harsh than this-there is no sky to soften the shadows...

Anssi

The point of the IRender rendering was that it was done without adding lights, etc.

Here are some more Sponza renderings of the same model created by another user:

Nxt is much improved for lighting and reflection. But its big value, especially for SketchUp users (who tend to create relatively quick 3D models of things, as opposed to, say, Rhino, which is used for much more complex models), is that it can make really good renderings with no effort - using the "High Dynamic", automatic lighting. And if you take the time to add a little reflection, it can be quite stunning.

See the nXt gallery for more samples: http://nxt.accurender.com/photos/

Also, (for the record), IRender nXt is not based on the old AccuRender engine, but on an entirely new engine, which is doing some really impressive things.

I did the rendering to demonstrate the quality of the HDRI lighting and reflection.

I should place support poles around the satellite so it makes sense on the ground.

I can also turn off the sky itself and only use it for reflection.

Here are a couple more views:

S.I.D. - Space Intruder Detector (1970) by COSEDIMARCO from Google 3D Warehouse
(1st Place in the Google SketchUp 3D Challenge #013)

• rendered with IRender nXt using AccuStudio "Torn Clouds" HDRI sky.
  http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=IRender_nXt

• all light materials in model set as metal

• 13 passes - 2 minutes