Good start. Use shading and shadows for 3d effect, select textures appropriate to the scale of the render (driveway, stone materials), reduce tiling on the roof, accessorize the yards and street (plants, people, light poles, mail boxes, etc.), make windows look like glass (color, reflection, transparency, back drop). Consider lower eye view perspective using background photo, and perhaps some foreground.

Even when you think you know what to do its not always easy when first learning to utilize a new media. The first time I did it, I spent a whole day making a 2d person from a photo.

I don't disagree. It is a matter of personal taste, preference, emphasis, budget, etc.

Well, I did more work with Podium, and IDX in their default settings. The results are posted in the table above. Most of the current clarifications have to deal with the way SU environment selections, and settings are utilized. I did not look at LightUp in this regards.

Comments and corrections welcomed.

Use the real world to find inspiration. even a square book case has fillet (rounded) edges. You could start there. Btw, nice model.

Sepo and Adam, Thanks for the info. I am working on making the table more understandable. Adam, I added "render for dynamic walk through" as a item. Can someone tell me how a sky box functions?

Miguel, thanks for the heads up, I will look into all of them. Keep in mind that this is a review of software that cost less then half of SU. While others would consider it, I do not think it elegant to spend more on render software, then the modeler.

To create a image, go to File > Export > 2D Graphic then select the export type (use JPEG Image), and export.

Miguel, The goal is to complete, correct as necessary, and add to the posted table.

Malaise, I am looking for more specific information, but thanks.

I once ran xp on 512 mb of ram with a 3 gh processor, and thought that was slow. Especially after I went on line, and software was constantly updated. I wounder if its possible to strip out everything except the OS, and install early versions of the software required, refusing automatic software upgrades. This should at least take you back to the original condition. I guess one problem is that there is no such thing as a static setup, and stuff will creep in quickly over time.

You know its time to get a new pc when the non-profits refuse your contribution

In addition, if your mother board supports it, install 2 GB of ram (1 GB is not enough), and your pc will feel like its on afterburners. Because of the age of your machine, the ram will be very inexpensive. Get the fastest your mother board will support, on-line from a company that will money back guarantee that it will work in your machine (let them spec. it).

The purpose of this post is to find out what each render software can do, so can you correct the incorrectly identified functions? Also open to suggestions as to functions.

The attached table is probably biased by the way I use render software: We currently use SU to visualize, and present. While not highly skilled in computer rendering as folks like Solo, we have good presentation skills. Render software is primarily used to enhance "just in time" presentations.

It was there after I uploaded it. Guess I will have to redo it on Monday.

Attached is a outline of 3 inexpensive render applications that run inside of SU. I have started to list the functions that differentiate them. I am least familiar with LightUp, and Podium in that order, so anyone's input is welcomed. Please contribute, or correct posted items. I will update from time to time. Expanding the list of apps is OK as long as it cost more then nothing, but not more then half of SU. Of course any input or opinion will be considered.

"3dFace" is the autocad (and others) name for the entity described below. If you are talking about "3d" and "faces" in general, then the below is too specific.

In my experience, a dxf 3d face (3-4 sides) is a closed polyline that imports as a SU surface. I think that even in the case when the 3d face's polyline is not closed, SU's import function will close it. Every 3d face consist of a polyline, but polylines are not necessarily 3d faces.

Thanks, I think that is the third, at least second time it downloaded. Plus the first auto download that was the original release. Good thing it doesn't mess with my settings (at least I think it didn't ?-)

Just got a SU auto update download, resulting in v 7.0.10247. Don't recall the previous number. Is this the previous release, or something new?

Did you try to import the revised blocks manually?. When I need to update a component, I just delete it in the SU model, then import the dxf block, The blocks come into SU as components. Make sure that the coordinate system, and scale options are the same in both applications.

Solo, Thanks for the tut.

Nice scenes. Often I select surfaces, and create unique textures so that I can edit its color in order to improve contrast. Downloading and adding a sky with clouds (as a watermark) will provide better atmosphere. Don't forget to turn SU's ground on with no transparency. Requires little effort, and there many free skies on line.

If all things fail, and you don't care what the SU scene looks like, try enlarging the SU photo image texture about 2X, pinning the lower right corner to the frame (adjust if necessary). I would also blur the photo a bit, consistent with the overall level of detail.