Wow!!! You know your stuff!!! Thanks for this!! Am I able to request all of this from Skinflint pre-assembled and delivered? When you say £773 - do you mean €773??!! What does 'over-clocking' mean?? I've read this a few times and I have no idea what it means?

When I mentioned a custom built rendernode in my previous post I was referring to a quote I received from Workstation Specialists - they make desktop rendernodes. http://www.workstationspecialist.com/rendering_systems/

Ok, I've done my research and I've now worked out that an online Render Farm is out of the question because of the lack of 'command line' options iro Maxwell Render/Light Simulator. So now I need to establish my own render network. My lovely living room is never going to look the same again!!

I can't afford a custom-built rendernode. They are just too far outside my price range. But I've been looking into a decent workstation (headless) and I can afford this option. Could someone run their eyes over this spec and let me know if this looks ok?? It says i5 in the link but I've changed it to i7. How much memory should I be considering for a rendering dedicated workstation? I was assuming that my main concern was power?

http://www.broadberry.co.uk/intel-core-i5-workstations/cyberstation-i5-enhanced-office

Thanks
Anita

Ahhhh, I'm getting closer to understanding all of this technical stuff. My current license allows me to apply the license to a laptop and one workstation; so I could use my laptop as the 'manager' and the workstation as the rendernode ('slave'). Hmmmmm.....the cogs are turning.

I've only recently realised just how pathetic an i3 is for rendering!! Gimme a break; I'm still learning!!

Thanks for your contribution! I'm starting to think that you're right! My laptop does indeed get very hot. Can you explain to me what a 'rendernode' is??!

Thanks for your reply. I've heard of Render Rocket and I gave Rebus Render a trial (the quality of the image was superb). My only gripe with using a Render Farm is that I can't use the light simulator that comes with Maxwell Render to make adjustments during processing. I'm thinking of getting a more powerful laptop/processor to try and cut down rendering time. I'm currently only using an intel core i3 processor and I've noticed that people out there are using i7. So, on that note can anyone recommend a decent laptop for rendering purposes only???

Thanks
Anita

Howdy folks,

I've been looking into the possibility of using a Render Farm for more complex interior scenes because of the ridiculous length of time it can take to render a scene in Maxwell Render where there are lots of materials/emitters. The images below took over 30hrs of continual gut-wrenching processing time and because renders of this nature take up most of my laptop's memory I'm unable to use other applications on my laptop at the same time. This is not good. Has anyone used Maxwell Render compatible Render Farms, or can anyone make a good recommendation? I'm currently trialing Rebus Farm but I have a feeling that the final image will be very poor because of the minimal free credits you are allocated.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Anita

[attachment=2:3hsh0l7o]<!-- ia2 -->[attachment=0]Kitchen - Final Render 2.jpg<!-- ia2 -->[/attachment:3hsh0l7o][attachment=0:3hsh0l7o]<!-- ia0 -->Kitchen - Final Render 3.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:3hsh0l7o]

Hi everyone,

I think I'm missing out on something with the use of HDR/HDRI files. I haven't ventured into this area yet and I think I should. I think the HDRI files are for backgrounds? Am I right?! And the HDR is a form of emitter??!

Can anyone point me in the right direction of a decent tutorial on these?? I'm particularly interested in setting decent skies (for views within an interior) and trying to simulate flames (for candles/fireplaces).

Cheers
Anita

P.S. Jason, hope you're well!!

Thanks for the SU file Jason. I always use the metal preset to represent a mirror and that was the material I applied in the above JPEG, where there were loads of 'fireflies'. This is the first time that I've experienced these wee critters. I'm assuming it's because it's a fairly small space and the emitters are quite close to the reflective surfaces of the glass and mirrors. The AGS has solved the glass issue but obviously I'm still having the same problem with the mirrors. Maybe I'll reduce the reflective settings in the metal to see if it makes any difference.

Thanks for your help (as always).

Your devoted fan!!
Anita

Thanks Solo and Jason,

Another question: I've tried AGS on the windows and they're fine because they are a single plane. Am I able to use AGS to represent a mirror? How do I do this because it isn't a single plane - it has width to it. When I render it using AGS it is showing as grey.

Thanks
Anita

Hey everyone (and Jason, because I'm quite sure wherever he is that he'll reply!! Here's hoping!),

First of all I thought it would be interesting to mention that after using the trial version of Vray that I prefer Maxwell Render. The user interface of the Maxwell Render plugin is 100 times better than Vray. I also think that the photo-realism of Maxwell Render is far superior to Vray. The only massive difference between the two rendering applications is processing time. Obviously Vray wins hands down but I'm sticking with Maxwell Render for now. I'm curious to know other forum members viewpoints on these two software applications?

I have attached a JPEG of the image I'm referring to that has white dots on the glass and mirrors. I'm assuming these are appearing because of the emitters bouncing off the reflections. The SL was only at 11 when this image was created, so I'm guessing that as the render processes those white dots will gradually minimise/disappear??

Thanks
Anita

Devin!! Were you one of the guys helping Keith??! Thanks for all of your help, we got there in the end!! I guess scenarios like mine are good because it gives you an opportunity to make adjustments etc. I'm actually tinkering about with my demo version as I type! It's rendering time is VERY quick!! I'm so used to Maxwell Render's interface that it's probably taking me longer to familiarise myself with it. I think I need to get the 'ol manual out....grrrrrrr!

Anita

Well I can see the merits of both Devin! Keith has gotten back to me just now about our 'remote session'. The team at Chaos Group must be cursing the girl from Belfast today!! Oops...lol

Yay!!! I've heard so much about Vray that I just NEED to witness its brilliance for myself I would never have thought that you guys would offically join these forums but it makes sense

Yes, you are indeed correct Devin, Keith has contacted me. I've also emailed Keith this evening to arrange the remote session and also updated him re: the above error message. Wow, you guys fairly get around!! Better watch what I say in the future, eh?!

Joe/Valero Studio,

Thanks for your replies. Joe, I followed your advice and cleared out my Plugins folder. I still have the 'dome' plugin showing in the Plugins tab in Sketchup - I'm assuming this is a Ruby script and is held in a different location? Either way, I can now access Sketchup but its displaying an error message re: Vray. I've checked the Plugins tab in Sketchup and Vray isn't being displayed. Once I click 'ok' on this error message access to Sketchup is still available. I've attached a JPEG of the error message. Any ideas??!

Anita

Tapa..what??!! Thanks for your reply Rich. I'm using a laptop and I've tried ALL of the above. I've checked admin settings; I've uninstalled Maxwell Render; I've uninstalled Vray and re-installed...I just do not understand why Sketchup refuses to open when Vray has been downloaded. Even LayOut works!! I'm throwing in the towel. Vray is obviously trying to tell me something!! Grrrrrrr!!!!

I've recently upgraded to Pro and would like to sample the delights of Vray....if I could get it to WORK!!! Everytime I download the demo version and try to open Sketchup; it opens for a split second and then immediately closes again!! I already have Maxwell Render and it's working perfectly fine. Does anyone have any idea how I can fix this??

Thanks
Anita

Yep, you are way behind!! Shame on you!!

Pete,

I couldn't have said it better myself!! I'm feeling inspired and liberated; Sketchup Pro won't know what's hit it by the time I've finished with it (in the nicest possible sense of course)!