I'd like to point out that while all of your comments are PART of what BIM is, it is not complete.

BIM is taking parts and putting them together to make a finished product. BIM is able to categorize how many lineal feet of blueboard you need. BIM is making a change in the process (like changing a window), and it will autoreplicate through the entire project including the bill of materials or estimating form, thus giving you a revised cost of the project. For Civil folks, BIM is knowing how much dirt is needed to haul away or bring into the site. It is knowing how much 24" diameter smooth-lined plastic pipe (SLPP) is needed, how many type-c catch basins. It is knowing when there is an interference (two items trying to occupy the same space).

Having said that, SU can use components, but (unless I am unaware of any), be able to track quantities used for estimating. I think it is completely doable, but would take massive work to really be called a BIM system.

My thoughts only.

Rick

@frederik said:

@solo said:

I have to say Vue, nothing out there comes close for landscaping.

Totally agree on this...

Well, maybe I should have said money IS an object (as opposed to money is no object)
I just took a look at the Vue site and almost fell on the floor after seeing the pricing!

But I am in the process of downloading the Vue8PLE for Mac to see what its all about.

I have to be honest and say that I'm really liking Thea so far out of the Mac demos I have been able to get. And if you haven't heard me say it before - I REALLY applaud Thea for their multi-platform licensing (one licensing to rule them all - sorry LOTR fans)

Thanks all (so far) for your responses. I know that this is purely subject to opinion, but as a newbie I'm trying to glean as much render info as I can.

So, back to my wine glass!

Rick

@solo said:

Take for instance this scene, the house is SU, but the trees (3D) are merged in Thea, Just one tree will buckle SU to collapse (79mb) I wanted 7, so I merged the model with the SU model in Thea, and positioned , rotated in Thea with ease.
Raw Thea render (no post processing)

I like this rendering. Where did you get the grass texture? If that's one thing I wish Thea had, it would be more outside-ish materials built in.

Rick

being a fairly new Mac user, I scanned through your list and found it to be very helpful. I will sit down and read each one later when time permits.

I bought this program and find it to be invaluable as far as what all you get: Mackeeper (http://www.zeobit.com). It is one of the best $40 I have spent.

Also, if you are not already aware of them, Macheist and Macupdate have some good bundles on (although the current one I have almost all the apps. I still might get it though to get the one or two apps that seem really good).

And Techsmith SnagIt for Mac is under beta. I've been using it for a while and love it! I use the PC SnagIt at work and was lost. But then again, I also have Voila and Little Snapper.

Someday I will make up my mind and start clearing house!

Rick

Hi all,

Perhaps a newbie question, but with Twilight, Kerkythea, and now Thea all being owned by the same company (or at least I think that is the case), might I ask what is the intended purpose of each of those Renderers? Is one better suited for a particular type than another? What is the justification for multiple renderers by the same company?

From what I read, Twilight is the quick renderer that has many presets (but is only available to the PC world). Kerkythea is a free renderer that has some powerful features and some built-in presets, but more customizable. Thea is alot more being able to tweak settings and seems alot faster than Kerkythea. Both Kerkythea and Thea ARE available for Mac. I am VERY impressed that Thea has multiple platform licensing and am leaning heavily in that direction.

I have been playing with a simple wine glass in both Kerkythea and Thea to see what setting does what. But my real interest for a renderer is landscaping - I need alot more time before I jump into that.

Thanks for any insights and discussion.

Rick

Nice renderings that show the original way that we used to render. Nice use of the media.

Your last pic (Senior's office) - I had to chuckle a bit as it reminded me of the old Get Smart TV shows and the 'Cones of Silence'. Sorry, but I have a warped sense of humor - no reflection of you or your beautiful renderings.

Rick

IE anything is bloatware. Right now, I've been playing with Opera and it seems to be responsive. But I also have Firefox, Chrome, and Safari if/when I need them.

I've even gone to the extreme of removing IE from the PC computers at work, using Firefox. It just runs better.
Rick

Ok, I admit it. I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to rendering. Sure I can make things look half decent (to my eye), but when you all start talking about tweaking this and that parameter, you may as well be talking Neptunium to me.

So, is there some place where the absolute completely new person to rendering can go to learn all of this? Or is rendering like trial by fire? Are there any books that I might pick up to help me on this journey?

How do you make so beautiful renderings? Right now I'm playing with Thea and as I type this, the render is on pass 156/10000. (2.5 hours) Do you let yours stew for that long? How did you get to know what settings to make before pushing the magical start render button? Is there a more simplistic render program for the Mac that I should be looking at before jumping in to Thea?

As you can see, I have tons of questions and am dying to be taught a thing or two. Please learn me, teach me - oh wise render masters! Maybe this could be a tutorial series?

Rick

@notareal said:

@Rick Yes you can. No core or OS restrictions, same license works on all platforms, Windows, Linux and Mac. License transform is also available.

THANK YOU!! Now if we could get SketchUp to do the same!

I'm reading through the manual now. I can tell that the manual was translated to English from another language. Sorry, but a big part of the my day-to-day job is QA/Tech Editing. So if my remarks seem a little snarky (as some people like to say), please forgive me. It's the Technical editor in me taking over.

If you would like to see my editorial comments, please say so and I'll be glad to send them off when I get done reading. If not, that's okay too.

Rick

@notareal said:

@Rick
The store is open

• Thea Standard License: 195 euros (beta launch price). Induces the studio and two node licenses.
• Node License: 95 euros
• Plugin License 20 euros
  For individual in EU, the price will include VAT 21%. Beta launch price is valid to release and one month after. Then the net price will change from 161.16 euros to 295 euros + VAT. There will be a affortable academic license for non commercial use, available later.

Can the license be used for mixed platforms (Mac/PC)? If so, you guys have paved the way! I only wish that more companies would offer this. If not, then this would be a great wishlist for myself.

Rick

@snicolo said:

@rickgraham said:

So the issue with the disappearing windows is due to the Merge Coplanar Faces options which is active on import.

Round trip a COLLADA model in SU is not what the COLLADA Exporter/Importer are designed for, they are designed to move models to/from other applications.

If you want this scenario to work I would try the following, either paint your windows OR un-check the triangulate faces option on export and un-check the merge coplanar faces option on Import.

Hope this helps.
Simone.

Thanks Simone. I know that I can take a DWG file in AutoCAD, export it out as a DXF, open a new drawing and import a DXF to a DWG and things are the same - I just expected the same behavior with Collada.

But I accept that as a valid answer and thank you for the time that you spent in looking this up. I appreciate everything you do for us SU-lovers!

Rick

As my family tree is mostly Scottish, I choose to wear BLUE every St. Pat's Day! And no, you won't find me wearing a leek in November either!

Rick

Can you point me to where this plug in is? I'd love to try it out!

Thanks!

Rick

I DL'ed the demo and really want to try it, but other things at work are preventing me from doing so right now

Pete - AWESOME renders! Do you happen to have any done with landscaping? That is my bread and butter and would love to see what Thea can do with landscaping.

Anyone know what the price will be for Thea? I'd love to see if the powers that be will spring for a license for me. Of course, if the price is right, I may just spring for it myself.

Rick

Ya know, this would be an interesting "Model This" or "Render This" competition based off your favorite song/artist.

I like the look and I can completely hear Hendrix while viewing this.

Rick

Hi all,

Apologies if this was already covered somewhere.

I have a model that was done originally from totalstation coordinates (5000,5000). I now wish to pick this entire model up and move it to the UTM coordinate zone.

What is best way to approach this? My thinking was to somehow import the GE map into my model at the correct coordinate and then move the whole model based on a known point to the GE. And then I can erase my GE image. Every time I attempt to move the model, SU shuts down on me. I think it because I'm trying to move from 5000, to something like 200000 (UTM coords). But then I'm reading that GE needs to be in Lat/Long.

Any help, tips, tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Rick

Not sure I mentioned this here before but give this a try (looks promising): http://butterfly.autodesk.com/

Rick

Well, last weekend, we got 27" of snow. This latest one gave us 20". The winds are whipping around thus causing snow drifts. I didn't go to work today and highly doubt tomorrow either.

I'll venture out tomorrow with my metal detector and try to find the car.

Rick

Here in York, PA, we had 27" inches last weekend and expecting 12" tonight/tomorrow. I'm taking off work tomorrow - not because I couldn't get through with my 4WD, but I'm more worried about the ones that DON'T have 4WD and low 'rice-rocket' cars.

Rick