Hi all !

I've found the scrambler to protect code, so now i'm ready to have a try to make a Solidrocks for SU/Vray...

As i'm really newbie on this platform... perhaps someone can give me the first line of code... ?

First thing to do : change via scripting Vray engine values and/or values into the "Vray for sketchup - Render options panel"

For example, in maxscript, when i change via script a vray value, i write something like :
Renderers.current.lightcache_subdivs = 500
This line forces the lightcache subdivs to 500.

Would be very helpful to get this kind of start point

Thanks by advance !

Hi Damien,
thanks for this LC explanation, i'll make some test to try to reduce even more my lc subdivs when res is raising... it'll help to gain a little bit more time

i'm interested in a SR for Vray for sketchup dev, as it can have an interest for all of us !
i'll start too see how i can do that (perhaps with a little help ?) in begenning of september.

i'll for sure come to botth 3119 to say to you an hello !! (somewhere between 3 and 5 august)

i'll have exactly the same face than my avatar pic and will wear a solidrocks Tshirt .. easy to target

See you on Siggraph !

@unknownuser said:

Jerome, I think a lot of people here and also on the asgvis.com forum would be interested in a solidrocks plugin for vray for sketchup

good news ! i'll be on siggraph on 3-5 august, and try to meet ASGVIS to talk about SR for Sketchup

@unknownuser said:

but also I noticed that the settings will change based on the size of the output. Can you explain the thinking behind the optimization based on render output size?

sure ! i've just followed the Vray rules, and modified them a little bit.

note that all Vray default values are "prepared" for a 640480 rendersize. So i've considered SR "base" settings for 640480 render.

But ! There are some values that are tighly tied to the resolution :
Vray manual (http://www.spot3d.com) says :

• When resolution double, LC subdivs needs to be doubled as well to keep the same quality.
• as well, irrmap min and max rate can be lowered by 1 each time resolution double, for example a -4 -1 irrmp at 640480 is same than -5 -2 at 1280960, and so on. the detail enhancement radius (in pixels) can be doubled, too, when resolution double.
  At least, the AA subdivs can be lowered as well when res double, as each time the resolution double, it's just like an additionnal subdiv.

These resolution dependant settings are a pain to manage, for example for a 1/4 test render and can take huge rendertimes on big resolutions if Vray settings are not modified....

That's Why SR manages all these changing parameters, in a smart way, with an algorithm wich evaluates the number of pixels to render, and adjusting all these parameters for you each time you change the resolution or for fast 1/2 or 1/4 test render.

i've made a LOT of testings while adjusting SR presets and found some interesting settings (not exactly following the manual..)
For example, the SR0.85a default (factory ) presets make these changes, each time the resolution double :

• Lightcache subdivs are multiplied by 1.5
• irrmap min and max rates - 0.6 (to get a smooth slow down)
• detail radius is multiplied by 1.75
• AA subdivs are divided by 1.2 (to be safe)

Of course all these settings are modifiable by Sr users !

Hope it helps

to dcauldwell :
Hi,

hmmm sound bad, twice than your personnal settings !!

just a thing for more precision :
While rendering, SolidRocks adjusts all lights subdivs to 4 subdivs and all materials glossies to 8 subdivs.
perhaps can you make some manual asjustements to have a real comparison scheme ?

Hi all, and many thanks for speaking about and pushing SR into heavy tests, sound very interesting !

special thanks to you, EarthMover, you your kind words
As you can see, i've created an account here as i'm really interesd by SR usage in Sketchup/vray.
i encourage these heavy testings, that's the better way to imrove SR presets, and SR by itself.. !

i find really interesting to test Sr presets on Vray for sketchup, i'll follow your results with great attention.
critics are the base of improvements

@unknownuser said:

Such as switching SolidRocks to a Very High preset with IM+LC the plugin sets Vray to have a Hsph Subdiv of only 10 and interp. samples at 21, and then adjusting the noise, color and distance thresholds to fine tune the quality. By doing this, it seems quality is maintained, but render times go down.

you're right, but Hsph needs to be multiplied by the global multiplier value to have the "real" hsph subdivs..
so, for example, at medium (exterior preset) the Hsph is 18 and global mult is 2, so the "real" hsph is 182 = 36
at VeryGoodsettings, the hsph is 10, but the global multiplier is 6.0, so the "real" hsph is 106 = 60

that's why the preset editor in solidrocks ask you for the "desired hsph" : if you say 80 for example, SR will calculate for you the correct hsph value depending of the global mutiplier.

you have a resume of all importants vray values when hitting the "Adv.tools" under the minipreview in SolidRocks.

i take some holidays this summer (the first since 4 years !!), and go to the siggraph on new orleans to make some little advert

after that, perhaps can we discuss about a SR for sketchup ??
for info : actually working on V1.0, including the "animation wizard" tool. tht's my main goal since the very first day of SR project...

Cheers !