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Wrender

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  1. Hi Guys! Here's the problem: I've set up a scene using 3DS Max/Mental Ray with a MR Sun and Skylight using a EXR/HDR in the Environment slot. When I use an EXR file everything is fantastic. I'm able to lower the output amount down in the material editor, adjust the physical scale to unitless, and get the exposure value set. Rendering looks great! HOWEVER, I would like to do this same thing with an HDR file. In my case above I'm using the exact same image but in a HDR format. I would think you would pop it in and the settings would be the same. But when I do this, lowering the output amount makes the image dull and desaturated, rather than just bringing the intensity down as in the exr file. So when I render, I just get a muddy grey sky and background image....why why why? If anybody could shed some light (punny right?) on the issue I would appreciate it! Thanks, Ryan
  2. Here's the problem: I've set up a scene using a MR Sun and Skylight using a EXR/HDR in the Environment slot. When I use an EXR file everything is fantastic. I'm able to lower the output amount down in the material editor, adjust the physical scale to unitless, and get the exposure value set. Rendering looks great! HOWEVER, I would like to do this same thing with an HDR file. In my case above I'm using the exact same image but in a HDR format. I would think you would pop it in and the settings would be the same. But when I do this, lowering the output amount makes the image dull and desaturated, rather than just bringing the intensity down as in the exr file. So when I render, I just get a muddy grey sky and background image....why why why? If anybody could shed some light (punny right?) on the issue I would appreciate it!
  3. Modeling in Max seems to be too complex for 95% of our staff. I don't think it's nearly as intuitive for architectural modeling - geared more towards the gaming/film industry than to the architectural industry? Maybe just a misguided perception, but shared by most at our firm. We also utilize the sketchup model itself for a lot of imagery and diagrams completely independent of Max.
  4. Don't get me wrong - I would jump at the opportunity of using VRay (I personally have used it before). The learning curve really doesn't frighten me - it's really just the price tag. I have a hard time justifying an extra $1,000 license on top of the already expensive 3DS Max license to save a few seconds off a render. Don't want to get into a Vray vs MR discussion - I think they're both valid. We could use VRay for sketchup - but I think it's pretty handicapped in terms of functionality.
  5. Thanks for the responses guys. Francisco, thanks for the links. This effort of "culling" software is to simplify our training requirements. I'm a firm believer that great renderings can be produced from ANY software. It's just training everybody on 1 program at a higher level is much better than letting everybody go willy-nilly on their program of choice and using it half-as$ed because they haven't received any kind of formal training. Outsourcing really isn't an option - we use rendering primarily for process and understanding architecture and only intermittently produce a final polished rendering for a client. So in house expertise is highly desirable for all stages of rendering capability. I think after mulling the question for awhile here's my proposal (for better or worse) to our firm: Construction Documents continue to be built in Revit which automatically creates the "bones" of a render model. Export to Sketchup for additional detailing - which has tremendous capability when paired with Photoshop for most process work and conceptual marketing material. Use 3DS Max (MR) for polished renderings - speed is often critical, and while pricey, we can probably get by with 2-3 licenses making it affordable. Thanks for all the input - much appreciated!
  6. Typically I merge the sketchup model into 1 object with a MSO. This way I can delete it and bring in another updated sketchup model if needed. Is there any way to get a Material ID pass from a MSO?
  7. Anybody know how to get the Material ID pass to work properly for a sketchup model brought into 3DS Max? Not sure what I'm missing here...
  8. I've rendered with Revit before and found 2 major problems. One is it's too limiting in terms of material and lighting flexibility. The second is modeling in Revit is cumbersome for any kind of detail. Furthermore, modeling that much detail (like a railing) often weighs the model down unnecessarily and slows down other production staff working on construction drawings. That said, I tend to agree with the other posters that 3DS Max (MR or VRay) gives the most flexibility, speed, etc. However, the cost and training implications are a tough pill to swallow. I love the program and use it extensively, but I'm not sure I can convince the other 15 people that need to use it as well. That's really the only reason I was entertaining the notion of going to Maxwell. I thought it was a little more intuitive and wouldn't require so much hand-holding to get people going. Sounds like I might have been off base there and there is actually quite a bit of training involved in getting spun up on Maxwell as well. This discussion is helpful though - thanks for the insight!
  9. Ah, the age old question of which software to invest in. I work in a medium sized architectural office (about 50 people between 2 offices). Currently we have a smattering of software used by several people. Our production work is done in Revit, and post production work is done using Adobe products (PS, Illustrator, In-Design, etc). That said, the modeling + rendering software is all over the place. Some use a combination of Rhino/Flamingo/VRay, some use Sketchup/Maxwell, and some use Sketchup/3DS Max/Mental Ray. We are trying to standardize one workflow. We need something intuitive to most people in the office, but can produce a range of quick concept images, all the way to photo realistic images and try to control cost + training budgets. I'm one of the sketchup/3ds max guys and appreciate the level of control 3ds max presents. However, it's complex and very expensive. Training would be intensive and costly to get everybody switched over. So I started looking at Maxwell. Most people in our office know sketchup really well but would struggle with Rhino. I think I could be convinced Maxwell is the way to go - due to intuitiveness, plugin directly to sketchup, floating licenses, etc. However, the hang up is with the quality and time. I've heard quality images take a really long time to get the graininess out of the image. Is this still true? Often we need to get marketable images extremely fast - and photo realism is a rare luxury and less important. I'm looking for input/opinions on these software platforms - knowing that super high level rendering capability is not necessarily the goal. Speed, cost, ease of use are all important. Thanks, Ryan
  10. Is this Taylor Cupp from Nebraska? Still with HBA? I can only assume you guys are designing a Cabella's! Say hi to the rest of the gang!
  11. All - I finally got a render farm set up in our office. However, we don't have dedicated servers. I basically just linked about 6-8 workstations so we can utilize them at night/weekends. I see how Backburner allows you to suspend a job and manually reactivate it. However, is it possible to suspend and have it automatically reactivate at a specified time? It would be nice to send a rendering and not have it start until, say 3 in the morning (when I know everybody will be gone for the evening). Any solutions would be appreciated!!
  12. Bump - been about a year. Any new revelations?
  13. Fairly weird renders, but oddly engaging. Makes me want to see more!
  14. Hi Juraj, Great image - is this 100% 3D? If so, what was used for terrain and snow modeling?
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