thanks Michael for the prompt answer, Could you please elaborate on UV mapping,
The reason for asking is from my experience lets say with rhino just to compare apples with apples UV mapping is Ltd. Uv Unwrapping does not exist (yet)?...
Would you say is a NURBS limitation or is has not been explored yet?

From my experience all rendering engines rely heavily on the host application when comes to UV mapping, Uv Unwrapping etc.
Could tasks like that be achieved in future versions of Moi, V3, V4...

any info will be more than welcome, (uvs my weak spot)

Hi yannada, I'm not really planning on special UV unwrapping or editing tools anytime soon.

The main focus for rendering in MoI would be for more product shots kind of stuff, not on like creatures and faces and stuff like that.

Can you maybe give some examples of renders where you needed UV unwrapping to make it work right? That might help me give you some more information.


> Would you say is a NURBS limitation or is has not been explored yet?

It just doesn't really match up well with what a NURBS modeler is usually used for.

Like for instance if you want to render a toaster oven - do you need uv unwrapping for that?

I do want to enable UV nesting for mesh exports though - but that's something different than what I think you're talking about.

- Michael

For those who would like a good, comprehensive, value for money ,3D app to complement and work well with MoI, I think it would be hard to go past Carrara. Especially the current Pro version.

The things you can do with a MoI item by taking it into the Displacement Painting, and the wonderfull texturing/rendering workings--etc!! in Carrara! (I, as you can guess, am a real fan!)

Hi Michael could I mail you some pics?

Hi, Rayman, thanks for the info!

Do you need a program like Blender, C4D, Carrara, or another "big" 3D app to setup the scene first in or does Kerkythea do all that within itself?

Thanks, and sorry for the stupid question!

- A

> Hi Michael could I mail you some pics?

Certainly!

- Michael

Kerky can import any 3D file in OBJ ;) and some other format like sia, kmz, 3ds, xml
It's a "stand alone renderer" Prog
It can just create some basic "primitives" 3D by itself ! Cube, Spheres, Cone, Plan,...etc
It import directly scene from Sketchup 3Dmax Blender by special plug in
But it can also create anything by import file obj ! And then move scale rotate anything
Multi instanciating is also possible! (thousand of the same pieces (useful for grass, trees etc)

And from Moi it accept the 3 variations :Ngones, Quads +triangles, or only triangles !

Frenchy pilou has said what you asked for !
Its a standalone render engine so you DONT need anything else
to set it up !
Its right from Moi3d to Kerkythea !
And its free with lots of free materials for download ... so very easy to set up !
And it has render presets too so you just have tol press the button : )
Peter

Indigo seems pretty easy to get photo realistic renderings. Just take a little more time do to the type of rendering it does. It is free too.

www.indigorenderer.com

There's another free unbiased engne called Luxrender (not affiliated with Luxology). It has no real interface, just open a file and it starts rendering...

jonah

Luxrender has great results but it is like Indigo or Maxwell.... An unbiased renderer....
With Kerkythea, you can choose between several methods, some of them give quite fast results and you have also the advantage of previewing the model .

I have to say that Maxwell is very easy and if you know photography you won't have a problem understanding it, and ofcourse it's quality is like non other, meaning it's visually very impressive. But there are many good free alternatives now you can use which produce some outstanding results. Best suggestion i can give is that you download a trial/demo and play with each engine for a while to see what fits you like a glove. :)

/ Magnus

Maxwell does indeed provide high quality renders. And it has Multilight, which is fantastic. Now, if you want the same quality, but don't want to pay an arm and a leg, Indigo is the way to go. It doesn't have Multilight, but other than that it is absolutely superb software.

Allow me to include a render I did with Indigo. I used the plugin for SketchUp, which I very (!) highly recommend, as it is extremely easy to use. Very intuitive. I cannot comment on the plugins for other apps, though.

Impressive!!!
But you forgot to mention the rendering time! I am very interested to read the time needed and the CPU power you used...

I don't know yet if this one is easy but it's a prog made by an alone crazy guy Steven Glanville like Michael :)
Art : the new ray tracer of Anim8or (yesterday :)
http://www.anim8or.com/download/preview/art_raytracer.html
Anim8Or permit to reload OBJ, 3DS, LWO format
http://www.anim8or.com
It's also a stand alone that makes the same than 3Dmax : modeling, animation, render :)
Particularity : all is 900 kb compressed :)
A true gem ! Rustic but efficient!
PS It's free!
Just a speedy test with a Bump image mine http://forums.polyloop.net/imagehosting/196469411f9e5d79.jpg
Model By Manz

lol. Yeah, that's the thing with unbiased rendering, isn't it? That one rendered - if I remember correctly - for about 15 hrs, on an eight core Mac Pro. I can imagine that isn't the way to go in a production environment.

I'm glad you find the image impressive, but anyone could make one just like that with a little practice. Whaat, the guy who made the Indigo plugin for SU, did an excellent job. The workflow is a dream come true.I bought Maxwell recently, but if Indigo had Multilight, I wouldn't have bothered. Killer renderer, killer plugin.

Also good: Podium. Podium V2's coming soon. Should prove to be rrrrreally interesting.

That's what happens when you ask about render programs - soon you get a long list of what's best :)

Seriously, download the Hypershot trial. It is fast. As for quality, take a look at their gallery. There is a reason many major automobile makers and major design/marketing firms (including exotic car designer Pininfarina) use it. Time is money.

For the latest example, look at Gulfstream's new jet. All Hypershot renders from production CAD data. Also, check out the turntable animation by clicking on Technology > Engine
http://www.gulfstream.com/gulfstreamg650/

Ed

in the last 8 months now i've been using various modellers as my prime source of income and while i do use Sketchup in various places thats puts to shame and embarrasses other consultants and various people i have to engage with at distant locations,. .

I wouldn't recommend it to the ORIGinal POSTer because i find its a little time consuming to be precise in certain places

Thanks to all and no problem with the scope of the replies. More info is better in my opinion, especially when I don't know the extent of what's available!

It was just looking a little overwhelming, being new to 3D with some of these renderers looking like you had to take a class (or two) to be able to get good results from them!

So know that all of your input is very much appreciated and.

Hi Ed,

>>>Seriously, download the Hypershot trial. It is fast. As for quality, take a look at their gallery. There is a reason many major automobile makers and major design/marketing firms (including exotic car designer Pininfarina) use it. Time is money.

Which trial version are you referring to. I do think that the price of such a package needs to be considered, certainly from my point of view as it would only be used for home hobby. (if it was needed for my work, then I would have no problem with price, as such could be recouped)

- Steve