NPR for arch and general use = Piranesi!

Hi Brian,

>>>Toon Pro is a plugin for Carrara that goes further than the standard Toon3 in Carrara.

I did have a look at Toon_pro.
I know it states than the cel shader only works for a short time (during evaluation period), but it doesnt work long enough to make a full render (the model disappears from most of the render), also, the lines are only produced on every other render block, so I dont know how anyone is able to evaluate such a product.


Anyway, I made a quick render with the Toon3 in Carrara-

Yes, Toon3 in Carrara has allways been enough for the odd time I need toon looks. No doubt that ToonPro gives finer adjustments and if I did a lot of Toon I would buy it.

Hi Brian,

I like the look of that image. I have never attempted such renderings.

I did have a play with Carrara non photorealistic rendering.

- Steve

> I did have a play with Carrara non photorealistic rendering.

Great technical illustration type result there.

Carrara is said to be the 5th most downloaded 3D app.
It's versatility, ease of use and value for money has long been reported.
I am quite amazed at people who still find it a "discovery!

I have used it as my main app (I have many including LW) since version 2 to the current 6.

According to the 2006 Roncarelli report, which has been documenting the software used in related to 3D since 1984, shows the following ranking for 3D apps

1. Blender
2. Flash
3. 3DS MAX
4. Truespace
5. Strata 3D
6. Lightwave
7. Cinema 4D
8. Hash Animation Master
9. Carrara
10. Maya
11. SketchUP
12. Softimage XSI
13. Electric Image (EIAS)
14. Realsoft 3D
15. Retas!Pro
16. Toon Boom Studio
17. Houdini
18. Animo


I know that Blender has a goofy interface, but it handles the MOI models great and has a very flexible render engine. You don't get that "click here to make awesome render" button. You have to put in some work, but there are tons of resources that people have developed to show the power of the nodes system to create NPR renders beyond the examples for Blender in this post. Remember, all the power in Blender can be had for free. It costs you nothing but ~10 MB of hard drive space and some time to try a few tutorials.

Blender runs great from a USB memory stick. Along with MOI on your stick, add Blender and you have a very powerful 3D studio to take to any other computer.

I'm surprised to see Hash above Carrara (perhaps cause it has been around longer) and I would have expected Maya to be way above where its at?

But I will admit if you can master Hash Splines, it's one of the BEST character animation packages you could hope for! I get tempted myself to upgrade to the latest version every now and then...


-Will

Hi Phil,

>>>Blender ................ and has a very flexible render engine

I would be very interested if you could post any non-photorealistic renders from blender.

After the initial post on this subject, I am finding much interest.

- Steve

Hi Pilou,

Thanks, but I am looking for render directly from blender, the link (gallery) can/could show render from blender with post process with external image process.

I would like to see "direct" output from blender for non-photo_realistic render.

-Steve

Sorry this is more related subject :)
http://www.blendernation.com/2007/02/22/toonsketch-rendering-with-nodes/
2 tutorials : but this is endless !

Thank you,

>>but this is endless

I can understand that, and thank you for your time.

I will look and (try) to learn,.. my old brain is slow these days, "learn an old dog new tricks" does come to mind with me at the moment.

I will look more at Blender, and do applicate the info / replies.

Regards,

- Steve

The picture that I posted in the second post is a direct output from Blender. I directly followed the tutorial that Frenchy Pilou posted on my ship that I created in MOI. I exported it as an LWO and imported with the MOI import script that is posted on the wiki.

Google Sketchup has ton of Sketches style! :)
But for now these one can't be rendering in Podium or Kerkythea! Only on the original screen of Google Sketchup!
it is not so bad for real time rendering ;)



(else here a classic toon maker : Plastic Animation Paper (a free version available)
http://www.plasticanimationpaper.dk/index.asp?locale= )

Hi Pilou and Steve (manz)

The Blender option shook some of the cobwebs from my memory and I rememered when playing with Linux years ago
I loaded up Blender and there was this tute about toon rendering, this is the look I'm after.
I'll have to revisit blender again, but as I recall I think the Blender interface hurt my brain back then.
I think I'll give it another go, seeing it's the free option.

http://download.blender.org/documentation/oldsite/oldsite.blender3d.org/80_Blender%20tutorial%20Toon%20Shading.html

I have lost count of the times I have downloaded Blender. (And millions of tutes!)
"The interface hurt my brain" Haaaaa!-- AND my pocket because I had to BUY an app that suited my brain!

>>>I'll have to revisit blender again, but as I recall I think the Blender interface hurt my brain back then. I think I'll give it another go, seeing it's the free option.

I was of the same opinion. I have been playing with Blender again, but this time just on the rendering which is quite easy to use.

I would of liked to see more control of the edge lines, as currently it is control on where the lines are to be placed (lower number less places) rather than (as I would like to see) the ability to control the thickness of line (unless I have missed some settings?)

- Steve

Looks Great Steve, as I was reading the tute from the link, that I posted earlier, the line thickness control was in step 4.
I haven't started any rendering yet I'm still researching rendering options and testing MoI.

Cheers
Danny

Hi Danny,

The "step 4" is only giving example of what I mentioned. It allows some control of where the lines (edges) are produced, not the thickness. I still see this as a good option for what you want, just a need to play with the settings.

My example is quite bad, as it is only one color(on object) with 2 lights. But could easily be made better.

Please do post any results you get from your import/render. I am certainly interested. (maybe post your model for render tests/ comparison?)


- Steve