"""""The only problem is the price! Hoppefuly a free version exists for Hobbyst """"""""""

Hey Frenchy,
Yeah, you turned me on to Lumion. Yes, the price is not cheap, but I will try to punch the price into a job I'm doing, and then I'll have it.

They DO have a free version, not for commercial use. It adds a watermark, and also is limiting in the amount of materials you can apply, and so forth. It's good enough to evaluate it, which is what I'm working right now, to be sure I can do what i want. The "other" downside for me, is it likes "gaming cards" like the new GTX cards. My current system is quadro based. I'll need to punch out a new Game rig to use it well also, which adds 3-4 K, but i have a few other apps that like those also and it seems to be more the "wave" with alot of stuff.

Hi Burr,

> The software i was refering to is "Lumion" and is more aimed at architectural visualization.

Oops, I got my wires crossed there with Luxion/Lumion . I am not familiar with Lumion at all so it would be cool to hear how it works for you if you do end up digging into it.

- Michael

Dont forget Luxology, Lux Render, and Goldy Lux! :o

What about Artlantis Studio if you're into architectural rendering http://www.artlantis.com/index.php?page=products/studio/index

Hello Dr.Burr
if you are interested in real-time visualization,especially in stills, here is a new tip:
RandomControl,house of ARION and FRYRENDER(no more released) will release a LIVE plug-in for Rhino 5 !!!
what means this:inside Rhino you can have a realtime preview with one of best unbiased renderers quality
set UV's,materials,lights and everything else in Rhino than convert or apply Arion materials,so you can launch the render,or better..a real-time digital photo..
Arion use all cpu's+gpu's(nvidia)at same time or,if you want,you can choose which device use to render(if gpu or cpu)
If you buy Lumion base =1500 $ approx. that is same price buying both Rhino+Arion live
mantain your"old" quadro for navigation and UI display, and add a new one like a Gygabite geforce 660 ti 3Gb videomemory for computation(Arion ask you which graphic card you want to use)
so...1500+300( geforce 660)=1800$ approx

this new could be useful also for all Rhino users here

cool hat that one in the gallery !

M

FYI: I believe that Octane is also developing a real-time plugin as well.

Octane It's now also a "stand alone" ;) 199 € or 265 $

The new version is just released!
Import of Wavefront OBJ format with parameters and material import
Import supplied vertex normals or calculate them via supplied smooth groups

http://render.otoy.com/features.php