Epix Files w/ Build 2256

[Anonymous]

9 out of 10 times trying to create an EPIX file from AC Build 2256, the PC crashes and I have to restart AC.

Anyone else using Piranesi EPIX files from AC Build 2256.

Thanks, Grant
PC
Windows XP
1 GB Ram
2800 AMD

[David Pacifico]

Hello Grant
I just tried it 4 times and it worked every time with R2 (2256)
One was 4048x4048 pixel
It is not very quick, but it seem to work.
What size are you rendering? (how many Pixels)
I don't think you want to go over 4048x4048.
When Piranesi first makes the .Epx file it is large, make sure you have space for it. (my test at 4048 was 140 MB once opened in Piranesi and saved, it went to 26 MB) Also you might try and turning off unseen items or changing your view point to see if it effects it.

If interested, the document I produced for my presentation on Piranesi at ArchiCAD University West can be downloaded here.
http://www.parch.com/temp_piranesi.html
It's a large 9 Mb zipped word document in color.

It doesn't speak to your specific problem, but for those with an interest in Piranesi...

[Anonymous]

David, thanks for the reply.

This is on one particular view, a top view that shows the entire terrain, building, landscaping.

It did finally work after several more tries, but this is very frustrating.

The other views worked fine, but it seems with larger files than AC crashes.

Grant

[David Pacifico]

I don't think the Piranesi Plug-in changed any in this release. (Including no Mac support yet, although I know it's coming) If you have Artlantis you might want to try and to make the Epx file with that instead. Even if you want to use the output from ArchiCAD to start the image. If the Camera's are in the exact same spot and the pixel count is the same. You should be able to make the Epx from Artlantis, then in Piranesi Paint the entire view with your saved ArchiCAD rendering (Paint with a Texture, 2D Raster and then rerender.) This should burn in the image you want with the Epx Data you need. This is a similar technique I use to layer an image. I will test this out when I get into work tomorrow. (I hate to give advice when I haven't tested it, but I have similar large ariel site view I need to do tomorrow)

[David Pacifico]

It worked with Artlantis. This Image was 2980x2444 pixels.
I tried to have ArchiCAD make the Epx and it ran all night until I stopped it this morning. So then I simply had ArchiCAD Render it at the size I wanted with the ArchiCAD Render Engine and then with the Sketch Render (Skyliner and Pen and Ink, turning down some of the squiggly.) Then I saved it into Artlantis and at the same camera, I just render it to the Epx format without any effects. (27 Seconds)

Then in Piranesi I opened the file and Painted with a texture (raster 2D) the ArchiCAD rendering. I did some radial fades to mix the sketch render with the ArchiCAD color version for the result below.

[Anonymous]

David, you said you let it run all night before stopping it yourself this morning.

This is what I am talking about. I can't imagine that a simple render would take all night just to get the output in EPIX file format.

I think this is a definite problem that needs to be looked into by GS.

Thanks,

Grant

[David Pacifico]

I agree