Lightworks Materials in ArchiCAD Renderings

[Anonymous]

Hello,

My name is Elizabeth Freeman, and I work for GSG Architecture in Casper, Wyoming. Our firm recently updated to ArchiCAD 9.0 and as the Interior Designer, I spend quite a lot of time on rendering areas of our models. I have found that ArchiCAD 9.0' Lightworks Rendering Engine is a VERY useful tool and I LOVE the results! I almost feel like throwing away all my sketch pens and markers!!

I have a question for the Lightworks experts out there: Do you know where I can get a more comprehensive guide on how to use Lightworks in my renderings? I would really like to know more about the materials classes and parameters and read definitions on what they do and how they will impact my resulting image.

I also have a question regarding the Archives. I have checked out the Lightworks website at http://www.lightworks-user.com/downloads.php and it was like Christmas with the amount of archives you can download!! However when I try to load some of them in my materials dialog by hitting the “Load Settings from Archive” button, they don't show up? For example, BenjaminMooreImpervex309ExteriorGloss.lwa appears empty

Do the archives in Lightworks contain more than just shaders? For example InteriorLightStudios.lwa and ObjectLightStudios.lwa appear empty, but the name indicates they may contain lights and objects.

I am also having problems with the appropriate method of generating overhead lighting? Please see the attachment. I find that my renderings look far more realistic when I don’t include a picture for a background, or when I leave the ceiling off. When I do use a ceiling, my renderings are flat, and dark? Is there some sort of scientific method to alleviate this problem? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks so much!!

[Karl Ottenstein]

Elizabeth wrote:
And my question this time is: is there a trick to re-sizing the archive materials?

For example, if I was to use a marble tile, and place it as the shader for my floor, it doesn't come in at scale. It is far too big, and it really can't be fudged!

Hi Elizabeth,

Good questions ... and the answers aren't immediately obvious, so this will help many others.

The answer isn't as easy as it used to be with the internal rendering engine, where you just give the x/y dimensions of the texture.

With LightWorks, you can have algorithmic shaders - which are resized in one place, and you can have texture images (such as tiles) that are resized elsewhere. You also have a separate place to resize bump map and masking images. And no doubt more ... that's as far as I've experienced to date.

The key is to CLEAR the checkmark in the box that says "Show essential only" under Set Parameters (see screenshot). Now, click on each of the Class buttons on the left, and browse the now-visible parameters. You'll see "scale" for things like seemless algorithmic granite, and you'll see width and height for things like tiles and brick.

If you map an image file under the Colour class (such as clicking with 'match with internal engine'), then the size of the image can be set in the Texture Space/Graphisoft Replicate using the 'S Size' and 'T Size' parameters.

HTH,
Karl

PS If you're using a shader from a LWA (you did say 'archive'), then you need to go through the above. If you are building your own LW material based on a texture image, it might be easier to get the scale by setting it up using the Internal Engine, then switching the the LW settings and clicking 'Match to Internal' and then finishing your customization there. The advantage of this, too, is that the OpenGL window will show the same texture. (If you only create the texture with the LW settings, then there is the weird feeling looking at the OpenGL, reminding yourself that the rendered image will have a completely different material.)

[Anonymous]

Karl,

I just wanted to drop a quick thanks!! That tip was EXACTLY what I needed!! I really appreciate the time you took to answer my question!! Thank you for enabling me to get my presentation out the door, with correctly scaled materials!!

Elizabeth

[Karl Ottenstein]

Glad I could help! 😉

Thanks,
Karl