Rendering Software

[Red]

Which software is the best for life like renderings? There are so many out there to choose from. Please don't mention Art-Lantis.


Is their a list out there comparing software? Pros and Cons?

[Miquel Garcia]

I have recently heard about a new rendering engine called "Maxwell Render". The images shown in the webpage (www.maxwellrender.com) are very impressive, like real photographs.

Although this is not my target (ultra photo realism) I think that this engine can be an interesting alternative. And it works with Mac and Windows. It seems to be in a beta phase and is not possible to obtain a free demo.

Somebody knows it?

[Anonymous]

The results are stunning, but rendering times are horrible. And what is interesting there is no simple way to speed up things because - this is light simulator, not light effects simulator, so there is no easy way to just switch off some effects.

[stefan]

If you want free light simulation, you can try the Radiance rendering system. This is physical simulation.

But it's complex to use and rendering quality was only a side-effect, which shows in the mediocre control over anti-aliasing and the long rendering times. But the lighting quality is indeed tremendous.
It doesn't work too well for textures.

I have written an ArchiCAD to Radiance exporter, but it's in pre-alpha stage and I don't have time to continue working on it at the moment. And I don't have CodeWarrior, so there is no Mac version.

[Steve Jepson]

What's the matter with you people? Have you ever seen more "life like" (to use Red's term) renderings than are made with Maxwell ?

If there are any, I would like to see them. Please post a link.

The cons are obvious. Way to much time for everyday use. That is not what it was made for.

Not everything you make is worth rendering with Maxwell, but if you need the most "life like" rendering you can get, I don't think you can do better than Maxwell.

Perhaps I am just uninformed. Someone educate me please.

[Anonymous]

Steve that is true. There is probably no better photorealistic renderer, but this is not for daily use. I wish Pure had plugin for AC. Or at least Gelato. Hmmm...

[Steve Jepson]

I was hoping my comments would generate some links to mental ray and v ray , cg, renderman etc...images. I love to look at pictures.

http://www.chaosgroup.com/gallery/detail/?image=141&imtype=1

this is still my all time favorite. it's vray + some stuff.

remember the guy in this picture? He was a free image cell from way back and used to be in so many renderings. You don't see him much anymore. http://www.chaosgroup.com/gallery/detail/?image=121&imtype=1

another very impressive vray http://www.chaosgroup.com/gallery/detail/?image=110&imtype=5


Caligari trueSpace7.1 now with V-Ray 1.0 for only $695.00 is going to gain a lot of respect. You can get the V-Ray add-on for only $299.00! Or with the Lightworks with HDRI. This software can make some very impressive renderings too.

[Anonymous]

Yes Steve i'm with u.
i love looking at 3d architectural images people develop

Great chaos gallery always fun to look at.
Never used Vray, but i do like the results & would like to try
Anybody used it?

Interestingly enough, it is now available for C4D
Does this mean Archicad users could now use Vray if we have maxonform?

i'm still most impressed with art r - just right in quality & speed for architecture. No better for Archicad workflow efficiency imho.

Maxwell for archicad gives me a headache....

[Anonymous]

heres the link from archiradar site
www.vrayforc4d.com

[Steve Jepson]

As our friend Ivan the great can tell you, ArchiCAD users can use Vray verywell.


http://www.graphisoft.com/community/design_showcase/rend2003aug.html

http://www.graphisoft.com/community/design_showcase/rend2003jan.html


http://www.graphisoft.com/community/design_showcase/rend2004oct.html

[Anonymous]

Steve,
Ah yes i forgot about these fanatastic images...i remember at the time i saw them, they totally blew me away..& still do

do you know the workflow..exporting model etc?