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Print at Dec 16, 2025, 9:30:21 AM

Posted by db4tech at Sep 16, 2010, 12:38:23 AM

AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Hi All,

I am pleased to announce two new releases.
AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1
plus
AdvancedRenderingLights-1.6.1

New version 1.6.1 supersedes the previous version 1.6 (also AdvancedRendering-1.6 in several ways)

Firstly Bug fixes / Improvments

I discovered that both versions (full size and mini versions of AdvancedRendering-1.6) suffered from a button label problem that could easily be replicated. The issue also affected the French labels.

The problem (hi-lighted below) can be clearly seen, this is the full size version 1.6.

I have used a quick fix, (not the word change!) which solves the problem for both English and French label texts.

***

Slight modifications to some of the English button labels:
Use light angle as power knob becomes
Light bulb angle controls brightness

Glossy becomes Gloss, this is so both Gloss and Silk labels are read in the same descriptive way, otherwise it would be necessary to use Glossy and Silky. Also for the future this then represents paint styles, Matt, Silk and Gloss.

***

Have further tweaked the caustics (Compute glass transparency) settings which should allow lights placed a little further away to still pass through thick glass objects. This is only a slight improvement!

Old:

New:

***

Adjusted light settings so multiple light sources are reduced while using a sky texture. The only downside (if "Add sunlight" isn't ticked) is the shadow on the opposite side of the building will be darker.

Old:

New:

***

Introducing a completely new "Fast" render method!
I'm trying this out to find users opinions. This should at least be as fast as before or with a few seconds. It has 2 main benefits and 1 slight downside.

Firstly the slight downside:
some shadow areas can be a bit more noisy, this can be tweaked further to make shadows less noisy, doing so has an impact on render speeds.

Old:

New: (as mentioned, nosier shadows) but lights and shadows are rendered correctly.

Now for the 2 benefits:
The banding problem seen during daytime "Fast" renders is completely overcome.

Old:

New:

Soft shadows are now rendered while using "Fast" instead of multiple shadows, this also greatly improves lighting previews before doing a "Best" render.

Old: Interestingly the original "Fast" render method produces more noise on the back wall in this scene. So I guess both have their good and bad points.

New:

Don't forget that all these renders are with the "Fast" setting so "Best" renders will look much better! smile

***

Now for the new addition! smile

Something many users have asked for. The ability to see where light bulbs are placed in the Sweet Home 3D preview window, allowing for easy positioning.

The cross-hairs also indicate the light bulbs size but it is important to remember when resizing light bulbs to enter the same size in all furniture size fields (Width , Depth and Height)
The light bulbs are sphere lights, entering a different size in only one field, still means the light increases in size in all directions, but the cross-hairs won't show this, unless the same size is entered in all fields.

I'm hoping when the lighting system is integrated into Sweet Home that the size fields will have the size proportions locked, so it will only be necessary to enter a size in one field.

The new AdvancedRenderingLights-1.6.1 are needed to see the new cross-hairs and they must only be rendered with AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 (or full sized AdvancedRending-1.6.1 once available) or newer. If they are used with an older render version the cross-hairs will be visible in the render!

This is what will happen, if the new lights are used with an older AdvancedRendering version:

The new AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 is fully backwards compatible, so all previously used BasicLights, or BasicPlusExtraLights (or for users not wanting to use AdvancedRendingLights-1.6.1) should render without problems.

I do hope these updates will be useful and help users with their renders. smile

db4tech

The new files are attached below this message.
----------------------------------------

AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1.sh3p (106368 bytes) (Download count: 10131) (New cross-hair light bulb positioning, bug fixes and improvements)

Posted by db4tech at Sep 16, 2010, 12:47:08 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
AdvancedRenderingLights-1.6.1

Since a light bulbs brightness can now be controlled, and to make it easier, there is now just one colour of each light bulb, plus a new Daylight colour bulb! smile

AdvancedRenderingLights-1.6.1 for use only with the new AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 (or a later AdvancedRendering version)

In the future I will probably just call them AdvancedRenderingLights, to make it easier for users to upgrade to later versions.

db4tech

Edit to add highlighted text:
Because several people have downloaded just the lights without the AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1, so they will see the cross-hairs in their renders.

Maybe I should have added both files together in a zip file in case the downloads are by none English speaking users?

**********************************************************

Edit 2:

Just found a bug with the new lights, the cross-hairs lose their colours when returning to a previously made model.

Here is the bug fixed version that solves that problem!

[Note from moderator: I removed the buggy version to avoid confusion as requested by db4tech]
----------------------------------------

AdvancedRenderingLights-1.6.1.sh3f (132135 bytes) (Download count: 14947) (Bug fix version. Solves the problem of cross-hairs losing their colours)

Posted by hansmex at Sep 16, 2010, 7:44:23 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Test, test, 1, 2, 3...
----------------------------------------
Hans

new website - under constuction
hansdirkse.info

Posted by maker at Sep 16, 2010, 1:08:50 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Very nice, thank you. There may be some problems but, I think my installation of SweetHome may have become corrupted. I'll re-install and try again.

Thanks again :-)

Posted by whippetsleek at Sep 16, 2010, 3:23:55 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
I accidentally double clicked on the sh3f file when moving it to install it into a portable edition of SW3D, and installed the new lights into my full program. The Advanced Render Mini works fine, and is much better than the full size. I do have the new cross hairs on the bulbs like you said, except for the colored lights. For example I have a cross hair incandescent, Halogen, and white, but the old non cross hair blue, red, and magenta. I like having both even if the names are similar, and don't really want to take out the old lights... any ideas?

And this is a great addition. smile

I love the new daylight bulb... wink

----------------------------------------

Posted by maker at Sep 16, 2010, 6:47:26 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

And this is a great addition. smile

Agree

But a few problems:

Colour of the sky/ground in the 3d view do not affect the colours of the render.

If the 3d view is displayed in separate window:
1. With "Apply Proportions: 3d view" checked, if I change the input in "Wid (pix)", I get really weird figures in the "Hgt (pix"

2. Typing 300 width gives incomplete render. Weird - because all other input figures seem to be working.

I too really love the built-in lights-cum-furniture biggrin

Posted by hansmex at Sep 16, 2010, 7:01:23 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
After some initial testing, I decided to delete the two earlier prototype renderers (Phong & Co), because I like it very, very much.

One wish, though. This version (1.6.1) uses the mini interface. That may be a good idea for people on laptops and netbooks, but doesn't make sense when using a 22 inch screen. I make frequent "fast" renders at around 400x300 pixels to get a quick, general idea of what I will get, especially when fine-tuning the quantity of light and deciding whether or not to add a few "degrees" of extra light. I never save these previews, only "best" previews are worth saving for in-depth scrutiny (imho).

Is it possible to add (a) a button that lets you choose between "mini" and "maxi" or (b) a drop-down menu that lets you choose S-M-X-XL, where you get previews that are (say) 150, 300, 450 or 600 pixels high (or wide) ?

Hans
----------------------------------------
Hans

new website - under constuction
hansdirkse.info

Posted by Puybaret at Sep 16, 2010, 10:48:27 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Thank you db4tech for this new version. biggrin

And too bad you won't show us a nice image using it for the contest. sad

I really hope your coming course will be interesting!
----------------------------------------
Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator

Posted by db4tech at Sep 16, 2010, 11:31:08 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

Test, test, 1, 2, 3...

Thanks for your tests Hans!

Posted by db4tech at Sep 16, 2010, 11:33:03 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

Very nice, thank you. There may be some problems but, I think my installation of SweetHome may have become corrupted. I'll re-install and try again.

Thanks again :-)

You're welcome! smile

Posted by db4tech at Sep 16, 2010, 11:38:28 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

I accidentally double clicked on the sh3f file when moving it to install it into a portable edition of SW3D, and installed the new lights into my full program. The Advanced Render Mini works fine, and is much better than the full size. I do have the new cross hairs on the bulbs like you said, except for the colored lights. For example I have a cross hair incandescent, Halogen, and white, but the old non cross hair blue, red, and magenta. I like having both even if the names are similar, and don't really want to take out the old lights... any ideas?

And this is a great addition. smile

I love the new daylight bulb... wink

Oh! In that case the only reason you aren't seeing the cross-hairs on your other coloured bulbs is because the original BasicPlusExtraLights are taking a higher priority than the new AdvancedRenderingLights coloured bulbs.

There is something that can be done to solve that but it would then mean you couldn't then use an older version of AdvancedRendering.

Thank you for your kind comments! smile

Posted by db4tech at Sep 17, 2010, 12:03:12 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

And this is a great addition. smile

Agree

But a few problems:

Colour of the sky/ground in the 3d view do not affect the colours of the render.

Hi maker,
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this, please can you elaborate further?

If the 3d view is displayed in separate window:
1. With "Apply Proportions: 3d view" checked, if I change the input in "Wid (pix)", I get really weird figures in the "Hgt (pix"

2. Typing 300 width gives incomplete render. Weird - because all other input figures seem to be working.

That's an interesting bug you have found there, it also happens on the AdvancedRendering-1.6, it appears the separate window size isn't being correctly passed to the render plugin. The only render window that reads the information correctly is the built in "Create photo..."

I too really love the built-in lights-cum-furniture biggrin

Thanks!

Posted by db4tech at Sep 17, 2010, 12:20:02 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

After some initial testing, I decided to delete the two earlier prototype renderers (Phong & Co), because I like it very, very much.

One wish, though. This version (1.6.1) uses the mini interface. That may be a good idea for people on laptops and netbooks, but doesn't make sense when using a 22 inch screen. I make frequent "fast" renders at around 400x300 pixels to get a quick, general idea of what I will get, especially when fine-tuning the quantity of light and deciding whether or not to add a few "degrees" of extra light. I never save these previews, only "best" previews are worth saving for in-depth scrutiny (imho).

Thank you Hans for your kind comments. smile

Originally I was going to create a dedicated Preview button but after carrying out some timed renders, I found it to be only 3-4 seconds faster for a basic scene, or around 25 seconds for a very complex scene, compared to the new "Fast" setting, a "Preview" button could still be a possibility for the future though!

Is it possible to add (a) a button that lets you choose between "mini" and "maxi" or (b) a drop-down menu that lets you choose S-M-X-XL, where you get previews that are (say) 150, 300, 450 or 600 pixels high (or wide) ?

Hans

That's quite an interesting idea being able to switch between between mini and maxi, this could be automated depending on the users native screen resolution, although I would prefer to be able to choose whether I wanted a large or small interface.

The size could be made even bigger still, like X or XL, but it would possibly only serve a small range of users?

As long as Emmanuel is happy with the new plugin, I can also release the full size AdvancedRendering-1.6.1 version. smile

Posted by db4tech at Sep 17, 2010, 12:24:57 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

Thank you db4tech for this new version. biggrin

And too bad you won't show us a nice image using it for the contest. sad

I really hope your coming course will be interesting!

You're welcome! smile

It's a shame I won't get time to enter, since I have started the new semester this week.
Thank you for your well wishes! smile

Posted by hansmex at Sep 17, 2010, 1:55:11 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
db4tech,

The main reason I would be interested in the larger "preview" display, is that it wouldn't be necessary to save the rendered image, and switch to the directory where it I saved to open it.

I'll certainly will (have to) learn to live with the current "preview" size, but with my large screen I definitely would like to see it bigger. After all, we all know "bigger is better", don't we?

Hans
----------------------------------------
Hans

new website - under constuction
hansdirkse.info

Posted by maker at Sep 17, 2010, 3:49:29 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

But a few problems:

Colour of the sky/ground in the 3d view do not affect the colours of the render.

Hi maker,
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this, please can you elaborate further?

Hi db4tech. E.g., if I "modify" the colours of the ground and sky in the 3d View, so that they're orange (sky) and grass (ground). The colours shown in the render are still brown and sky blue. (And of course, the GI from sky makes render blue-ish.) Only changing the time of the day makes the render darker/lighter.

One other question: How do I change the intensity or colour of light in the integrated light (like Table lamp)?

Thanks again for one hell of a plugin smile

Posted by db4tech at Sep 17, 2010, 3:57:43 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

db4tech,

The main reason I would be interested in the larger "preview" display, is that it wouldn't be necessary to save the rendered image, and switch to the directory where it I saved to open it.

I'll certainly will (have to) learn to live with the current "preview" size, but with my large screen I definitely would like to see it bigger. After all, we all know "bigger is better", don't we?

Hans

Hi Hans,

I have compiled a full size version for you, AdvancedRendering-1.6.1. Containing the bug fixes, improvements and new features. smile

As soon as Emmanuel says it's okay I will release it.

Would you like me to add the version number (1.6.1) to the top of the render interface, so you can see at a glance which version number you are currently using?

db4tech

Posted by db4tech at Sep 17, 2010, 4:27:26 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights

Hi maker,
Thank you for providing a breakdown of what you mean.

The option to select a separate sky colour only affects the Sweet Home 3D preview window, (OpenGL 3D) or the first render setting of the built in "Create photo..."

The the sky colours created for an actual render (when a sky texture isn't used) are generated automatically by SunFlow (the current render engine) and only appear to accept a few paramerters like, controlling the Suns position to simulate time of day, which automatically creates the sunrise and sunset colours.

One other question: How do I change the intensity or colour of light in the integrated light (like Table lamp)?

Thanks again for one hell of a plugin smile

For other furniture lamps, at the moment, possibly the easiest and fastest way is, export the lamp as an obj, import it again, then add a light bulb of your choice, which will then give you full control.

For the future, when light control is integrated into Sweet Home, I would imagine there will also be a power/brightness control for all lamps, not just light bulbs! smile

***

By the way I have found a workaround for your previous bug! smile

If you launch the AdvancedRendering interface and leave it open, before selecting "Display in separate window", you should then find that, changing the separate 3D preview window size correctly passes the size parameters to the AdvancedRendering interface, without the previously seen Height error.

db4tech

Posted by hansmex at Sep 17, 2010, 5:28:51 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Wow, db4tech...

Tailor-made plug-ins... Even paid software doesn't come this good!! :-)

I think, I would prefer to call the plug-in 1.6.1.maxi or 1.6.1.XL or something similar.

Thank you very much for all your trouble!

Hans
----------------------------------------
Hans

new website - under constuction
hansdirkse.info

Posted by db4tech at Sep 18, 2010, 2:38:42 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Hi Hans,

You have e-mail!
I've sent you a special Maxi version (not to share) just for you! smile

db4tech

Posted by hansmex at Sep 18, 2010, 7:48:10 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
db4tech,

U have email 2.
Thanks!

EDIT
By the way... I first just dumped the plug-in in its directory, thnking/hoping I might have mini and maxi side by side, but that didn't work. I had to take mini out of the directory, before maxi worked.

Hans
----------------------------------------
Hans

new website - under constuction
hansdirkse.info

Posted by Puybaret at Sep 18, 2010, 9:04:02 AM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
db4tech, I tend to agree with Hans.
Please use an other name than AdvancedRendering for your release.
----------------------------------------
Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator

Posted by db4tech at Sep 18, 2010, 12:19:59 PM

Re: AdvancedRenderingMini-1.6.1 + new lights
Hi Emmanuel,

I thought Hans meant he wanted the custom version I made for him, that allows previews larger than 400 x 400 without scaling, called Maxi.

Was only trying to help by making a normal size version AdvancedRendering-1.6.1, but respect your wishes, so I'll rename the normal size version with a slightly different name! smile

Thank you for removing the buggy version of the lights! It would be a very helpful feature, if users had the ability to amend/replace or delete (only) their own uploaded files.
Would this type of file management be possible, for users who upload files, to have their own FTP space, with a maximum limit of say 200-250MB?

db4tech

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