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Archicad 22 Solo: Initial Feedback

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jessicaluchesi:
My main need for a render plugin for Archicad is that the Solo version doesn't come with CineRender, and in Brazil it is sold at a good discount price, making many architects adopt Archicad Solo. Me included. I use it mostly to test lighting solutions ( daytime lighting and night time lighting ) so, realistic sun and realistic lighting ( IES based ) are something I do need. Corona was the only software in the test pack which did allow me to use Archicad native lights. But I had a couple of manufacturer provided models for lamps, with correct IES which used emission materials, and those did not render in Corona. I am not sure you are already aware of that and in the list of things to address soon.

Octane lost my interested when I noticed most usages were on "looking good" for selling to a client something which may not represent reality, but on a BIM workflow, I constantly do fast renders to test mood and intensity of lighting against exposure in a virtual camera, as well as fake color renders, to see if lighting setups and natural light devices do work as expected. It is very important that I can use lamps and light devices and materials as close as possible to what is gonna be built, as a way of almost "visiting what is to be built" to verify and correct myself, less as a tool for presentation ( that too... but I am learning Blender for that effect  ). I don't think the BIM Model is a place for high-poli objects and well textured elements. But having lights, surfave materials and textures working, in a photo realistic fashion ( as in simulating light ) is of immense value.

I am adding an example render done in CineRender ( while on the Educational License... when I was still to graduate as an architect ) which mixes Archicad lamps using IES files as well as manufacturer provided models, using emitter materials instead of Archicad Lamps. Of course, Cine Render is CPU based, and this image took a while, having this on a GPU Based engine, and play with intensity and elements to construct the mood would add great value to my workflow, likewise to be able to simulate daylight, and the mixing of daylight and artificial lighting playing together.  The ability to create 3D Render views, on Archicad, that are added to the document sheets, rendered on demand when the documents are processed, is also very important in my workflow. I have been lacking it since moving from the Educational to the Solo license, for the normal Open GL render just doesn't cut it.

So, what kind of feedback would be most useful now? How can we help evolve the solution to as close as possible to solving those needs? :)

Jan Špaček:
Hi, thank you for posting!

Corona should already support CineRender lights with IES files; if they don't render or render differently from CineRender, it is a bug. Can you please provide more details about your scene, what exact lights you used, so that I can reproduce the problem? It would be best if you could send me your project file, perhaps using our private uploader.

And just a quick note: Corona is also CPU based (but still very fast!).

jessicaluchesi:
Hello, I will make a version of the file and send it with the added libraries, and send you via message or if you have an EMail I could use. I wouldn't like to post links to the file in an open forum.

jessicaluchesi:
Hello Jan. I sent you a message with a dropbox link to the file, but felt like posting here this update. So, I played a bit with the file, trying to come with a night scene. You are correct, the lamps based on emiters are showing somewhat correctly, but I found out their intensity differs greatly from the CineRender results to the point on my first few attempts I did not notice they were there. Actually, two lamps models from the same manufacturer, which in CineRender show with similar intensity, here show very diferently.

But some lamps don't show at all.

Also, the number of lights/groups on the Stats don't match, and not all lights are showing. I noticed a common denominator on those, as some lights are, as in many architectural projects, actually hidden behind beams, or behind walls, and so on. I am not sure Corona is making a sweep to check which light sources are visible from a certain viewpoint and only rendering those, but in this image ( I am attaching ) I can see a faded view of some IES lamps on the base of the swimming pool, stronger ones on the stairs going up, two glares showing lamps inside the living room glass box, but many others, which in this image are occluded by geometry or solids, and the even tho the lamp itself cannot be seen, it's projected light should.

The image is closer, but in a similar position as the "reference" done in CineRender shown on the first post, so you can see what I mean.

From here on I am not sure what I am doing wrong fumbling with controls I am not yet used to, as I am finding out about the software as I go on testing.  This is of course, without altering materials, or changing it in any way. Some materials look better on the CineRender because I assume they have a "improved" version of the same material ( if I remember correctly these are all native AC22 materials, I did not get to custom editing those ), the glass looks a bit off and so on, but I could edit the materials to adjust for that. But for example, a lamp under the bedroom portion of the house on the far right of the image, meant to light the grass, doesn't show.

I am sure you will experiment a bit with the file. I hope it will help :) Let me know if I can be of assistance,

Jessica

Jan Špaček:
Hi Jessica, thank you very much for your project file! I've downloaded it and I'm now playing with the project to see what is going on. For some reason, both CineRender and Corona are very slow on this project, so it may take some time. I will get back to you when I make some progress.

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