Messages

1

[Max] Bug Reporting / Re: Very slow geometry phase 10x slower than old pc

« on: Yesterday at 12:42:14 »

I hope solution for your problem is found, but I will like to stress that if in some case you have non-retail stepping (ES/QS/etc..), the issue can be with on-chip memory controller which creates certain spiral of firmware/OS issues that can manifest under certain workloads (whether it's scheduler issues, CPU groups, NUMA nodes, etc..).

So if Corona team received fully retail unit (which in 2024 means all-in-one system for most Epyc stuff), they might not be able to replicate your issue.

It's bit risky proposition to build custom multi-CPU servers today, too many variables with zero support. Super hard to investigate and find what can be culprit.

Not saying that's the case, just be prepared.

Nice to know that Corona devs got the machine though.

2

Hardware / Re: PC Diagnostic software recommendations?

« on: Yesterday at 12:35:27 »

Nothing, X399 was dead-end platform, so no further options. And so was TRX40. AMD didn't do good job with keeping continuity sadly.

Any upgrade you might want, you will need to jump to new platform (CPU+Motherboard+DDR5).

2990WX was mostly very inconsistent with performance, it was heavily memory latency dependent (only half the cores can access memory, the other half have to go through that first half first).
It would work great under one situation, then badly under other..

Nowadays, that's no longer the case with any option on market. Even mainstream non-workstation platforms, like AMD Ryzen 9 7950X demolish the 2nd gen Threadrippers with 2x single-speed core, super consistent performance in every situation and can even support 192GB DDR5 memory, though it's bit tricky to get it work as well.

3

Hardware / Re: PC Diagnostic software recommendations?

« on: Yesterday at 12:13:14 »

I didn't want to say that, but I also thought that 2990WX is best relegated to history, it just wasn't good chip with its unique half-dies-only-mem-access architecture gimmick.

This is of course fully budget related, I also try to abide today with "if it works, keep it" instead of wasting money&time on latest&greatest stuff unless it's given to me for free.
But 2990WX was just mistake in retrospect.

4

Hardware / Re: PC Diagnostic software recommendations?

« on: 2024-04-15, 20:54:33 »

I am not aware of anything myself, but few things can be done:

1) Event Viewer (just type that into Windows Start menu). Particularly Windows Logs/System and then red-icon Kernel issues. But it is bit of like finding needle in hay since even the events themselves will simply tell you that certain driver caused crash for example, but nothing beyond that. It can sometimes provides good hint, esp. if it's driver related. And then you can do a bit of googling of that.

2) Hardware stability the biggest one being MemTest, tests stability of your memory. That was always massive Achilles heel of 2990WX. Can be run for hours ideally, overnight. Not much to do if it tells you that memory is corrupted. 2990WX is capable of running 128GB, even on low-end motherboards like Prime, even with low-end memory modules, but it requires very conservative setup. Like 2667 MT/s for example, instead of 2933/3200. I don't remember the tinkering fondly.

I have plenty of blue-screens with even the latest&greatest hardware. Sometimes it's random stuff like latest Windows 11 update no longer being friendly with ancient drivers for Realtek audio chip, or Intel LAN/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth driver, etc.. etc.. (Windows installs those drivers automatically, but those drivers are often dinosaur era)
And solution to that is endless uninstall/reinstall of random drivers.

5

Hardware / Re: Threadripper & Ryzen only builds (3rd Gen starts on page 50)

« on: 2024-04-15, 17:33:54 »

wear and tear on the CPU

Never worry about this. By the time this happens, the CPU has morally aged beyond usability. No reason to worry about CPU lasting 15 years instead of 20.

6

Work in Progress/Tests / Re: Juraj's Renderings thread

« on: 2024-04-11, 08:37:14 »

I hope no one will laugh at me, but I keep coming back to this as inspirations: https://cdn.profoto.com/cdn/05219b3/contentassets/ca88cb91c4274a8d8dfc428c204fb963/002profoto-b1-phaseone-richard-thompson-02_cf003440-600x450.jpg?width=2840&quality=75&format=jpg
(Full photoshoot can be found somewhere on PhaseOne page).

I originally disliked the set esp. how unrealistic they were, they were over-retouched. But then the photographer posted defense of it being intentional as sort of painterly style and I started looking at it more until I eventually liked it.
It's not like I succeeded in making my rendering painterly, that's hardly close to my style, but when it veers little bit into that direction.

So I do a bit heavier retouch sometimes, and it's very manual. Old-school dodge& burn to highlight some edges and shapes. The images become little bit uncanny, but also little bit more impactful.
Constant balancing of trade-offs, but I want them to stand out.

7

Work in Progress/Tests / Re: Juraj's Renderings thread

« on: 2024-04-11, 08:16:23 »

Nope, I paint most of them with manual brush in PS :- ) No 32bit post-production for me. The underexposed background was also artistic intent, I don't really care much about realism now that all images look fairly realistic by default. When the background is meant to be unobtrusive, I overexpose it heavily to almost white for clients who want to only focus on interior furniture. Oppositely, like here, if the mood is important, it's under-exposed.
But.. it's not done super-well, like I could have spent more time perhaps on it but I liked it enough to keep it with all its imperfections.

Yup, the fluffy carpet in grand white room is based on that Pikcells one!

8

Work in Progress/Tests / Re: Juraj's Renderings thread

« on: 2024-04-10, 17:11:42 »

Great as always Juraj!
What's your workload on the rugs/carpets if I may ask? Each single one of them is looking very convincing.
Hair&Fur for hairy ones or Ornatrix? High wuality displacement map + nice shader setup for short hair type?
Cheers!

Hi,

3 carpets :- ):

1) Black interior: Disp + Sheen + Slight AI overlay
2) "Children's" Messy room: Corona Scatter with B&W Map for rotation only (zero AI)
3) Big Classical room/Main image: Native Max Hair system + CoronaFur shader with Triplanared (or Real-Worlded in z-axis? Not sure which I used, but it's the same in the end) color map. (zero AI)

The best solution is the Corona Scatter, but that requires patience for modelling the right kind of strand which I only had once. I've seen few studios in past two years going strong in this direction, but patience in commercial projects is limited :- ).

9

Work in Progress/Tests / Re: Juraj's Renderings thread

« on: 2024-04-10, 15:58:19 »

I've posted another project online, https://www.behance.net/gallery/195862101/Grand-Swiss-Beds
Will reformat it to forum later.

10

Gallery / Re: Undisclosed Project - RBTA

« on: 2024-04-09, 18:22:08 »

I would panic if I got brief like this :- ). Well executed, esp. the dusk mood ones are very pretty.

(only small nitpick that is throwing me off is bit unbalanced details, some, like chewed/natural edges are insane! but then pillows and backgrounds are quite ugly..
But I also understand that projects don't have eternal timeframe & patience and focus is crucial.)

11

Gallery / Re: Coastal Residence UK

« on: 2024-04-09, 18:12:33 »

I really mean it though, I don't compliment out of habit :- ). Long time ago (like 12 years ago) I was fascinated by 3D greenery but it was one of aspects I found most frustrating getting right, not just creating 3D models but also 'gardening' them right into logical (house layout) and creative (image-wise) composition. Lot of work.
Well thankfully I don't really do exteriors but I am fascinated by how high-level it is.

And it's also like you found solid niche in this because while I don't often browse internet for other works, I've never seen anything get even close. You have like no competition in this aspect :- ).

Lastly, incredible Instagram. Damn.

12

Gallery / Re: Coastal Residence UK

« on: 2024-04-09, 17:45:39 »

Impossibly good, as usual.

13

[Max] General Discussion / Re: A question for the Corona Dev team.

« on: 2024-04-08, 12:38:18 »

I've argue that most of those systems became (i)too robust, becoming too complicated for many users (myself included). Streamlined alternative fits with the Corona's philosophy.

14

[Max] I need help! / Re: Sharp objects in reflections with bokeh

« on: 2024-04-08, 09:38:57 »

Had no idea CameraRaw has any feature :- ) The native PS version isn't on level of Frischluft, the one popularized by Alex Roman but it does sufficient job. But I render blur 99perc. of time.

15

[Max] I need help! / Re: Sharp objects in reflections with bokeh

« on: 2024-04-07, 15:25:13 »

If for artistic reasons you don't want this (and this could be requested by your clients as well), you can bypass this with z-depth mask based blur in post-production (even native Photoshop Lens Blur takes z-depth map).