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Topics - spadestick

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1
Off-Topic / Corona getting a lot of flack
« on: 2020-01-30, 15:22:01 »
Seems like a lot of talk about corona these days on the news! stay safe people! :)


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HYBRID RENDERING

Today, Chaos Group releases V-Ray 3.6 for 3ds Max, an update to its leading renderer that introduces new hybrid rendering technology, improved compositing output, and compatibility with Autodesk 3ds Max 2018.
V-Ray’s new hybrid rendering technology adds CPU support to its NVIDIA CUDA-powered GPU renderer. Now, with V-Ray Hybrid artists will have greater flexibility to render a scene using GPUs, CPUs or a combination of both. The rendered images will be identical, regardless of hardware. This allows artists to use any and all hardware, from high-powered GPU workstations to CPU render nodes.
“GPU rendering is on the rise, and V-Ray Hybrid solves two important issues that could make it even more popular,” said Vlado Koylazov, Chaos Group co-founder. “It lets artists use all of their existing hardware, and it gives them a fallback solution if they run into GPU RAM limitations. This makes GPU rendering a more practical solution for a much wider audience.”

JUNE 26, 2017

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/06/prweb14441420.htm


PIXAR UNVEILS RENDERMAN XPU

Pixar also unveiled RenderMan 22 and RenderMan XPU: the next release of the renderer, and a work-in-progress technology.

The former is the next scheduled release of RenderMan, and will add a new live link between the renderer and compatible DCC applications, plus faster evaluation of shader networks.

The latter is a new “combined CPU and GPU solution”, and will be rolled out after RenderMan 22.

RenderMan XPU: new combined CPU and GPU rendering solution
There’s even less information on RenderMan XPU, beyond the fact that it’s a “combined CPU and GPU solution [that] renders on both CPUs and GPUs concurrently, taking full advantage of workstation resources”.

However, the fact that Pixar feels that XPU is close enough to release to talk about at all is interesting.

Of RenderMan’s main rivals, Arnold is still purely CPU-based, its much-anticipated GPU support having failed to materialise in Arnold 5 this year; while Redshift is GPU-based, and takes little advantage of the CPU.

V-Ray does have a new hybrid CPU/GPU rendering system, rolled out in V-Ray 3.6 for 3ds Max earlier this year, but it’s only for the V-Ray RT interactive renderer, not the production renderer.

If Pixar can be first to release a hybrid solution that works on typical final-quality renders, it would be an important boost for RenderMan: a product that has had much of its thunder stolen by its rivals in recent years.

Monday, August 7th, 2017

http://www.cgchannel.com/2017/08/pixar-unveils-renderman-22-and-renderman-xpu/

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So happy to report that the Alpha PNG textures are working directly in sync with Sketchup. Very Happy here.

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[Archive] Chaos Corona for Sketchup / Corona Sun
« on: 2017-05-25, 15:18:07 »
Hey, though I love the Corona Sun which synchronizes precisely with Sketchup, is there a way to turn it off and just use the GI of the sky?
Perhaps its a cloudy / winter day scene I need - how do block out the sun?


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[Archive] Chaos Corona for Sketchup / Vray for Sketchup
« on: 2017-05-18, 17:02:38 »
Some features that could be incorporated into Corona for Sketchup...

What I cannot understand from the video is that the sketchup model doesn't reflect subtly any of the changes made in VRAY, which is in a way quite pathetic because most people don't just make material changes but both model and material ones at the same time, and not everyone can remember what material is placed onto which surface without having to go into the VRAY interface.

Unfortunately VRAY is still way over our heads and far too complicated to use. It is like learning to use REVIT properly when 80% of users are Autocad users. REVIT sucks by the way, overly complicated.

Good architects like Peter Zumthor do not resort to overly complicated tools to create beautiful architecture, they use their eyes and their heart.


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Off-Topic / VIPP
« on: 2017-05-16, 13:13:52 »
I think I remember somebody rendering this in Corona. It was pretty incredible... but now it's built!

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Off-Topic / Perfect Batteries that don't explode
« on: 2017-05-06, 14:03:33 »
https://news.utexas.edu/2017/02/28/goodenough-introduces-new-battery-technology

Lithium-Ion Battery Inventor Introduces New Technology for Fast-Charging, Noncombustible Batteries

AUSTIN, Texas — A team of engineers led by 94-year-old John Goodenough, professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery, has developed the first all-solid-state battery cells that could lead to safer, faster-charging, longer-lasting rechargeable batteries for handheld mobile devices, electric cars and stationary energy storage.

Goodenough’s latest breakthrough, completed with Cockrell School senior research fellow Maria Helena Braga, is a low-cost all-solid-state battery that is noncombustible and has a long cycle life (battery life) with a high volumetric energy density and fast rates of charge and discharge. The engineers describe their new technology in a recent paper published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.

“Cost, safety, energy density, rates of charge and discharge and cycle life are critical for battery-driven cars to be more widely adopted. We believe our discovery solves many of the problems that are inherent in today’s batteries,” Goodenough said.

The researchers demonstrated that their new battery cells have at least three times as much energy density as today’s lithium-ion batteries. A battery cell’s energy density gives an electric vehicle its driving range, so a higher energy density means that a car can drive more miles between charges. The UT Austin battery formulation also allows for a greater number of charging and discharging cycles, which equates to longer-lasting batteries, as well as a faster rate of recharge (minutes rather than hours).

Today’s lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes to transport the lithium ions between the anode (the negative side of the battery) and the cathode (the positive side of the battery). If a battery cell is charged too quickly, it can cause dendrites or “metal whiskers” to form and cross through the liquid electrolytes, causing a short circuit that can lead to explosions and fires. Instead of liquid electrolytes, the researchers rely on glass electrolytes that enable the use of an alkali-metal anode without the formation of dendrites.

The use of an alkali-metal anode (lithium, sodium or potassium) — which isn’t possible with conventional batteries — increases the energy density of a cathode and delivers a long cycle life. In experiments, the researchers’ cells have demonstrated more than 1,200 cycles with low cell resistance.

Additionally, because the solid-glass electrolytes can operate, or have high conductivity, at -20 degrees Celsius, this type of battery in a car could perform well in subzero degree weather. This is the first all-solid-state battery cell that can operate under 60 degree Celsius.

Braga began developing solid-glass electrolytes with colleagues while she was at the University of Porto in Portugal. About two years ago, she began collaborating with Goodenough and researcher Andrew J. Murchison at UT Austin. Braga said that Goodenough brought an understanding of the composition and properties of the solid-glass electrolytes that resulted in a new version of the electrolytes that is now patented through the UT Austin Office of Technology Commercialization.

The engineers’ glass electrolytes allow them to plate and strip alkali metals on both the cathode and the anode side without dendrites, which simplifies battery cell fabrication.

Another advantage is that the battery cells can be made from earth-friendly materials.

“The glass electrolytes allow for the substitution of low-cost sodium for lithium. Sodium is extracted from seawater that is widely available,” Braga said.

Goodenough and Braga are continuing to advance their battery-related research and are working on several patents. In the short term, they hope to work with battery makers to develop and test their new materials in electric vehicles and energy storage devices.



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A labour of love from possibly the F-Storm team (unverified).

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Hardware / CPU, cores, threads and cache
« on: 2017-04-18, 19:26:40 »
Not sure if this is the right location to post this, but here goes....

It seems that from the Benchmark Figures, Corona thrives on these $10,000 (for the latest versions) Intel Xeon CPUs - which are really meant for Servers, and not graphics.

I am really backward and confused by all the numbering and iterations this crazy Intel corp releases, they couldn't be more ridiculous with their no. of versions.

Please can somebody help me understand regarding Corona's rendering speed in relation to these questions :

1) Are the number of cores more important than the number of threads?
2) No of Physical and the logical cores - does it make any difference?
3) What the best frequency in terms of stability and speed 2.0 Ghz to 4.6Ghz - I understand that the higher, the more chances of crashing /overheating. (from the tropics).
4) There's a huge price range between so many Xeons CPUs - What is the best compromise in terms of speed and price?
5) Is it worth getting an E7 instead of an E5, or the insane price is unjustifiable?
6) Is cache important to Corona?

What should I get if I only have $1000 USD to blow on the CPU?

Thanks!





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Off-Topic / What's the name of this chair?
« on: 2017-03-26, 14:42:45 »
Can anyone help identify the name of this chair in the image? - looking high and low for it... Thanks!

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General CG Discussion / 3D Max rental scheme vs Sketchup
« on: 2017-03-07, 05:43:50 »
Bertrand makes the simple case of Autodesk charging an arm and a leg every year for companies and enthusiasts alike - which leads me to conclude why Sketchup is still cheaper and more straightforward in terms of moving ahead. I know it is comparing apples and oranges, but Sketchup is afterall a simplified modelling tool.

http://bertrand-benoit.com/blog/to-rent-or-not-to-rent/

Death to Autodesk!!!


 

12
We're back!!, the latest Corona Sketchup update is finally working with SU2016 on our PCs at the very least.

But since there are no standard shaders / presets.

Can anyone let me know what are architectural glass settings? I can't seem to see the glass appear in the preview window and it comes out completely invisible in the render as well. Thanks

And we need the ability to delete materials, even after deleting them from Sketchup directly, the material dialogue remains the same with unwanted materials.

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General CG Discussion / 3D coat painting
« on: 2015-12-14, 14:58:57 »
On the topic of texturing and materials....

I saw this demonstration and I must say there are lot of REALLY nice features that look simple enough to use. I love the smart material preview window, it is quite astonishing at first then it becomes obvious.


Unfortunately my until the 8yr old can use it like Sketchup as a no brainer, I still have doubts on the UX.

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Happy to be on board with the beta testings...

I think at least 2 basic trays / toolboxes need to be created :

1. Corona materials toolbox (with along with emitter materials, SSS, combo materials, etc,).
2. Environment settings (HDRI skies, camera settings, sketchup's 2 point perspective camera match integration)

3. a possible future one could be batch rendering with time limit, plus DR network, and animation settings.


 

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General CG Discussion / Hydra Renderer crazy fast for real?
« on: 2015-08-08, 19:43:50 »

here's a comparison between Corona and Hydra.

http://www.raytracing.ru/

I don't know what to believe as I can't read Russian.

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