Showing the improvement in HDR Processing and the new version of photomatix.
Be sure to check out Project Neon for Revit 2012.
http://neon.labs.autodesk.com/index.aspx
Project Neon has recently been updated to allow you to do cloud based rendering from Revit 2012. Just sign up, download & install the Revit 2012 plugin & you are good to go! I threw a couple of render at the system today & I am very impressed. It will even notify you once you render is complete!
Once the plugin is installed, you will find another tab which allows you to publish your render online or to view your render gallery.
The images can be rendered using all the normal settings with Revit. You simply click the “render online” button, pick your 3d view you want, set the image quality, then the image size, followed by the File format. You have three file formats to choose from PNG, JPG & TIF ; then just hit the “Start Rendering” button.
Your file is the published to the cloud where a host of super computers rip through the render in no time at all. Once the render is complete, you are alerted via email. Login to Project Neon & you can view & download your completed render from there. You will need to set up the exposure settings on your host workstation before hand but that's a small price to pay for the speed of rendering. Be sure to give it a go! This is genuinely an exciting development for the Revit user & harness the essence of cloud based computing.
Via Revit Blog
We’ve all been there. You’ve been awake all night working on an
amazing project. Everything is going perfectly, the design looks great,
you’re proud of the job you’ve done, and then disaster strikes.
Photoshop crashes and you lose all your work. Your first thoughts are
“when was the last time I saved?” After restarting Photoshop and opening
the file, you realize that it was hours ago and that you were putting
so much effort into your design that you completely forgot to save.
Wouldn’t it have been nice if Photoshop would have saved your work
automatically along the way? Now it can!
An auto save feature has been something that many Photoshop users
have been asking Adobe for, for quite some time. While there isn’t a
native solution yet, the guys at Electric Iris have a nice workaround. A
plugin that will save your work automatically.
PsdAutoSaver helps protect your work by automatically saving the
files that you’re working on to one or more backup files. In the event
that your computer crashes, freezes, or loses power, your work is
protected.
You can see this plugin in action below.
You can download a 30-day free trial of PsdAutoSaver from here. Give it a try and see what you think.
Note: while this plugin works for both PC and
Mac, it only works on Macs using Photoshop CS5 and above. PC users can
use this plugin using Photoshop 7 and up in both 32 and 64 bit versions.
Via PSD Tutes
Inglobe Technologies has just announced that version 2.1 of ARmedia Augmented Reality Plugin for SketchUp is now available. Among the new features:
123D is a free solid modeling software program based
on the same Autodesk technology used by millions of designers and
engineers worldwide. Not an engineer? No problem, with Autodesk 123D
you can design precise and makeable objects using smart tools that let
you start with simple shapes and then edit and then tweak them into
more complex shapes.
This new application has its focus on 3D printing, paper models and engineering prototyping.
photo from my trip to auckland and northland in the easter break.
view more photos here: http://bit.ly/f7D8MO
Photo from my trip to Bintan, Indonesia.
Check out More here: http://bit.ly/f0hIL7
Photo of sunset/dusk taken by me during my trip to the Philippines. See more photos of Manila Trip here:
http://bit.ly/ghQGhS
The toolbar for Dale Martens' Artisan Organic Toolset for SketchUp
Eric Lay modeled Patrick Beaulieu's "Bobby Bubble" character, then rendered him (her?) with Twilight Render.
Use Artisan's Sculpt tools to "paint" 3D deformation onto surfaces.You can add or reduce polygon complexity in your model, allowing for more or less detail. There’s also a suite of vertex tools that you can use to model based on controlling vertex points. Oh—and did I mention that it’s a ton of fun to use? Have a look at some of the features yourself...
Popout
As anyone at the office can tell you, I’m no artist or designer, but I thought I would give the Artisan tool a try over the weekend. Below is something that I whipped up; not too shabby for an hour’s worth of work.
I modeled this hamburger. Er, yum?
If slimy, unappetizing hamburgers aren’t your thing, no worries. It’s not a stretch to see how the Artisan tools might be applied to a whole range of different markets and use cases: character design, product design, environmental design, construction, civil engineering, architecture and, of course, landscape architecture.
Peter Stoppel modeled this scooter.
Peter also modeled this wedge of landscape.
Artisan is also incredibly useful for freeform terrain modeling. This model is by Daniel Tal.For more information and video tutorials on the Artisan Organic Toolset for SketchUp, check out this website. You’ll also find a great writeup on the Artisan tools in SketchUcation’s February issue of the CatchUp news magazine.
Place cameras in your model and look through them to preview your shots.
Choose from dozens of pre-configured camera types, or create your own.
Position and aim your ACT cameras using familiar moves like Pan, Tilt, Roll, Dolly, Truck and Pedestal.
Set the Focal Length of any camera to simulate a large number of physical lenses.
Look through your ACT cameras to preview Aspect Ratio and Safe Zones for the shots you’re planning.
Toggle on and off all of your ACT cameras’ frustums to clearly see what is—and isn’t— visible in your shots.
3D Render Announces the Release of RENDERLights for SketchUp
RENDERLight for SketchUp is the fastest and easiest to use real-time
Radiosity and light simulation engine in the architectural industry.
Helsinki, Finland – March 8, 2011–Leveraging over a decade of
visualization and software development experience, 3D Render today
announced the release of RENDERLights for SketchUp. Building upon their
widely successful RENDERLights engine, architects, visualization
artists and designers now have access to a real-time virtual reality
engine on the popular Google SketchUp platform.
“We are very excited to get RENDERLights for SketchUp into the hands of the design community”, said Pauli Jantunen
Development Manager for 3D Render, “The speed of the design process has
changed dramatically and we’ve developed the first virtual reality
engine that will truly democratize visualization throughout the design
process.”
Boasting an incredibly powerful and simple user interface,
RENDERLights for SketchUp was designed from the ground up with the
design industry in mind. In an increasingly competitive market, it has
become critically important to quickly and easily communicate design
intent with internal stakeholders and customers. RENDERLights for
SketchUp brings real-time to the masses with unprecedented real-time
performance, radiosity lighting simulation, Google 3D Warehouse
integration and the shortest and easiest learning curve of any virtual
reality application on the market.
“For me it was ideal to see and present the architectural design and related urban planning with a portable digital model” said Ilari Schouwvlieger, Chairman of Board at BMZ Invest. “It aided us to promote the design for city officials, hotel operators and investors.”
RENDERLights for SketchUp shares many of the advanced features and
functionalities of the core RENDERLights engine including: texture
baking, realistic environments, animation systems, sun and shadow
simulations, real-time bloom water and raytraced reflections, 3d
presentations, large model handling and their one click (Click ‘N’Go)
functionality.
For more information and to get picture material on RENDERLights for SketchUp, please visit: http://www.renderlights.com/?p=802
Product Availability
RENDERLights for SketchUp is distributed as a standalone license and
is available for the limited introductory price of €299 per year.
Purchases can be made from the RENDERLights website at: http://www.renderlights.com/ and from select international resellers.
About 3DRender
3D Render is one of the leading visualization offices in
Scandinavia. Based in Helsinki, Finland, 3D Render has over a decade of
experience in visualization and software development. Their products
range from simple 3D imagery and videos, to complex virtual models and
web based applications. 3D Render specializes in the development of new
and innovative ways to help decisions makers in the design industry use
visualization tools.
This is quoting the news from the BLDG-SIM mailing list (See http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org for information on joining this email list).
Please go to the EnergyPlus homepage to learn more and download the software.
“The latest release of the EnergyPlus building energy simulation
program, Version 6.0, is now available in versions for Windows, Linux,
and Mac operating systems. A few key new features include: significant
speed increases — up to 25-40% execution time reduction in most
simulations, life-cycle cost calculations, Transformer model, modeling
of CO2 concentrations, enhanced Green Roof (EcoRoof) model, enhanced
convection coefficients. We have updated and extended capabilities
throughout the existing building envelope, daylighting, and HVAC
equipment and systems portions of the program.
EnergyPlus V 6.0 is available at no cost from the EnergyPlus web site: www.energyplus.gov.
OpenStudio plugin for Google SketchUp: The OpenStudio is a free
plugin for the GoogleSketchUp 3D drawing program. The plugin makes it
easy to create and edit the building geometry in your EnergyPlus input
files. The plugin also allows you to launch EnergyPlus simulations and
view the results without leaving SketchUp.
EnergyPlus Example File Generator: A Web-based service is available
that creates and runs EnergyPlus input files for simple models of
commercial buildings. The input files (and annual results summary
files) are sent to your e-mail address as attachments. This is a pilot
project and is currently made available only as a BETA service. You can
access the service and customize the characteristics of the building
you want to model on the EnergyPlus Example File Generator Application.
The set of example input files now includes full-blown models of
typical new construction (drawn from the DOE Commercial Reference
Buildings project). Also included is a real-life Hospital sample.
What’s New in Version 6.0?
The highlights improved and new features are displayed by category.
General
* Significant speed increases, up to 25-40% execution time reduction in most simulations, depending on specific features used
* Revised reference building examples (formerly benchmark buildings)
* New detailed 130-zone hospital baseline and low energy example files.
Datasets
* New dataset for life cycle costing with regional U.S. fuel escalation factors.
* Doubled number of refrigerated cases in refrigerated case data set
Input
* Zone lists supported in most internal gains, infiltration,
ventilation, thermostat, and demand manager zone name fields to apply a
single input object to multiple zones.
* New lookup table object allows alternate performance input format to
eliminate the need for regression analysis, can be used in place of
existing curve objects, and can create curve objects.
* Windows and Daylighting
* New reporting of pre-calculated hourly daylight factors.
* Allow glazing defined with spectral data to be used with between-glass shades and blinds.
* Window 6.3 (fenestration modeling software) will be able to export EnergyPlus IDF segments for window modeling.
Zone and Surface Models
* New surface heat transfer convection coefficient options,
including adaptive model, many new correlations, and user-defined
equations.
* Movable outside insulation, with transparent insulation material
(TIM) capability, added to conduction finite difference model.
* Ecoroof model now has two moisture diffusion calculation methods – simple and advanced.
* Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
* New comprehensive modeling of CO2 concentrations in zone air, including internal emission sources and ventilation controls.
* New simplified model for interactions between mechanical ventilation, infiltration and duct leakage.
HVAC
* New separate sizing factors for heating and cooling.
* Enhanced Fan Coil model to allow constant water-flow capacity control with multi-speed and variable-speed fan.
* Enhanced inputs for variable volume fan minimum power rate.
* Enhanced reheat coil sizing.
* New component model for central fans with load-dependent power
calculations accounting for fan pressure rise variations, duct static
pressure reset, and fan, belt, motor, and VFD efficiency variations.
* Enhanced hot water coil model with variable UA resulting in significant improvement in hot water flow rate calculations.
* New basin heater model added to the single speed, two speed, multi speed and multi mode DX coil models.
* New multi-cell feature added for three types of cooling towers: single speed, two-speed, and the variable speed.
* New HVACTemplate support for heating/cooling sizing factors, VAV minimum flow rate options, VAV terminal unit controls.
Refrigeration
* Multiple refrigeration systems can now share a single condenser.
* Refrigeration condenser fan models enhanced and added input for minimum air flow rate.
* Refrigeration condenser output enhanced to identify recovered energy used internally for defrost and for other purposes.
Electrical Systems
* New transformer model for electrical power service and on-site generation.
Controls and User Functions
* New dual-max control for VAV reheat terminal units with reverse acting damper and hot-water coil.
* New maximum supply air temperature limit for VAV reheat terminal units.
* New averaged setpoint managers allow control of supply temperature
and humidity ratio based on requirements of multiple zones.
* New setpoint managers that allow control of supply air humidity
ratio of a central system serving multiple zones based on the critical
zone humidification or dehumidification requirements.
* New All-Off equipment operation scheme option added for plant and condenser loops.
* Weather variables added as energy management system (EMS) actuators.
Economics
* New life cycle cost calculations.
Output
* New reporting of EER and IEER (in addition to SEER) for DX cooling coils with air cooled condensers.
* Enhanced SQLite output to include error file content.
Utilities
* New EP-Launch option to run multiple simulations
simultaneously, taking advantage of multiple processors (Windows
platform only).
* Enhanced output file access in EP-Launch (Windows platform only).
* IDF Converter (Transition GUI) can now save intermediate versions.
Platforms
* Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7)
* Linux (Ubuntu 9.04 and above, Redhat 5.4 and above)
* Mac (10.5, 10.6)
* EnergyPlus V 6.0 has been tested on all of these platforms.
* ParametricPreprocessor executable added to Linux and Mac distribution.
* DElight simulations added to Linux and Mac distribution.
And many other enhancements and speed improvements throughout.
EnergyPlus Training Workshops
We will continue to offer training workshops. For more information, please see: http://www.gard.com/training.htm
EnergyPlus Weather Data
Weather data for more than 2000 locations worldwide are available on the EnergyPlus web site: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/weatherdata_about.cfm
If you know of other weather data for your country that you’d be
willing to share with the EnergyPlus user community, please contact the
development team at energyplus-support@gard.com.
EnergyPlus Helpdesk
A helpdesk system has been set up for managing
EnergyPlus user support requests. The helpdesk system includes a
download area, a knowledge base and troubleshooting area. To submit new
support requests (tickets) or search the knowledge base, please go to energyplus.helpserve.com. You may also submit new issues, files and reply to tickets via e-mail at EnergyPlus-Support@gard.com.
This address has been linked to the helpdesk since early May 2008.
This is the best way to get your specific EnergyPlus questions
answered.”
Receive and manage upstream design changes from Autodesk Revit Architecture software with the new FBX File Link. This intelligent handling of data helps reduce rework of visualizations in 3ds Max Design when original designs are revised and refined, supporting nonlinear decision making processes and facilitating collaborative, iterative workflows. Designers can also take advantage of new import options to group incoming materials, helping to optimize and simplify management of complex data sets.
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