X5 Vs Thea...

[Chad Cardin]

Im curious to all the experienced raytracers who use chief, how does X5's raytracing compare to Thea?

I have to admit Ive never even done one raytrace, ever in chief, so this whole process is new. From what Im reading on chieftalk, it seems easier in X5 so I might give it a try. I was just curious to the comparisons between the two.

[Sledge]

Hi Chad,

That's a good question, it would be interesting if the advancements in X5 RT would diminish the need to port to an external program.

[ivancyr]

I'm certainly no expert....I've played with X5 for all but two weeks....but I'll say that I'm fairly impressed with the new rendering engine and its simplicity. As one mentioned on a previous thread somewhere regarding Kerythea; they had 2 PHD's and found that rendering engine beyond scope of understanding without excessive time lost to simple fundamentals.

The attached is 16 passes of the X5 RayTrace with the photon mapping turned off and the rest turned on and left at default settings. I believe it completed in just over 30mins....using a HP dual quad core at 2.3GHz.

Thea provides more options, I'm still working on getting grass to look real using an export out of CA and rendered in another engine so I can make a golf course. So far....I've made "product" that I'd never attach my name to!

Ivan

[dgavin]

Well, with Thea you have to learn a new program. I had played with it some in the past, getting some lessons from Pat. It was a lot better than POV RAY.
At this point though I am pretty happy with X5 ray traces. You still need to learn how to get your materials and lighting straight but at least it is within the same program.
Attached is a ray trace without photons, 10 passes. I think it took about 30 minutes.

[sutcac]

I know the photon mapping takes a lot longer, but is the only way X5 starts to approach the kind of realism you can get in Thea. I have just started poking around in it, but so far I am impressed and will continue to explore with it. I have a restaurant project I intend to do some high quality ray traces of in the coming weeks and will really put it through its paces.

[Chiefer]

Until CA fix the light leaks with Photon mapping I will avoid using it.

[dgavin]

Jintu,

Nice space. I like the furniture and also the floor tile. Is that a custom tile pattern you designed or a texture?

[Chiefer]

Thanks. The floor tile was custom made by Sam.

[dgavin]

Nice job Sam!

[HumbleChief]

Agreed Very Nice Jintu. And the floor is very very nice. I also see that bugger light leak in the left hand crown molding. I've only tried the photons a couple of time and the light leaks make it unusable.

I wonder if this is a problem they are working on for final release?

[Chiefer]

Agreed Very Nice Jintu. And the floor is very very nice. I also see that bugger light leak in the left hand crown molding. I've only tried the photons a couple of time and the light leaks make it unusable.

I wonder if this is a problem they are working on for final release?

Hope they are getting the hints.

I can settle without photons given the right settings. This is under 8 mins.

[rcole]

I am curious whether the areas considered to be light leaking are actually a condition similar to occlusion, but instead of darkened areas we are getting additional light bouncing in these locations.

Not to say that there are not leaking situations as well, but some of these like the ones by the stair rails look like they may be from some other cause.

It would certainly be good to get to the bottom of this. These glowing areas have been a problem with X4 as well.

[HumbleChief]

Hope they are getting the hints.

I can settle without photons given the right settings. This is under 8 mins.

Dam* I LOVE that floor!! Heck LOVE that entire scene!

[HumbleChief]

I am curious whether the areas considered to be light leaking are actually a condition similar to occlusion, but instead of darkened areas we are getting additional light bouncing in these locations.

Not to say that there are not leaking situations as well, but some of these like the ones by the stair rails look like they may be from some other cause.

It would certainly be good to get to the bottom of this. These glowing areas have been a problem with X4 as well.

Good point Rod. 'Leaking' is probably (definitely?) the wrong term but it looks like a 'leak' in most cases.

It would certainly be good to get to the bottom of this.

Agreed

[Chad Cardin]

This is my first raytrace. Its too dark and many other issues around it since its my first but it only took a few minutes and looks decent.