Best Final Rendering Software

[dashiel89]

I am interested in using thea. Can you give me an idea of how the export process works.


Thanks
Walter

[dashiel89]

And what software is needed for the thea rendering system? Is it the blender plugin or do you need more to make it work with chief

Thanks
Walter

[perryh]

Chief doesn't do plug-ins. It would be an export and import into another program.

[CARMELHILL]

Never mind, just found it (Where is the Chat Forum. I can't find it.)

[ivancyr]

I am interested in using thea. Can you give me an idea of how the export process works.


Thanks
Walter

Hi Walter,

1. Export your model out of CA as a 3ds file. You will need to do this from a 3d view with everything you want to export shown as "view" on the layer options dbx.
2. Open the 3ds file from Thea, use a 0.0254 conversion factor to ensure proper scaling.


Note there are vertex limitations which you will occasionally bump into which occur when trying to export models with "too many" sides...ie high quality models. I've run into this mainly with stair balusters and viking stoves from the manufacturer library. If so, I then use Accutrans to change my VRML export from CA to xml and then to Thea.

With the 3ds, you will lose all light and camera data. You can retrieve that data by merging the VRML file the same way as above. However, I find the Thea lights much easier to work with and produce superior results in the end.

The Thea materials system is excellent and most materials that you "see" will need some "help" to showcase well. Once you get a bit of experience, I have yet to see a render engine produce better results without post production effects. I often don't need any.

Hope this helps.