What is your favorite Photorealistic Renderer?

[svasilion]

I am an architect wanting to improve the quality of my SU models and videos. My photorealistic lighting/rendering needs include both interior and exterior views/animations. I have been looking at a number of different photorealistic rendering and photorealistic video rendering software programs. What's your favorite and why?

[Frederik]

I hate to repeat myself, but here goes...

Obviously, my opinion will be seen as biased...

I'm sure many will chime in here (seem to be the never ending story) and tell you which one they prefer...
IMO that doesn't say anything, since it's a matter of personal preference, which - in most cases - is based on limited knowledge... (sorry, don't mean to offend anyone here...)
Many have only tried a couple of applications and they seem to stick with the one, where they grasped the workflow easiest...
(once again, this doesn't say anything about their capabilities or rendering skills...)

I'm sure you will get a better answer, if you make a list of what you want to render...
Is it archvis...?
Is it landscape...?
Is it object...?
Etc... etc...

My suggestion/recommondation...
All render applications have a demo versions available...
I suggest you download the demo version, play around with it and make your decision based on you own observations...

Remember quotes taken from other wise persons here at the SCF...
- There is no one renderer that can do it all.
- All good renders are born from great models.
- The best render app for you is the one you enjoy using, not neccesarily the one with the most features.

I suggest that you take a look at the Render application Home pages thread...

You can also make a search here, cause I remember several threads, where this is debated...

[svasilion]

All good points. In asking for people's favorites I'm hoping for anecdotal stories about what people like and why. If 90% of the respondents like Program "A", that probably says a lot about it's popularity and is probably something to look into. I don't have the time to download three or four different programs and try to learn them.

As I previously wrote, I'm an architect looking to improve the look of my SU models and fly-thrus. I create both interior and exterior models of actual projects. But I've never used any photo-realistic add-ons to step up the quality. I'm most interested in interior/exterior lighting: ease of use, ability to create exterior night scenes, ease of integration with SU, etc.

Thanks~

[Chris Fullmer]

You might be better off scanning through the gallery and looking at what people post and check out what they use. Most will post the renderer they use. Then you can get a better feel for what is possible. Frankly I've seen amazing renders (interior and exterior) from almost every possible plugin out there. A lot depends on the user. Some renderers are faster to learn, but in the end is that what is the most important if your final product suffers?

[Pilou]

If you see some poles about renders for SKetchup seems that is Vray for Sketchup who is at the pole position

Not sure that is more easy
Maybe you can also explore this site

[modelhead]

:

[arail1]

V-Ray

[valerostudio]

VRay if you have cash to spend on an engine and Kerkythea if you are looking for a free solution. Things are tight these days and Kerkythea gets the job done for $0.

[Pilou]

Blender is now very strong with the internal renderer or the new Cycles renderer

[svasilion]

I am looking for a reasonable purchase price, something as fun to work with as SketchUp, and something where the learning curve isn't too steep. After all, for me as an architect the rendering is a tool, not an end-product. My rendering doesn't need to be quite as polished as a professional renderer.

[Frederik]

Came to think of... Do you have any experience within pr render apps...??

[svasilion]

PR? My only experience is within SketchUp. I'ved used it for around 10 years. I'm going to upload a typical render from one of my models.

[vicspa]

I agree with valerostudio, as far as Kerkythea, it's free, ...or I'd go with it's big brother Thea render.

[Pilou]

PR = Photo realistic
All these are very reasonnable price and integrated to Sketchup
For the very easy use and SU spirit Podium 198$
then a little more elaborate Twilight 99$

[Frederik]

Nice model with good potential for a pr render...
Since you have no experience - and with fear that my advice will be seen as biased - I suggest you give Twilight Render a try (using the demo) and also install KT (primary because it's free even for commercial purposes)...
KT can be used as a studio render with TWR being "inside" SU...
Read some of the tutorials available (i.e. go through the Beginners Starting Guide, which I made many moons ago) and when you feel more confident, you can try some of the more pro render apps (i.e. Vray for SU, Maxwell, Indigo, Thea Render etc) and see which one of them you feel you grasp the easiest...
Allow me to quote some wise words...

You must realize having the tools does not make one a carpenter, meaning that there is a level of artistic talent and desire needed in order to set up a scene, composition, lighting, texturing, modeling, and so forth that requires one to have a genuine interest and find much enjoyment in what one is doing in order to succeed...

And above all... Enjoy and have fun...!
Good luck...!

[TomDC]

My only experience is within SketchUp.

My initial response would've been 'Vray', but seeing you have no rendering experience, I'd advise you to start out with something that won't cost you an arm and a leg. As Frederik suggests, Kerkythea would be a good choice. It's free, and there's a bunch of nice, equally free tutorials available - including, as he suggests, his own, which I remember as informative and concise. There's also a respectable amount of freely available materials available from the Kerkythea site, which you can pick apart for learning purposes.

Go with KT, read alot, don't be afraid to ask questions, and be patient - you won't develop great rendering skills overnight.

Good luck.

[Gaieus]

Kerkythea was also the rendering app I started with back some who knows how many years ago. I am still grateful for that program to the developers as I had no idea about rendering at all and this freebie allowed me to get familiar with the whole concept at least. It is also a very powerful renderer and should not be looked at as a "cheap" crap just because it is free.

If you go along a bit easier route and try Twilight for instance (suggested by Frederik) or any of those "integrated" renderers, they are easier to start with however. As an admin, I should not really "suggest" any one particularly here though (I have already been scolded for being too enthusiastic about some of the apps - and probably rightfully so).

Integrated renderers have many advantages:

• easier to get used to them (the UI is within SketchUp)
• most of the times they are "simple" enough for a beginner
• whenever you change something in the model or in the rendering settings, you do not need to export the stuff again (this is important when learning and having to keep tweaking the model)

However there are some drawbacks, too, e.g.

• you are always confined to the SU environment which means you cannot really use many high-poly plants and other entourage (there are different tricks and workarounds with different applications here though),
• many of the renderers are now large address aware but that still means you are confined to a 32 bit application (SU and anything running inside) in a 64 bit environment thus limiting RAM

---

@Frederik: he can try the trial of Twilight but with the trial version, he cannot export to Kerkythea.

[Frederik]

@Frederik: he can try the trial of Twilight but with the trial version, he cannot export to Kerkythea.

That's true... However, it will enable him to check out a fairly easy "build-in" render application and if he decide to purchace a license, it's a great combo with KT as studio render, providing the opportunity to use instances and more...
Like you said yourself... It allowed you (and many others) to get familiar with the whole concept...
Most of the terms used in KT is identical for all render applications (or should be)...

[archigrafix]

in the very right order IMO:
Twilight
Thea
Kerkythea
Vray
...But far before the others I'd say twilight because you get no boring on exporting your model and no endless material setup!

[Gaieus]

@Frederik: he can try the trial of Twilight but with the trial version, he cannot export to Kerkythea.

That's true... However, it will enable him to check out a fairly easy "build-in" render application and if he decide to purchace a license, it's a great combo with KT as studio render, providing the opportunity to use instances and more...

Of course I agree (says still trying to remain unbiased)
In fact, files exported from Twilight to Kerky can even be opened in Thea with much success...

Like you said yourself... It allowed you (and many others) to get familiar with the whole concept... Most of the terms used in KT is identical for all render applications (or should be)...

Yes, exactly. Who the heck would know about specular maps and procedural materials without exploring it?

(I have tried to make an interview with Giannis so many time but he keeps being reluctant saying this kind of publicity is not for him...)

[julyyen]

Hi,

Let's see...
1. Kerkytkea
2. Kerkythea and I believe that's another, oh, yeah:
3. Kerkythea

[modelhead]

:

[Frederik]

How are these at animation....do they have a video studio?

Nope... Not one of them...
Then again, with exception of Vue (where I admit my knowledge is very limited), I can't think of any render app. having it's own video studio...
Users tend to have their own personal preferences and use other applications for the video creation itself - from the free VirtualDub to the more expensive and advanced studios like Adobe, Sony Vegas, Hitfilm etc...

[notareal]

I think that having support for some video format could be a nice feature (for easy youtube / vimeo production). Still I'd prefer to use a specialized program for any larger video projects (It's a bit hard to see how a render studio could work as a video studio, while it's rendering, unless they are separate programs).
There are some good free alternatives available for video production.

[svasilion]

I truly appreciate all the great comments and suggestions. Now I want to download several and try them out.

[jolran]

Don't forget to try Octaine as well..

I like it for it's speed.

Maybe you won't find everything you want in 1 sole renderer? It's good to have multiple renderers...

[bjornkn]

Maybe you won't find everything you want in 1 sole renderer? It's good to have multiple renderers...

And it is even better to have a renderer that can do a lot more than just render
I use LightWave3D as external renderer, and for modelling/adding objects that I couldn't possible make/add inside SU itself. As well as animation and instancing. Twilight works nice too, but then you're limited to what fits inside SU, and the control of materials is a bit limited inside SU.

[jolran]

Lightwave you say. Heh, take some time getting into. Powerful though. Prefered XSI when there was a foundation version, doing that kinda things.

I think Svasilion was looking for relatively simple and not to so expensive solution.

[Pilou]

Maybe also Light Up

[Frederik]

Maybe also Light Up

No offense meant, but the original post said...

My photorealistic lighting/rendering needs include both interior and exterior views/animations. I have been looking at a number of different photorealistic rendering and photorealistic video rendering software programs. What's your favorite and why?

Although I acknowledge many strength with Light Up, I don't see it being particular photo realistic...
So... I feel my initial post still remain...

My suggestion/recommondation...
All render applications have a demo versions available...
I suggest you download the demo version, play around with it and make your decision based on you own observations...

...take a look at the Render application Home pages thread...