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Photo Real Challenge

Photo Real Challenge

Photo Real Challenge

(OP)
Something else exciting is happening at www.robrodriguez.com for the month
of October.  You may remember Mark Biasotti's post
(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=245782574173)  for the PhotoWorks
survey and most photo realistic image vote.  A number of us asked for the
camera model used in that challenge to be posted publicly so the general CAD
community could give it a try.  Unfortunately Mark wasn't able to release
this model file.

A number of us wanted to do a similar challenge for the CAD/rendering
community so I have set up the Photo Real Challenge at my website (this
challenge is in no way affiliated with SolidWorks corporation).

The Photo Real Challenge is a contest to determine who can create the most
photorealistic image of the supplied SolidWorks model using any rendering
software available (you do not need to use PhotoWorks).  The Photo Real
Challenge is similar to the PhotoWorks Rendering Contest in that you will
have approximately 25 days to create a rendering from the supplied model.
All submitted images for the Photo Real Challenge will be posted for a
voting period of 5 days.  Voting will be done by site visitors and contest
participants.  The rules for the Photo Real Challenge are different than the
PhotoWorks Rendering Contest and can be found at www.robrodriguez.com along
with the model for download.  In addition to submitting an image all
entrants will be asked to supply their computer specs, rendering set up time
and rendering processing (save) time.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group
www.robrodriguez.com (updated 8/12/06)
SW 2006 SP 4.0 / SW 2007 SP 0.0

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Well, One definately won't want to use the "NEW IMPROVED" Photoworks, because, IT DOESN"T WORK!

RE: Photo Real Challenge

(OP)
It's been working for me all day.

I actually don't expect a PhotoWorks image to win this contest but I'm very interested to see what kind of results people can produce and the kind of time it will take to produce them.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group
www.robrodriguez.com (updated 8/12/06)
SW 2006 SP 4.0 / SW 2007 SP 0.0

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Razberryjones ... When the Hell are you going to wise up and realise that it's your system & your system only that is having the sort of problems you keep griping about.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Ditto.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Photo Real Challenge

I saw that a couple of years ago when it was first issued.  I'm able to get quality of that sort out of PhotoWorks regularly now (past year or so).  I mostly set up and save custom scenes and use materials I've had work for various types of plastics, etc. and get astounding results with PhotoWorks (for clients--not much posted on my web site [yet]).

Tough part is doing it all in motion (Animator) lately.  I'm glad SP 1 came out today.  Patch-o-rama.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Photo Real Challenge

I'm still unable to get a good video card to create nice rendering. One step at a time.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Does it really rely on the video card?  (I don't really know how much it leans on the hardware--I know PhotoWorks uses my processor(s) to the max during rendering, but don't know how much my card has to do with the whole thing.)  Whether a Quadro FX-500 or 1400, I get great results.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Photo Real Challenge

On my Dell laptop, which uses the built in video, the images come out grainy and lighting is right. The same image on a desktop with a nice VC made a big difference.
It's possible there are other factors involved. I will be asking for a more powerful laptop soon. We all use laptops over desktops these days at work, connected to desktop LCD monitors.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Chris--the only thing I can think of with grainy renderings is that perhaps your anti-aliasing setting is only on medium with the laptop--check that in options (or scene--I never remember which).  Also, turn up the indirect lighting a bit if the "grainy" means blotchy.  Anti-aliasing should be High to Very High (or whatever that setting is) for good results.

I'm curious as to whether this fixes the problem.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Thanks Jeff. I will try to check it tomorrow.
Appreciate it.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Photo Real Challenge

(OP)
Also, if your using your laptop screen for rendering teh colors aren't going to display correctly.  I have this problem with my M-60.  The color represntation of my laptop screen is not even close to true life.  I have a 20" dell lcd monitor which is very nice and represents colors very well.  There is no way I could do a quality rendering working off my laptop screen.  

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group
www.robrodriguez.com (updated 8/12/06)
SW 2006 SP 4.0 / SW 2007 SP 0.0

RE: Photo Real Challenge

Interesting. I work from my laptop using its screen and a 20" LCD monitor. If I drag my rendering from the laptop to the monitor ... colors/lighting/fuzziness changes. I'll have to do a screen shot from each and see if a difference. Probably not.
I'm using my work laptop Dell Latitude D610. This is what all IT employess are issued. I'm going to request a better one. I also need more RAM. I have 1GB.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

RE: Photo Real Challenge

If you have Adobe Photoshop, there is a monitor calibration you can use to maybe get your monitor closer to your renderings.
Adobe Gamma Monitor Calibration, found at:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration

Pick the "Adobe Gamma.cpl" file.

Also, it depends on your monitor temperature settings.  I had my temperature to the coolest setting, and everything was a little more blue-er.  I changed it to the middle temperature, and that also helped get the monitor to match the rendering print.

SW06 SP5.0

Flores

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