NX 8.5 rendering practice 1

[Ritchie]

OK, after all the hard work I would like to make some nice renderings of my project. Usually I would turn to 3DMax or Keyshot for this purpose, but since I no longer have these programs available I would like to have a go at it in NX 8.5.

One big difference with the previously mentioned programs is that these programs have a dedicated "Render button" where you render the image once you have set up the scene. I can not find such a button on the "True Studio" task bar, so I use the "Capture Studio" button to generate a jpg image from the scene. To me this seems more like getting a screenshot from a real-time rendered model, instead of actually "processing" a rendering (raytracing, shadow mapping, reflections, etc).

Allthough I have to say the results look nice and the preset studio scenes save a lot of time setting up lights etc, I wonder if this is "the way" to render images in NX 8.5. If this is indeed the correct procedure, is there a way to include only real geometry in the rendering? When I output an image of the rendered model, it also includes things like datums and wire geometry. Obviously these kind of things don't belong on a render image...

Looking forward to your reply and any further information on rendering in NX 8.5. BTW, I read or heard somewhere that NX 9.0 has some clearly improved rendering features, is this true? Otherwise it might be time to migrate...

 

[Toost]

Lots of questions ....
NX can/ will render in two different ways, "hardware" and "software", "hardware" means the real time display that you can rotate freely on the screen. It's performed on the graphics adapter. The image is " what you see is what you get", when you save such an image it's a screendump. You have to hide whatever datums etc before saving the image. the benefit of the capture studio button is that you can set the size of the image. ( Compared to file-export-jpg which exports the current screensize, - no options.)
The "hardware" rendering cannot encompass all the fine details such as advanced shadows, HDR lighting etc.

Software rendering is computed in the cpu, one must press "Start Shade" to compute the image. The output is a static image which will be displayed om screen. also this image can be setup for size etc and saved in it's true size. Enable the toolbar Visualize Shape and you will find the button.

There is , or has been, a licensing difference between "Studio Visualize" and "Studio Render", where Studio Visualize = "Hardware" and ..."software"
It's not certain that you have both.
If you do software rendering and all you "get" is something which looks like everyday shaded mode, you don't have the license. NX will render but the image doesn't contain the fine settings.


Regards,
Tomas

 

[Ritchie]

Thanks for the very elaborate answer, sorry for the late reply!

 

[Ritchie]

OK here is a first question: if I want to render an assembly existing of several sub-assemblies made out of several components, at what level should I apply the materials? I had prepared and applied some nice materials on sub-assembly level, however I have noticed now that when I load the main assembly into True Studio Task the sub-assembly appears to have no material. Am I correct then in assuming that I should apply the materials on the main assembly level if I intend on rendering the main assembly?

If so, is there a way than to apply the materials to a whole sub-assembly at once or they I have to manually select each and every component of it?

 

[JohnRBaker]

If you apply your materials to the individual Components parts, not while in the Assembly but as 'piece parts', then thier appearance will automatically roll-up to the Assembly level. And of course if that same part is used more than once, even at different levels, if you apply the material and texture to the actualy piece part, then they will all render that same.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[Toost]

- and as noted, if you apply materials on sub-assemblies whilst the sub-assembly is the displayed part, the materials will not be visible when the sub-assembly is "a sub-assembly" in the top assembly.

so i reality there are three methods, or a combination of 1) and 2) or 3)
1) apply the rendering materials to all the piece parts.
2) apply the rendering materials in the top assembly where the actual rendering will be done.
3) create a special "render assembly" above the top assembly where all the materials etc is applied,
- The point of this assembly is that you can apply "assembly cuts" to show internal details, use "overridden component positioning" /arrangements to move components without affecting the true top assembly.

Regards,
Tomas