Texture choppiness in photoworks

[SilasH]

Some time back, I'm not sure how far, I started having problems rendering certain textures. For instance, cast galvanized is fine, but machined steel isn't. On some textures, instead of gradually fading from light to dark across the surface, there are visible lines where the shading suddenly changes. Assemblies that I have previously rendered just fine now look not even remotely realistic. I'm running 2007 SP 2.0. It does this in small assemblies, with indirect illumination on or off, in all sorts of lighting schemes. Has anyone else encountered anything like this?

 

[ctopher]

What video card do you have?

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)

 

[SilasH]

My device manager says NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI. This is really a recent problem, post update to 2007, and I think after updating to 2.0 as well.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Did you update the video card driver when you updated to SW07?
The latest SW approved driver is 6.14.10.7756.

http://solidworks.com/pages/services/videocardtesting.html

How Do I install New drivers for my Video Card? faq559-1194

 

[SilasH]

It says the driver version is 8.1.7.6, dated March 12, 2006.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Did you mean 8.1.6.7? That is the driver for XPx64, so unless you are running that OS, I suggest you uninstall the current driver and install the 7756 one per faq559-1194.

 

[SilasH]

No, it definitely says 8.1.7.6. I'll have to ask our IT guys to update that.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Although the SolidWorks site lists the 7756 as being certified for SW07 and XPx32, the nVIdia site lists;

http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_20010601_3381.html

 

[bvanhiel]

Does the video card effect the rendering quality? That should all be in the software. I'd expect processor and memory to effect the speed of the render, but even they should not effect the quality of the end result, just the speed that it was delivered.

-b

 

[SBaugh]

VC will effect Photoworks like it does with SW.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[ctopher]

Sorry, been away.
I believe it's the VC/driver as suggested above.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)