[JDHill]

Maxwell for SketchUp
Version 2.5.13 Release Notes

This build implements Maxwell Fire, and some other new features as well.

Changes

• Added Maxwell Fire rendering to the plugin.
• Added new auto-focus functionality to the camera.
• Added new Network Render menu/toolbar commands.
• Added auto-detection for starting network node & manager.
• Added Z-Clip and Z-Buffer modes to the Pick DOF Tool.

Downloads (as usual, please do not copy/share these)

• version superseded: please download from the customer portal

Notes

• Naturally, there are some very fundamental changes in this build, so just let me know (preferably in this thread) if you notice any new issues. Also, please note that the manual has been updated to reflect the new features, so be sure to take a look at that in case there are any questions.

[numerobis]

WOW! Sketchup on FIRE! Awesome! I'll test it tomorrow!

...and the other additions are very nice too! network and autofocus... Yummy! Thanks JD!

[JDHill]

FI-I-I-IRE!

[fv]

Well, I am at home right now and so can't test anything, maybe tomorrow on the office.
But... was it not SU's single thread character that made it difficult to set it up with FIRE....

Well, anyhow, tx a lot again for your great work on the plugin....and for reminding me there was already good Fire when I was 13 years old...

[stefan_kaplan]

Simply amazing!!!

A couple of boring comments (only tested on OSX):
1. Where did the tool tips (yellow flags) for the toolbar go?
2. Smoothing of object that are not grouped does not seem to show in Fire.
3. When selecting the DOF tool, the tool text (in the bottom of the screen) says "Pick near point". After clicking the near point, the text informs about the new Z-clip and Z-buffer features. Could this extended information be visible already before clicking the near point? And in OSX it could say "Option: Z-Clip" and not "CTRL: Z-Clip".

Can't wait to use this at work tomorrow!

/Stefan

[Half Life]

That's a classic -- I always tell my wife there is a big difference between disco and funk

Great update and FIRE in Sketchup is a awesome experience!

Best,
Jason.

[stefan_kaplan]

FI-I-I-IRE!

Awesome

[JDHill]

Thanks for the feedback, Stefan --

1. Hmm, I still have tooltips here on my macbook. By toolbar, you are referring to View > Tool Palettes > Maxwell toolbar, correct?
2. Were you in the model context when you did the export? I know I've seen objects export without smoothing when in the context of a group or component.
3. Thanks, I should be able to tune this stuff up.

[stefan_kaplan]

1. Yes View > Tool Palettes > Maxwell toolbar. Tooltips appear on the other toolbars in SketchUp, but not on the Maxwell Toolbar.
2. Interesting! When exporting to Fire while in model context, objects that are not grouped lose their smoothing. But when entering a group and then executing the export to Fire, the object IN this specific group lose their smoothing, while the objects in other groups and the ungrouped ones from before, are alle smoothened. Hope it makes sence.
3. Cool

This update is incredible!
Placement and intensity of IBL, depth of field and even Shift Lens is so easy to manage now.

/Stefan

[JDHill]

Just to be clear, exporting to Fire is no different than any other export, it uses the same library as the MXS export methods. In attempting to debug this for you, I'm now having trouble reproducing the issue at all -- I'm sure I have seen something similar before though. Can you provide a model which exhibits this behavior?

[Richard]

Reminding me there was already good Fire when I was 13 years old...

Hmmm, maybe not the one I saw when I was around 13 when I burnt down our garage whilst attempting to build a steam engine! Or the one when I was 18 when we lost the kitchen - again my fault! Fell asleep on the sofa whilst cooking chips!

Thanks for some great work again JD! This is a huge step!

[numerobis]

I have tested it now with sketchup v7 and v8. Very nice additions to the plugin!
But the new plugin doesn't like my network paths - local directories are working.
The old network entries got deleted and it's not possible for me to select any new network path. (Win7 x64)


...and one little thing: the tooltip of the mxs-export button displays "Maxwell Fire"

[JDHill]

Thanks, I think I see what you mean -- I'll check it out.

[l1407]

well done

[stefan_kaplan]

Just to be clear, exporting to Fire is no different than any other export, it uses the same library as the MXS export methods. In attempting to debug this for you, I'm now having trouble reproducing the issue at all -- I'm sure I have seen something similar before though. Can you provide a model which exhibits this behavior?

Here's a model and two "fires", that show the missing smoothing:

The grey cylinder is in the model context (outside any group) and the green is inside a group.
In left image, export to Fire was executed while "Camera / I" was in model context.
In right image, export to Fire was executed while "Camera / I" was inside the group that contains the green cylinder.
Smoothing seems to disappear from objects on same level as "Camera / I".

I rendered both situations, and the render result is exactly the same as in Fire: Smoothing is suddenly lost.

Another issue - contained in the same skp-file (uploaded again at 6.30pm) is with components that "cut opening"
Some faces render black:


Note, that I'm on OSX, SketchUp 8

/Stefan