[Dexel]

On returning from duty abroad, I find the Z plugin update - surprise surprise, thank you very much.

But..
I run into trouble, even after a completely new formZ 6.1 install. Some previous posts already cover parts of these issues, I report nonetheless:
(rendering out of formZ 6.1 with the new plugin on a Mac G5 Quad)

1
by default, I cannot render more than 1 image at a time out of formZ

2
burn and gamma settings don't export
EDIT: it appears that my burn = 0 causes the value set to be overrun/misread. Any value sets with both > 0 export correctly.


3
environment settings don't export properly
It seems like all possible maxwell environment settings are being ignored. If no formZ sky is specified, all renders come black. If a formZ sky is specified, these settings prevail no matter what the plugin settings say.

For these tests, the formZ sun shines in Cologne, 10:00 hrs on February 12, whereas Maxwell sky is set to roughly the same long and lat, 16:00 hrs on day 60 (a little ahead, sorry for that glitch). So, seen from the north, formZ sun shadow should point to the right, Maxwell sun shadow to the left.


a
plugin: Maxwell sky dome
> looks like physical sky at 10:00 hrs


b
plugin: Maxwell physical sky + sun, 16:00 hrs
> looks like physical sky + sun at 10:00 hrs


c
plugin: formZ sky
> looks like physical sky at 10:00 hrs


d
plugin: formZ sky + sun
> looks like physical sky + sun at 10:00 hrs


e
plugin: HDR
> looks like physical sky at 10:00 hrs


The HDR fault I've seen reported and recognized here before. The others are my personal issues only? Please somebody look into this.

Right now it seems to me very much like I traded environment integration for material integration with this update - not really a step forward, as much as I appreciate the material integration.

Thank you
Sebastian

[juan]

Hi, we are working on these issues right now, there will be an update this week.

Kind regards,

Juan

[Gary]

Juan

please add this to the list

I have never been able to edit a maxwell surface style from with in Z. clicking the edit button on the maxwell tab of a surface stle does nothing. this happens before or after a maxwell surface is chosen. working on a mac.

any one else?

Gary

[Dexel]

Same here, Gary. MXED wont open from formZ material dialogue.
Juan, thanks alot for your efforts. Appreciate it very much!
S

[Dexel]

One more issue: formZ and Maxwell sun position seem to differ.
Same formZ settings, on the left Renderzone, right Maxwell (use formZ sky, sun enabled).
Either formZ or Maxwell has some special 10° North deviation..

[juan]

One more issue: formZ and Maxwell sun position seem to differ.
Same formZ settings, on the left Renderzone, right Maxwell (use formZ sky, sun enabled).
Either formZ or Maxwell has some special 10° North deviation..

Yes, we have noticed it too, it is strange, it seems that one of both sky models is aplying a correction in some cases..

We are working in the rest of the issues too, we would like to release a patch at the end of this week.

Kind regards,

Juan

[Dexel]

Looking forward to it, Juan.

Regarding the sun offset, it might be Maxwell calculating sun time, not zone time.

Above sample, Cologne, is approx 6° East, in +1 GMT time zone. True +1 sun time is at 15° East. There is roughly 9° difference between both in above images.

Here are three samples for a location on 15° East. Looking good.


Apparently formZ' model is not all correct as well. 1200 hrs, GMT +1, at 15° East should be exactly from south. Am I missing something?
EDIT There seem to be slight offsets depending on season. Astronomers will know better.

Now of course suspicions arise about Maxwell Sky and sun / zone time in general..

Good luck
S

[juan]

Hi all,

We have fixed some issues in the HDR/sky, and also in other areas and in v5.5 too. We will update the patch on monday.

Kind regards,

Juan

[johnrafferty]

Hi Juan!

Having upgraded now to 6.1 I am looking forward to the updated patch.
Is it still being released today?

Cheers

John