IRender nXt Version 7.0

IRender nXt 7.0 Features for SketchUp Renderings - Option Styles, View Wizard, ArchVision RPCs etc.
Keywords:

Render Plus systems announces the release of IRender nXt 7.0 for Trimble SketchUp

IRender nXt is a powerful plugin for rendering high-resolution images right inside SketchUp. IRender nXt is fully-integrated with Sketch Up materials, lighting, and components for complete control of interior, exterior, daytime or night-time scenes.

IRender nXt 7.0 makes it easier for designers to build render-ready SketchUp models and quickly fine-tune render settings by providing light sources, reflective properties, translucency, refraction and other rendering features.

Version 7.0 is focused on improving the rendering workflow with easy to use controls for render settings. IRender nXt 7.0 has been developed to help you make great renderings faster.

Version 7.0 Highlights

--- New 7.0 Features and Improvements ---

SketchUp 2017	Added support for SketchUp 2017 - both 64-bit and 32-bit. To use Render Plus extensions with SketchUp 2017 (Make or Pro) download and install the latest version of ArielVision, IRender nXt, or 3D Design Studio. (Changes to SketchUp 2017 required several important updates to maintain compatibility with SketchUp.) See: SketchUp 2017
IES Lights	Choose from 30 IES Preset Light Profiles or browse the Internet for manufacturers' IES files. More realistic lighting is achieved when you select a lighting profile that matches the fixture you're adding to your SketchUp model.
Material Styles	Material Styles makes it easy to study design alternatives and present options to clients for any new construction, renovation, and remodel project. This feature is ideally suited to architects, interior designers, and anyone who uses SketchUp models to explore design decisions in more detail. Just open the SketchUp model, assign materials, and save the style by name. Create and store as many styles as you need to explore, preserve, and recall your design options for the project.
Auto Reflection	We added a new Auto Reflection feature. Set reflection intensity and sharpness based on word matching in material names. For example, set all materials containing the word metal to Reflective. See: Auto Reflection
ArchVision RPCs	IRender nXt and ArieVision will now render ArchVision RPCs placed directly into SketchUp models. See: RPC Objects
Rendering Plants as 2D images	Added a feature to set all or some TreeMaker plants to render as simple 2D Images. All plants can be set to render as 2D images or 3D plants with new buttons on the Setup Options - Plants tab. Individual plants can be set using the right click edit, Edit Plant. It can take considerably longer to render fractal plants than to render the 2D images of plants stored in SketchUp. See: Rendering Plants as 2D images
Styles Tab	Placed the View Wizard , Auto Reflection Wizard, Batch Rendering Settings and other items on the Styles Tab See: Styles Tab

More Features

--- Features and Improvements ---

Ornamental Grasses	Use the new template in the Tree Editor to create ground cover. See: Ground Cover
View_Wizard	Unlike SketchUp scenes, our Views are easily shared from one model to another. See: View_Wizard
Rename_Materials	Change the name of any materials in the model. Right-Click the name on in the Select Material to Place dialog and select Rename.
Replace Materials	We make it easy to change material assignments in the model.

User Interface Changes

New Toolbar Icons

IRender nXt Toolbar

• The Setup Icon has changed to a gear, replacing the clipboard

• We have added a new Materials Styles icon

• See: IRender nXt Toolbar

Batch Rendering Toolbar

• The Setup Icon has changed to a gear, replacing the clipboard

• We have added a new 'Statistics icon

• See: IRender Batch Toolbar Functions

New Setup Options Dialog

A new layout with tabs for the Setup Options dialog. In addition, Setup Options includes new features:

1. Pin - prevents the software from taking down the menu. This is a pin/unpin toggle.
2. Expand - to display more setup options
3. Search - for Setup Options specific features on this dialog (we relocated a few, so this is helpful!)

The expanded Setup Options dialog shows more rendering options, and:

1. Pin - prevents the software from taking down the menu. This is a pin/unpin toggle.
2. Collapse - to display fewer setup options
3. Search - for Setup Options specific features on this dialog (we relocated a few, so this is helpful!)

Lumens vs Watts

Because of fluorescent lights and LED lights, we have changed the default units for lights to Lumens instead of Watts.

To use Watts, check this box on the Lights Setup Tab.
(Your preference will be retained.)

Other Features

Make Tileable	Added a Make Tileable tool to the Material Texture dialog, to create repeatable texture images more easily.
Automatic Luminance	Added locking of Automatic Luminance to allow lighting channel changes without automatic adjustments in scene brightness.
Lighting Channels	Added a check box to Lighting Channels to quickly turn them on and off without losing the slider settings.
HDRi Skies	Improved slider bar for HDRi rotations to show changes in image.
Lighting Channels	Added "Automatically include all Lighting Channels" check box.
Background Images	Added the ability to store Background images in the SketchUp model, for portability. This feature can be enabled on the Options/Background tab.
RPC Content	Added a couple more search paths for finding of the RPC Content manager.
Animation	Add Codec choices for Animations.
Lighting Channels	Fixed Animations to be able to use the same Average Luminance that is shown on the Lighting Channels dialog when viewed from the Render Window.
Render Tab	Added a check box to the More option tab to set Low Priority for the rendering process.

More Enhancements and Updates

Additions to a Popular Dialog

Sample Models and Renderings Select and start with Sample Models Additions to the Sample Models and Tutorials dialog include tabs for Rendering Tips, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Tip of the Day, and a link to popular IRender nXt Videos. See: Sample Models and Renderings

IRender Ready Lights, Mirrors, and Trees

IRender Ready Content IRender Ready content in 3D Warehouse Our special collection in the Trimble SketchUp 3D Warehouse includes lights, mirrors and other components that are ready for use with IRender. Lighting, Reflection and other render settings are already stored in the the components, making these components IRender Ready. See: IRender Ready Content

"Background / Layer" Wizard

Image Layer Wizard Positioning and sizing images with the Image Layer Wizard The Image Layer Wizard makes it easy to scale and position foreground and background images with your rendering. Watch the Video: HDRi Positioning Video How to use it Download the latest version of IRender nXt Select Position/Preview from the Background Setup Tab. See: Image Layer Wizard

Lights Query and Edit Wizard

Lights Query and Edit Wizard Query and Edit Lights in Model The Lights Query and Edit Wizard makes it easy to find, examine, and edit the artificial lights you have placed in your SketchUp Model for rendering with IRender nXt. This new dialog, available from the Query and Edit Lights in Model button on the Lights Tab of the IRender nXt Options Wizard allows you to select, view, and edit lights in your model. See: Lights Query and Edit Wizard

Rotate View While Rendering

Rotate View While Rendering View and Rotate model while rendering. - The View Rotate rendering toolbar button lets you change the view and zoom after rendering, and re-render without having to change the view in SketchUp, re-extract and re-render the model. While changing views, the original model from SketchUp is shown with its SketchUp colors and textures. Change the view as desired and re-render when done. See: Rotate View While Rendering

HDRi Lighting Preset

HDRi Lighting Preset Scene illuminated by HDRi Sky. The HDRi Sky preset loads a HDRi background and sky - Bear Mountain - and make other settings to make the sky visible. We have been able to use HDRi Skies for lighting in the past, but the new Lighting Preset makes it easy to set one up with a single click. After selecting this preset, you can easily use the HDRi tab to select other skies. See: HDRi Lighting Preset