Time For A Change

Rob Rodriguez Blog has moved to a new self hosted account.  All the content found at this blog location has been packed up and moved to the new site.  I've always had control over the content of my blog but the new blog will give me 100% control over the layout, graphics and everything else you see.  I'd like to thank SolidWorks for the opportunity they extended back in 2006 to begin blogging.  With a bit of a push from Richard Doyle I was one of the first SolidWorks bloggers.  So, change your bookmarks and follow me to the new blog location.  We'll still be talking about SolidWorks with a focus on SolidWorks visualization tools and the SolidWorks user community.

Just In Time For The Holidays. A Present For PhotoView 360 Users

If you haven't heard, SolidWorks 2009 SP 2.0 EV has been released.  Based on past experience this means 2009 SP 2.0 is about 2 weeks away providing there are no show stopping issues in the EV release.  I can't locate a fixed SPR list for SP 2.0 but I'm hoping there are some fixes and enhancements on tap for PhotoView 360.  Will decals be supported in SP 2.0?  Will custom materials be supported in SP 2.0?  Will cameras be supported in SP 2.0?  I don't know.  I'd like these items to be included in the next SP but it's probably just wishful thinking on my part. 

I do however know one thing that will be added to PhotoView 360 in SP2.0 EV and SP 2.0.  In PhotoView 360 SP 2.0 navigate to the "help" button and you'll find a link to a new PhotoView 360 resources website.  The new website is brought to you by Luxology which created the Nexus engine that powers PhotoView 360.  It's great to see Luxology/SolidWorks offering an official resources site for PhotoView 360 users.  This is something Photoworks has lacked over the years since SolidWorks left this task up to the SolidWorks user community to create on it's own.  The resources site really fits in with the "rendering for everyone" theme SolidWorks has been marketing PhotoView 360 with.

What's at the Site? There are only a few things currently on the site but I'm sure over time the content will grow. 

Right now you'll find a "Presets" area that contains some new materials and environments for  PhotoView 360.  In addition to materials and environments the "Presets" area also has a video explaining how to install the new presets and a suggestions area where you can request specific materials and environments to be added.

You'll also find an FAQ area that gives a small amount of information about PhotoView 360 and Luxology.  The last question in the FAQ area is the one that interests me the most.  The question let's users know Luxology will have a booth At SolidWorks World 2009.  I can't wait to meet these guys (and girls).  I'm also hoping they'll have some new future functionality on display at World.

If you're a PhotoView 360 user here's your present.  You don't have to spend hours downloading SP2.0 EV or SP 2.0 (which are probably in excess of 1.5 gigs!)  to gain access to the website link.  I'll give it to you right here :)  Happy Holidays.

PhotoWorks Made Easy

What do you think of the image to the left?  I think it's a great rendering.  Nice lighting, good detail, materials look realistic, put it on a website or brochure and people would think it's a photograph.  Would you believe it was created using PhotoWorks?  It was. Created using PhotoWorks by the Legendary Mike J Wilson.

If you fit into any of the categories below you need to check out the October Tips & Tricks newsletter from Triaxial Design.

• A new PhotoWorks user finding it difficult to create good quality images.
• An occasional PhotoWorks user who's used the product for a while but still can't achieve your desired results.
• You'd like to be a PhotoWorks user but don't have the time to invest in learning the product.
• Looking for an easier, faster, better way to create high quality images using PhotoWorks.

  Mike J Wilson is the author of the newsletter which is a 5 page PDF complete with example files.  If you have time to read through the 5 pages and follow their instructions I guarantee you'll be creating good quality PhotoWorks renderings with ease.  After checking out the newsletter follow the thread on the SolidWorks discussion forum for some follow up questions and answers.

Solid Jott, You've Got To Check This Out!

Over the last couple of months I have been buried in work and this means I haven't had a lot of time to blog.  I'm still buried in work, in fact I'm processing a lengthy fully rendered animation as I'm posting this but some e-mail landed in my mail box today I had to share with you.  I think you're going to like it.

About 3 weeks ago Ben Eadie dropped me a note letting me know he had set up a new SolidWorks help site, SolidJott.  Ben has been a very active guy in the SolidWorks community for many years so I was not surprised he was once again finding a new way to help SolidWorks users.  While I liked the idea of SolidJott I wasn't sure how much I would use it myself.  There are already a number of on-line resources I use to gain and give SolidWorks help and I wasn't sure I needed more.  That thinking changed today because Ben has done something that moves his SolidWorks help site in front of the others.  What has Ben done to make me want to give up my long used on-line help resources?  He's created a plug-in that adds SolidJott right into the SolidWorks Task Pane.  You no longer have to leave SolidWorks to ask or answer a SolidWorks question from your peers.  You simply open the SolidJott tab on the Task Pane and your ready.  It's so simple, so easy, I can't believe someone hasn't done this already.  According to Ben's e-mail the SolidJott plug-in will become even better.  Soon users will have the ability to capture screen shots, "pack n go" the file they are working and add it directly to the SolidJott post all without ever leaving SolidWorks or switching windows.  NICE!

You can download the SolidJott plugin, install it, and create a user account in less than 30 seconds.  It's time well spent, give it a try.  See you on SolidJott. :)

One of These Images Will Cross the Finish Line First

The images for the November PhotoWorks Rendering Contest have been posted for voting.  For those that don't remember the November model was the Mach 4 Speed Racer donated by Ricky Jordan.  We have some excellent entries to choose from this month.  One of these images is going to cross the finish line first and that will be decided by you.  This month's winner will be recieving a highly sought after but hard to come by SolidWorks Laptop back pack.  Good luck. :)

SW 2009 SP1.0

SolidWorks 2009 SP1.0 is now available to all subscription customers.  Visit the Customer portal to download your copy and review the resolved SPR's.

Are You Ready For Some Football!

The football helmet model turned out to be popular, somehow I knew it would.  There are 19 images posted for voting in the October PhotoWorks Rendering Contest.  Stop by sometime this week and vote for your favorite.  The winner will recieve a SolidWorks branded prize and a whole lot of home page space at my web site.

For the November contest we have a model donated by fellow "SolidWorks Blog Squad" member Ricky Jordan.  Somewhere between his full time job, family and helpful videos he's been posting to his blog, Ricky has found time to model the Mach4 Racer.  Luckily for us he's made it available to the world!  Thanks Ricky. Download the model and show Ricky your stuff.  Remember, you are now free to use PhotoWorks and PhotoView 360 to create your entry.

What's in the October Issue of Develop 3D Magazine?

In June Develop 3D magazine was targeted and launched at informing readers about the tools and processes surrounding product development.  As you would expect each monthly issue has software reviews for a wide spectrum of the design process including, modeling, analyzing, rendering, rapid prototyping and colaboration.  Of course you'll also find hardware information for things such as workstations, motion controllers, input devices, scanners and printers.  What you may not expect and one of the features I like the best are articles covering succesful companies and products like Lego and KTM.   I've read every issue since day one and I'd say Develop 3D scores a direct hit. 

The October issue (available now) will be of interest to SolidWorks users trying to render their models using PhotoWorks or PhotoView 360.  I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to write an article sharing some tips on creating better images using PhotoWorks.  Al Dean, Editor of Develop 3D, gives his review of PhotoView 360.  If you're rendering your CAD models using these SolidWorks provided tools you'll want to have a look.  Sign up for you're free copy.

What Did You Miss At NESWUC? See For Yourself.

The NorthEastern SolidWorks User Conference has come and gone.  While I was busy writing about the conference Ed Gebo (co-Chair of CMNC-SWUG) was busy putting together a video.  I think you'll agree the video is better than my article :)  Nice Job Ed.

If you're having problems playing the video here is a direct link.

PhotoView 360 vs PhotoWorks: User Interface

This is the final post in a series covering PhotoView 360 and PhotoWorks.  Over the past four days I've compared PhotoView 360 and PhotoWorks in the following areas. 

·        setting up materials
·      setting up your rendering view
·        setting up environments & lighting
·        image output

Today we'll cover the final area, user interface and I'll also offer some of my own personal conclusions on how I'll use the two software's.  Before we get started I'd like to clarify a couple of things.

If you own SolidWorks Office or higher both PhotoWorks and PhotoView 360 are included with the product.  If you own the base SolidWorks package neither software is included.

PhotoWorks is a more mature SolidWorks rendering product and is in full release state (SP 0.0) along with SolidWorks 2009 (SP 0.0). PhotoView 360 is a brand new rendering offering from SolidWorks and is still in pre-release state.  It has been my experience that pre-release versions of software don't typically differ all that much from released (SP 0.0) versions of software except for unresolved bug and performance issues.  With that said, it's possible the released (SP 0.0) version of PhotoView 360 will have more features than those talked about here.

PhotoView 360 vs PhotoWorks: User Interface.

PhotoView 360. The user interface in PhotoView 360 could be classified as minimalistic.  Because PhotoView 360 operates in its own window you don't have the overhead of the SolidWorks interface scattered around you.  You can choose to open the material, environment and render settings tool palettes when needed or dock them on screen in any position you choose to be visible all the time.  All settings and tools are easy to find and most are easy to use with the exception of some of the material controls.  PhotoView 360's simplified user interface really allows a new user to set up and create a rendering quickly with very good results and little input.  A couple things I really miss from PhotoWorks is the SolidWorks feature tree and the render manager.  Having a feature tree in PhotoView 360 could make material application easier, make hiding and showing components easer and it could also double as a render manager.  It would be a way for photoView 360 to offer more rendering information to the user which is currently lacking.

PhotoWorks.  Since PhotoWorks is a totally integrated product inside of SolidWorks the user interface coexists and works very much like SolidWorks.  You have access to the feature tree and direct access to modeling tools if changes to your model need to be made.  The task pane houses the appearances and their application is as easy as drag and drop.  I especially like the ability to use the feature tree to assign your materials to various parts (in an assembly) and especially features of parts.  The PhotoWorks interface seems to fall short in two places, the scene editor and PhotoWorks options palette.  Both of these offer very powerful controls that can make the difference between a good rendering and a great rendering but it takes time to discover these controls exist and how to use them.  I think both could benefit from a redesign.

PhotoView 360 vs PhotoWorks in user interface.  Once a person learns and becomes comfortable with the PhotoWorks interface I think their able to use it effectively.  The problem is the time required to do this, most people either don't have it or don't want to invest it. On the flip side the PhotoView 360 user interface is very easy to navigate and learn from the first opening of the product.  The first time user may not feel 100% comfortable but when they produce a very nice image in a short amount of time it encourages them to invest a bit more time to feel that comfort level.  PhotoView 360 has also simplified the process to achieve very good images.  You don't need to worry about lighting settings, indirect illumination settings, anti-aliasing settings, caustics settings,etc, etc, etc.  All you have to do is apply your materials, choose the environment you like best and decide the quality you need, good, better, best.  PhotoView 360 takes care of the rest and gives you a great image.  No doubt PhotoView 360 has to win the user interface category.

PhotoView 360 vs PhotoWorks: Conclusion.

If you've followed along this week waiting for me to name an over all winner between PhotoView 360 and PhotoWorks then you might be disappointed.  It was never my intention to decide for you which one is better.  My intention was to share my thoughts with you on each in different areas.  Only you can decide which software will work better for you based on your needs. 

For most of my rendering needs PhotoWorks wins out over PhotoView 360.  I need the better texture mapping, ability to create and save custom materials, decal support and camera controls that PhotoWorks provides to complete a professional level of renderings.  If you have non textural materials and need to create a quick one off (or 5 color options of the same product) rendering for a website, brochure, or design review then PhotoView 360 is a great product and a good choice.  PhotoView 360 is easy to use, easy to learn and will give even the novice user great images in a very short amount of time.  If you need to create 75 renderings of an entire product line all viewed from the exact same point with warning labels and logos and the products have textural materials (wood, textured metal, carbon fiber for example) then PhotoWorks would probably be the better choice.  If you need to create and save custom materials (especially textural materials) for your product renderings then PhotoWorks is currently your only choice between the two.    Rendering products like PhotoView 360 represent the future of photo-realistic rendering and it's exciting technology.  I'm hoping SolidWorks will develop PhotoView 360 at a much faster rate than the yearly cycle of SolidWorks.  PhotoView 360 is a great product but suffers from a small feature set.  I fully expect this to change in time and at some point I'm sure the feature set of PhotoView 360 will match and probably exceed that of PhotoWorks.  Until then I'll continue to use PhotoView 360 when appropriate but I'll spend the majority of my time using PhotoWorks for the rendering work I do.