Raytrace and Render Model Objects - Intergraph Smart Review - Help

View > Photo-Realism > Renderer

Renders and displays all or selected parts of your 3D model in a separate window. The Renderer loads object data, and then runs raytracing to render a quality image that includes true light reflection, transparency, refraction, and shadowing. These images enable you to see the true characteristics of the materials that you selected for your model by accurately mimicking the actual light reflections off your model surfaces. If you have a Virtual Reality (VR) device such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, you can view the 3D model through the Renderer window.

To use this functionality, you must install the Photo-Realism module.

Use a VR Device

As the model size increases, the VR performance can decrease, depending on your hardware capabilities.

1. Before you open the Renderer, connect your VR device to your system with the hardware calibrated and working, and make sure the VR runtime application is running.

2. Open the 3D model, and then load the required image in the Renderer as described in the workflow below.

   To indicate a successful VR device connection, the Renderer displays two views of the model; one view for the left eye and one view for the right eye. For detailed steps and information on how to calibrate your VR hardware and software settings for connection, refer to the documentation provided with your VR device.

   

3. To navigate when connected with the VR device, return to the Smart Review Main view and move around the model.

   

   • The 3Dconnexion mouse provides easy navigation in the Main view.

   • For smoother navigation, Turn off Auto Adjust motion rate: Motion > Settings > Rates > Auto Adjust.

General Workflow

1. To define the basic model area for rendering:

   1. Select View > Settings > Photo-Realism, and then click the Advanced tab.

   2. In the Extent for render consideration, click Everywhere to use the entire model or Only within the View Cone to narrow down the model area and objects that can be rendered.

   3. Click OK when you have finished to save your edits. For more information, see Advanced Tab (Photo-Realism Settings Dialog Box).

2. To further set up the model or section of the model to render, use the navigation controls.
   -OR-
   Select one or more objects in the Main view to render.

   The Renderer looks first to see if any objects are selected and only renders those objects. Otherwise the contents displayed in the Main view are rendered.

3. Click View > Photo-Realism > Renderer to load and render the model or selected objects.

   The Renderer raytraces the model or selected objects. The raytrace and load time depends on the size and complexity of the selected area or objects. The status bar at the bottom of the window shows the raytrace progress.

   Measurements, comments, the timestamp, and the view axis are not shown in the Renderer window.

   The example below shows a magnified view of a tank in the sample sprdemo.vue file in the Main view. The next example shows how it displays in the Renderer window.

   Main view:

   

   Renderer window:

   

4. As you move around in the model and make any lighting and background changes, the Renderer continues updating the contents of the Renderer window. Click Render to refresh the window so that it synchronizes with the Main view.

5. You can change the display performance of the Renderer window. From the Renderer toolbar, click Settings .

   The Renderer displays the Photo-Realism Settings dialog box.

6. Move the performance slider to the option that best provides the display performance you require. For more information on the settings, see Define Performance Options.

7. You can click the Unlock/Lock toggle to lock the Renderer window display.

   This freezes the Renderer window display view.

8. You can move around and make modifications in the Main view without affecting or causing the Renderer window to update.

9. When you have finished making changes in the Main view, click the Unlock/Lock toggle to unlock the Renderer window display.

   The Renderer automatically synchronizes with the Main view contents and renders the model or selected objects.

   Depending on the size and complexity of the model or selected objects in the Main view, the raytrace, load, or reload operations can take time. You can click Stop at any time to stop the loading and rendering processes. The Renderer window displays only the data that is loaded. You can also lock the Renderer window, navigate to a smaller, less dense section of the model, or select individual objects and then unlock the Renderer.

See Also

Renderer Window Toolbar