Anyone jumped and got it yet?

Any problems?, x.5 releases have a way of being worse than the full release so I was wondering if anyone had tried it yet?

Im curious about this too, can you offer us some more information about the GPU antialiasing please anyone who knows, or has it :D

I have it. No much problems. It is a pre-release Ok ;)
The GPU AA did not bring any positive performance on my system. Maybe I did something wrong? The new DOF is very fast. The Advanced Cloud control works perfect, I hope e-on add some different shapes in future. I do some more tests.

Mazak

Thanks for the info, thats a shame if its not doing much, what graphic card do you use mazak?

Cheers Mazak..

I couldn't afford to kep my maintenance plan earlier in the year so I'd have to buy it this time around, which is why I want to know if it's worth it, or just wait for Vue 10 to come out...LOL.

I use a GeForce GTX 480 with 1536 MB.
@thefixer I dont know your financial situation, but this is a mayor release with many new useful features. I would go for it.

Mazak

I post here the new features in 9.5 from Reference Manual:

Vue 9.5 Infinite & xStream – Reference Manual

What's New in Vue 9.5
The new features in 9.5 are:
• GPU Anti-Aliasing
• Fast Hybrid Depth of Field
• Matte Shadow
• MDD File Format
• Velocity Pass
• World-Browser Accessibility (in Vue xStream)
• Atmosphere Relighting
• Improved EcoPainting
• Localized Cloud Layers
• Advanced Cloud Control
• Interactive Texture Placement

GPU-Accelerated Anti-Aliasing
Vue 9.5 will now use the additional processing power provided by your GPU to accelerate the antialiasing
of thin polygon meshes.
As a result, anti-aliasing of such components is faster and produces much smoother results (with no
missing parts in animations).
For more information, refer to page 195.
** **

Fast Hybird Depth of Field
Vue 9.5 features a new method for rendering depth of field swiftly while optimizing visual
accuracy. This new technique represents a good alternative to blurring the picture in post, as it
replicates depth of field effects that cannot be achieved this way (such as hidden objects becoming
visible through the blur).
For more information about this feature, refer to page 99.

Matte Shadow / Reflection Materials
Vue 9.5 now features the ability to create matte shadow or reflection materials that generate all
information required for efficient compositing of shadows and reflections on real-world footage.
For more information about this feature, refer to page 311.
Vue 9.5 Infinite & xStream – Reference Manual

MDD File Format
The MDD file format packs together an exact copy of the geometry of an animated object for each
frame of the animation. This is ideal for importing animated geometry, as it preserves the exact
geometry of the source application across the entire animation. Vue 9.5 now fully supports the
importing of this format.
An option is provided to disable the refreshing of the geometry in order to avoid any slowdowns
while scrubbing through such animations (MDD files can include a lot of data).
For more information about this feature, refer to page 543.

Velocity Pass in Rendering Buffer
Vue 9.5 can generate velocity information in the multi-pass buffer used, for example, for the
application of motion-blur in a post processing application.
For more information about this feature, refer to page 191.

World Browser Accessibility
Vue’s World Browser is now available in xStream when running in integrated mode, giving you
direct access to Vue objects and materials.
Also, right-clicking on items in the EcoSystem population list lets you access the materials used by
this item, allowing you to edit them directly.
For more information about this feature, refer to page 634.

Atmosphere Relighting
On top of the general relighting options introduced by Vue 9, Vue 9.5 introduces the ability to
control post-render relighting of the atmosphere that includes separate controls for sun and ambient
lighting.
For more information, refer to page 212.

Improved EcoPainting
In 3ds Max and Cinema4D, EcoSystem painting on native objects is now done through the entire
brush (instead of just the brush center). This results in much more accurate control of the painted
instances.
Because of a limitation in 3ds Max, painting on complex native objects can slow down the
workflow severely. An additional option is therefore available in 3ds Max to accelerate painting on
any given object.
For more information, refer to page 654.
Vue 9.5 Infinite & xStream – Reference Manual

Localized Cloud Layers
On top of the ability to move cloud layers around interactively using the gizmos, Vue 9.5 now lets
you “extract” portions of your cloud layers.
If you like a specific part of a cloud layer, you can easily isolate it and even remove the rest. You
can also move these extracted portions around to another location.
For more information about this feature, refer to page 280.

Advanced Cloud Control
In order to grant you better control over the shape and look of your clouds, new outputs have been
added to the function graph.
Among other options, these new outputs let you control the altitude of the cloud layers (for
instance, so they appear to “go over” certain objects).
For more information about this feature, refer to page 345.

Texture Manipulation Dialog
This feature brings a new rotation parameter for image mapping and a new editor to act directly on
your mapping, using gizmos and live feedback. For Projected Texture Maps only, a Texture
Placement Editor can be accessed from both the Advanced Material Editor and the Function Editor
to allow more control over the placement of textures on both standard terrains and meshes.
For more information, refer to page 323.

Custom Star Maps
Vue 9.5 lets you load custom “deep space” maps as an alternative to the standard Vue stars. You
can even load images of distant constellations.
For more information, refer to page 290.

Information Strips on Renders
Vue 9.5 can add an optional strip under each picture with information about the picture.
You can choose what information is displayed, such as scene name, render time, image resolution,
etc.
For more information about this feature, refer to page 197.

Multiple UV Layers
Vue 9.5 now supports multiple UV layers (up to 4 layers) for improved compatibility with other 3D
applications that make use of multiple layers.
The different UV layers are accessible via the function graph.
Vue 9.5 Infinite & xStream – Reference Manual

Other Artistic Control Improvements
• Orbit and Pan controls in the Camera Control Center are now available simultaneously. If
nothing is selected, orbiting is done around the object in front of the camera.
• There is a new option to not update the geometry of animated elements when scrubbing
animations.
• Centralized Undo/Redo operations that include editor-specific operations.
• Brush picture is visible when painting with a pinned mask in the Terrain Editor.
Other Scenery Creation Improvements
• New camera backdrop option that lets you apply the effect of the atmosphere to the backdrop.
• New Vector-quantization node to create procedural terrains with terraces.
Other Interoperability Improvements
• Material option to be visible only to primary and shadow rays (no reflections/refraction).

Mazak

damn, yeah you would expect something good from that :(

ah well, cant win em all, think ill be waiting for vue 10 too sadly, also due to a lack of dough.

@Rich_Potter I have an answer why it did not wirk for me :)I did not use Background draw!

(from Manual)

Use GPU anti-aliasing: Since this can, in some instances, increase render times, it is now an option
you can change on a per-render basis. GPU anti-aliasing is not compatible with Standalone
rendering since this type of rendering doesn’t directly interact with any OpenGL processing.
Background draw also has to be enabled for this feature to work.

Mazak*

fair enough, hopefully this is just the start of them using GPU more and more for processing, by vue 15 itll probalby be super mega fast :D

Norton Internet Security doesn't like the setup.exe file, and thus the initial setup failed. Then I discovered that Norton had simply deleted the setup file.   However, I was able to download Vue 9.5 Inf. again from e-on, and once I disabled Norton's AntiVirus Auto Protect, the install was successful.  Anyone else with the same problem?

Ja I had the same problems, Norton was not very cooperative. :P And after installation Norton put the Vue9.5.exe in quarantine too. :laugh:

Mazak

I think that it is amusing to look at this page, at this announcement thread (note the date) and at this comment thread.

Anyway, time to renew subscription; the texture manipulation is really interesting.

and the SpaceNavigator no longer works in this version of 9.5

I didn't know TG2 could do it before, but from their Youtube video, looks more like candyfloss than volumetric clouds. It also seems hard to achieve in TG2 (says so in your TG forum link, Alex), whereas it's quite easy to set up in Vue. Render times are very long though, lots of samples to be computed, apparently.

I hope someone will make a tutorial about the Advanced Cloud control. The Tutorial in the 9.5 Manual confuses me a lot. :scared:

Mazak

I'm interested in just the matte shadow feature.  But E-on takes a few versions to get new features right.  Learned my lesson buying Vue upgrades in the past because of such and such new feature which turned out to be half baked and not ready for prime time.

I'm sure there will be a PLE soon, Shawn. Getting my 9.5 now, and will play this weekend.

Hein, just found this thrrad at Registered Forum: aquick fix for your 3D connexion mouse:

"It seems that there is no support for the 3DConnexion device in vue 9.5 (this could be due to the fact it is still a pre-release).
I rely very much on my SpacePilot so I copied the 3dconnexion.eon plug-in from vue 9 (plugins folder) in the plugins folder of vue 9.5 and it seems to work without advert effects.

Config:
Windows 7 x64
Vue xStream 9.5"

Hope this helps.

Thanks Bruno, that did the trick

Cool!

Plant-wise, are there additions to default Vue 9 items?

No new plants

I will have "What's new in Vue 9.5" videos in couple day as Geekatplay.com if you intrested.

Quote - I will have "What's new in Vue 9.5" videos in couple day as Geekatplay.com if you intrested.

Thank you a lot!

Thank you, volter! :thumbupboth:

Mazak

Posted my first Vue 9.5 render to my blog last night -  Blue Yonder - although no new  Vue 9.5 features in use in this yet. 

I had a play with the new fast DoF and I do want to use it in some pictures in anger.

I'm waiting for Vue 12 or 15 to make up for the extreme pricing for marginal buggy updates. 

We were so eager to get CobraEye's opinion. Thanks for chiming in. A lot to think about in so few words...

CobraEye

as I keep saying, go do some good art and show us you know WTF you are talking about, if  you want to be seen as anything other than a whining troll/5 year old, PLEASE? :)

Dear CobraEye, it is a .5 release so you cannot expect much work apart from what is required to keep Vue at a safe distance from Terragen2 :sneaky:.

As long as E-On is the market leader (read near monopolist) don't expect revolutions; luckily, developers of other firms are not tumbling their thumbs (watch in HQ) and sooner or later E-On will have to re-evaluate their complacency.

I'm working with the pre-release 5.5 Infinite now and I would love feed back from others using the product, not digresions into the future or knokcs on e-on software. I think all of us can get more out of the product, or if not being used, a better sense of it, if we stick to how this pre-release works.

I have been playing with it since its release. I have not as yet rendered my usual on it since our weather has been bad and I don't leave my computers on when that is the case. I plan in the next few days to do so. I have tried out a number of the options, texture manipulation dialog for projected textures, some of the new cloud movenment controls, new relighting addition, etc. So far everything works as advertized.

I hope others will add information on how this product works.

Quote - I'm working with the pre-release 5.5 Infinite now...

:woot: So the reverse time machine works!

Bye from someone who does not like being scalded like a nasty baby.

Quote - :woot: So the reverse time machine works! Bye from someone who does not like being scalded like a nasty baby.

Then don't act like one ? insert Rimshot FX here

Alex:

First: I think you owe everyone a serious apology, particularly those of us who reside in the southern USA. That particular group you invoked is =not= well thought of, never has been, nor has it ever been more than a very, very, very tiny minority of idiots, racists, and murderers.

Second: Yes, yes, we know you are in love with Terragen 2. Don't bother sending us pictures of the honeymoon.

Third: the 'GPU Acceleration' you refer to requires professional level workstation cards. Which don't do a real good job of game acceleration. And vice versa. And cost considerably more than desktop GPU cards (unless you get the basic work cards, of course).  E-on hasn't tossed aside the users who helped build their business like some other software companies have. At least yet. Generic GPU AA is not a bad addition, and doesn't eliminate anyone from the user pool.

Fourth: Yeah, things like Catmull Clark and pointcloud animation support are just marshmallow ad dreck. -Nobody- uses silly little things like =that=....

Oh, if only Rosity could figure out an 'ignore' feature........ sigh......

GPU rendering is great indeed, provided you have a professional graphic card. I use Octane, and the speed ratio compared to CPU rendering in C4D is not that great (of course C4D isn't an unbiased renderer, but my tests are done with Octane in raytrace mode), if any benefit at all, with a mid range game card.

Other major problem with GPU renderer is the memory required to render the scene. The available meory is them the one of your GPU, and if GPU can compute a lot faster than CPU, it can't host 8, 12 or 24 gigs of ram. Displacements and hi res textures can kill your gpu pretty fast.

The GPU based AA Vue 9.5 introduces is gbood only for very thin materials ( wires, billboards and such), and adds a bit of redner time. I think it's a start.

And don't forget that every Vue plant is unique, which can't be achieved in any other app for now.

And why do you always feel the need to offend people?  All this discussion could be done without the nasty comments.

FWIW, I am finding the Vue 9.5 pre-release to be much more stable than 9.0 on the Mac, plus rendering is so far proving to be quite faster than all previous versions ...actual milage may very. This is my first real test render and I was pleasantly surprised with what I got out of in such a short amount of time: Dawn Patrol. Now I've got just a few days to decide whether to pop for maintenance again which should include version 10 and perhaps 10.5.

JCD, it's very unlikely it will include 10.5, but 10, yes.

Me - I'm still on 8.4.  I think that'll probably be the last version for me unfortunately

I've deleted the extremely offensive post and that will NOT be tolerated on Renderosity.  Please keep all comments within our TOS.  Anyone that doesn't want to discuss the topic in a positive, productive way should just refrain from commenting at all.

Thanks

Stacey

Community Manager

I have created a thread with the information required to keep in touch with me. Do not bother to reply to this post or the one in that thread.

Hope that goodbye forever is not against the TOS...

Quote - JCD, it's very unlikely it will include 10.5, but 10, yes.

Perhaps, though one can only hope as I got both 9 and 9.5 out of my last maintenance plan. I went ahead and renewed to get the discount with a few days to go… now lets just hope we don't have another backsliding release that takes us a few steps back as they seem to be on a role.

JCD, I think, as long as it is published while your maintenance plan is still valid, you should get 10.5. As an example, I already know that, if I were not to renew my subscription and vue 10 is published as "usual" (beginning of November) then I will get it (my subscription ends the 30. of November)

I'm waiting for someone to test out the mdd support. I've only begun to learn Messiah, so that isn't within my scope just yet (and frankly, if it works better, then it will be the beginning of learning to rig, and shifting figure animation over to pm, as the controls are soooo droolworthy. Better would be Poser implementing mdd support, just to maybe speed that process, but if not, then the hard way...).

I've been having stability issues on the new CG box. But currently I haven't the debug software to dig into it, as it is running win7 Pro. Once that issue is beaten into submission, then we get to push the app hard...

I posted some tutorials about Vue 9.5 few more coming soon

http://www.geekatplay.com/tutorials6.php

Thank you very much Vladimir, very much appreciated :)

A side note about the 3dconnexion support: 3dconnexion started devloping a new software and driver combo that should allow us to use our device natively with any program (http://www.3dconnexion.fr/supported-software/3dxlabs.html). I haven't tried it because I have a SpacePilot and it is not supported yet (next beta). It might explain why there is no native support for the 3Dconnexion device in the new 9.5 (or, as I suggested in my post on the official forum, maybe they forgot to include it in the pre-release)

Anyway, this new driver/software combo could be interesting even for people who use poser and stuff like that since it will not only allow us to navigate the viewport but also actually easily configure the various butttons avaiable on the 3Dconnexion device.

I know, this is all a bit "off-topic" but I hope still useful.

Just finished watching the tutorials posted by Vladimir on the new vue 9.5 features. Very intersting :)

It's a pity that the "distance to object below" isn't accessible when editing a cloud layer. I think it would be the perfect candidate to control the z offset value.

I've just posted a complete rework of my sculpting clouds with images for Vue 9.5 with a video tutorial, two free mats, two free scenes and two free atmospheres.  There was a lot of background noise here so the video is silent...

Vue Cloud Sculpting Tutorial for Vue 9.5

Enjoy :-)

Thank you.

impish - I like that render on your blog.  I can imagine some new fancy aeroplane flying along into that.

Love esther

I have crashes of course, hardly worth mentioning when we're talking about vue, but more stable than my first vue version which was 4.

There is one bug I have noticed.  when I save a scene with an alpha plane inside a group and then open the scene I have to reload the alpha plane as it gets automatically resized to huge.

Love esther