Anyone use the online model software Clara IO beta?  It allow you to model in web browser, and use Vray on the cloud to render.  I will sign up, but first wonder if anyone try this tool?  How are model tools?  Powerful like Blender?  Better?  Worst?

Attached Link: Clara IO Website

Thanks for the tip on this one. I signed up and took it for a quick test drive. Was a little slow at first but then I changed to a 64 bit browser and everything went smooth. :)

This definitely has a future. :D

I will be converting some of my free models to use with this service; ready-to-render with Vray materials, in the near future.  You will be able to access the models, and use them in your Clara IO scenes, complete with Vray materials, from the model library.  Anyone can import the OBJ versions and bring them into your existing scenes already, but I'll have them all set up with Vray materials for convenience.

As for the modeling tools in the application, they are very capable, but not something to be considered greater than what is being offered currently in most high-level modeling packages.  In fact, the whole system is very much like Maya.  If you've used Maya's poly modeling tools before, you'll feel right at home with the Clara IO poly modeling tool set.  They have all the necessary poly editing features you'd expect, and a decent variety of modifiers.  The modeling history stack is very similar to Maya.  They have about as many modifiers to use as Blender.  The selection tools are sufficient, but far more primitive to what I'm used to working with.  However, there shouldn't be any problems selecting subobjects or objects with this application.

Currently, I find the modeling workflow in this application very slow, because I haven't found a way to customize the tools, and assign hotkeys.  Not sure if you can set hotkeys yet.  The big plus here is access to Vray materials and rendering.

Merci, Luxxeon!  That is good news to hear of you making content for Clara IO!

I began to use, but already discover not good.  Select edge.  Ring edge.  Loop the ring.  Not possible?  This must be kidding with us?  If I select edge ring, I can not then loop that ring select.  Already I dislike this modelling tools.  I will try the Vray with imported models only, and model with my Blender.

Not really interested in another modeler.  I think Blender has all the tools any human being could ever hope to need for modeling, so I see no need to look anywhere else.

But I have to admit it's real cool that they give you access to Vray!  Is that true?  Can you really use this to import and render your models with Vray for free?

My first contribution to the Clara IO model library; Arbor Bench, converted for use with Clara IO.  If someone wants to test this out in one of their scenes, it would be appreciated.

 I just wanna be sure I did the conversion correctly.  I uploaded it as FBX, with embedded textures.  If this went OK, and no problems are reported, I'll convert many more of my free models to the Clara IO model library.

** https://clara.io/view/e165e236-c92b-40b5-a73a-941adf2ecf86**

@Hmorton:

Depending on your user plan, you get a certain amount of render time with the Vray cloud service.  The free Clara IO service plan appears to allow 1 hr rendertime with Vray Advanced over the cloud, from what I gather in the Plan preferences.

Sheesh, only 1 hr free?  I guess it's better than nothing, but it usually takes me 1 hr just to test render some stuff and get materials right.  Still, good for some people I suppose.

Lux, I see several of your models are featured on the front page of the Model Library over at Clara.IO.  They look great.  I opened a couple of them in a scene, and they looked fine.  I tested the beanbag and the Arbor Bench, and they both rendered very nicely with Vray Advanced in Clara, with maps and everything.

I noticed that when I imported the models, they contained triangulated faces, which I know you don't model them that way.  So I opened them from the OBJ I downloaded from your Turbosquid account, and also here on Rendo freestuff, and the same models in OBJ format were all quads, as expected.  Is the triangulation something you did on purpose for the Clara IO library, or did Clara's software somehow convert them to triangulated faces?

It wasn't Clara IO that triangulated the models, it was the conversion to FBX format, for some reason.  I'm looking into what I can do to stop that from happening when I use the FBX exporter from 3dsmax.  Thanks for the feedback.

Quote - It wasn't Clara IO that triangulated the models, it was the conversion to FBX format, for some reason.  I'm looking into what I can do to stop that from happening when I use the FBX exporter from 3dsmax.  Thanks for the feedback.

Be sure you don't have "triangulate" option enabled in the FBX exporter.  Also, I've heard this issue too when exporting embedded media, like textures in the FBX.  Regardless, the models load and render perfectly in Clara, even with the "hidden" edges exposed in the mesh.

I try Clara IO for short time, but incomplete compared to Blender.  I will use it on the run, for projects where I have no access to my Blender software, but only for that.

Luxxeon, your models are very good, but you do not model in Clara.  Why offer to it with your models, if not to showcase the software?

Don't know if this would be useful to many here, but I found a very interesting and useful (to me) script which allows you to upload models directly from 3dsmax to the Clara IO scene file with little effort.  This script is great for sharing assets, or projects, with colleagues over the web.  Of course, you'll need 3dsmax to utilize this script.

http://www.klaasnienhuis.nl/2014/02/connecting-clara-io-with-3ds-max/

Thanks.

Merci, Luxxeon.  I only hope to find a script such as that for Blender some day.