I'll post another screendump next.

• Lars "bigbraader"

Check the post-render options, if lensglare is on, turn it off. Also try it without any other post-render effects. You may try rendering with "User Settings" with anti-aliasing set to "crisp".

• Lars

Attached Link: Hillside with Trees - Vue7 PLE

• Lars

Just unbelieveable. Thanks for the link.

Hi Gill -
You're wise to hesitate with the update! WAIT until they fix it.
I just found out that none of the custom settings in the "Options" are saved when you exit Vue, e.g. the number of undo's, plant draw quality etc. It goes back to the something very much like the default settings. It's more than just  an irritating bug!
I've reverted to the 7.4 beta (new clean re-install of Vue), which had the thing with the noise-TN, but otherwise worked.

About loading the objects: I run XP, and on my system the objects, atmospheres etc. are in an "e-on" folder in the Documents folder. Not "environment" in the programs folder, that's about the application environment.

• Lars

Hi -
I installed the "official" 7.4 (Complete) update today, and the previews are back! Both the clouds and the custom veg-files. 
And everything seems to work just fine.

BUT caution: When updating the first time, I got an error message (installation not being able to overwrite some small file) and the update was aborted, and Vue was gone! The exe file didn't exist.
I tried reinstalling several times, but the basic setup files seem to have been corrupted as well, and I got "out of memory" errors opening the standard libraries (plants, materials, atmospheres  etc.)
I had to delete the folder under "Documents and Settings", and then reinstall, and THEN everything worked, incl. the following re-updates. BIG relief!

• If you still got problems with the previews, I noticed that at least the cloud previews can be viewed if you do it manually, i. e. not using the icon shortcuts, but the "load object" option, and access the folder. Very strange!

• Lars

Hi -
I downloaded the 7.4 (Complete) beta a few days ago, and the metacloud preview is the same (only noise-TNs) for me . The strange thing: If you access the folder ("Clouds") manually, the previews are there anyway! So at least that's a workaround, until they fix it.

Otherwise, I think the new features (esp. the material painter) and improved memory handling are great.

• Lars

My deepest condolences.

Hi -
Good to know that this is a "known problem". I have Vue 7 Complete, and it's the same thing. I tried reinstalling a couple of times, but with the same results.
But it's easy to get around, I have a summer larch tree, and a green lime tree  - just edit the colour of the textures for the autumn versions, or edit the bitmap in an PS or the likes. I've made some new textures for the lime tree (beech & oak) and they look okay.
(But I think the geometry - however much you edit the trees - will always look "Vue-ish" .That's why I still rely very much on my static models.)
Happy rendering

• Lars

I agree, a very convincing demonstration of the fact that our senses aren't so much "recording realitity and absolutes" as "determining relevance and realitives". Another interesting example of the same principle (tactile, not visual) goes like this: You need 3 cups of water. One with rather hot (say, 45 C) water, one with cold (below 5 C) and one with room temperature (20 C). Now, put your left index finger in the hot water and the right in the cold one (or vice-versa, and use any finger you like etc.). Hold them there for about a minute or so. Then put the fingers in the cup with the room-temperature water. Now, tell me, can you trust your senses? I won't lecture on this, not the right place :) but the psychological implications are in fact immense, as the principle also applies to the way we interpret reality, depending of our past experiences and our present state of mind. You cannot trust your own judgements :)
Thanks again for this glorious link!

• Lars

Message edited on: 08/02/2005 13:09

Yes, you've got it :)
For everyone else: the tutorial should be available in the freestuff/miscelleneous section as soon as it has been approved.

• Cheers, Lars

Hi - I was so absorbed in writing my own message, that I missed out on this one in the first round, sorry. Of course I'm the "bad guy" posting the rendered photo as a provocation to open excactly this debate. Now, I don't want to repeat myself, so if you like, read my message :) - Lars

Hi Dani - Vue and Bryce use the same file extension *.mat for their material files, so it depends on which you've installed first. On my system, Vue mats reads as Bryce mats, but I've never had any problems with it, and you shouldn't either, as long as you keep the two separated (i.e. know which is which). The problem with the "black" materials, I guess, should be found in the location of the bitmap and function source files. Did you by chance move them to a folder/location of another name? Hopem this is helpful - Lars

Hi - thanks for the feedback, I'm so pleased that you like the tree. A few more trees may be available soon. I've done a lot of experimenting with Xfrog, and have quite a library of (more or less succesful) designs. Of course I'll only upload the ones I like myself :)

I too recommend designing the bushes in the tree lab. Bryce trees are much easier to handle than imported objects. As for the grass, I use Grass6 from Bantam3D ("Geese") - a brilliant little freeware program that creates custom grasses and other kinds of ground cover in SMALL obj-files. Get it here: www.bantam3d.com On "advanced tree technique" take a look in my gallery for some tips-n-tricks, there you'll find some examples of the grass "in action". And, Dryfly's gallery is a must ;o) Have a nice weekend.