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Sunday, January 11, 2015

LuxRender is a physically based and unbiased rendering engine - info and How To Video

So, I was searching through the Apps, on my Fedora System today. And I found an App called Lux (full name LuxRender). I didn't remember what it was or ever using it. So, I opened it up to see what it was. At first I thought it was a Video Rendering App. But, after clicking on to their Web Site. Via, the Help Menu. I discovered this...

Features - LuxRender Wiki

LuxRender is a physically based and unbiased rendering engine. Based on state of the art algorithms, LuxRender simulates the flow of light according to physical equations, thus producing realistic images of photographic quality.

Features overview:

Fully spectral, physically-based core.
Multiple rendering algorithms, including Kelemen-style metropolis light transport, photon mapping, and direct lighting.
Physically-based materials, including realistic simulations of metal, glass and car paint as well as traditional matte and glossy materials.
Spectral lighting system, including Gaussian and blackbody color definitions as well as RGB.
Light Groups allow for instantaneous preview and calibration of scene lighting.
Object-based participating media, for absorption, atmospheric effects, and unbiased multiple scattering (SSS).
Perspective, orthographic, and equirectangular cameras, with simulations including motion blur, depth of field, film response, bloom, and glare.
High dynamic range CIE XYZ frame buffer, which can be saved to disk to allow renders to be merged and resumed.
Built-in job queue and cooperative network rendering.
Support for multiple 3D packages, including Blender, Autodesk 3DS Max, DAZ Studio, Google Sketchup, and Autodesk Softimage.
Cross-platform with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X support.
100% free and open source, for both personal and commercial use, licensed under the GNU GPL version 3.

Read More...
http://www.luxrender.net/wiki/Features

I found a good How To Video. That shows and explains how to use LinuxRender in Blender (the 3D Modeling App)....

LuxRender/Blender 2.5 Water Glass Tutorial

from Jason Clarke 3 years ago Not Yet Rated

In this video, I'll cover:

-Box-modeling a water glass for proper volumetric refraction.

-Creating and configuring LuxRender volumes in Blender 2.5.

-Using those volumes with the Glass2 material to match up with the aforementioned model.

-Brief overview of render settings.

-BONUS: Sneak peak at LuxRender's future SPPM mode. :)

NOTE: I made a small modeling mistake in this tutorial. I made both a bottom face for the surface tension, and a top face for the water mesh. You only need one of them, so just delete one.

For more on the subject, like texturing the floor and playing with the water color, see blendercookie.com/2011/05/03/rendering-a-liquid-filled-glass-in-luxrender/

LuxRender/Blender 2.5 Water Glass Tutorial from Jason Clarke on Vimeo.

Video Link...
http://vimeo.com/21139061

Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQ Page, has allot of usefull info, as well...
http://www.luxrender.net/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions#Understanding_LuxRender

User documentation

Go there...
http://www.luxrender.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

After, reading through, all of this and watching, the first few minutes of the video. I realize, that I would have a big learning curve. If I were to try and use this App and or Blender 3D. Since, I have never done any 3D Work, at all. But, I wanted to Post this info, for my self to use later and for anyone else, who may find this interesting...

Don