United3dArtists Archive

Ok so I've been experimenting with trueSpace for a few weeks now, and would like to know how to make better quality renders.

From what I can understand, trueSpace scenes can be rendered using a program called Vray, which has to be purchased seperately. It looks like Vray creates far better images than the renderers that come with tS, and can also render on the workspace side. Where should I buy this program from? and what version of it? I am also on a very limited budget, so are there any other programs that are comparable but more affordable?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, and thanks in advance for your replies.

Hi MoltenStorm,

Thanks for the question. First, V-Ray is not the only renderer for trueSpace. In fact it was an option that used to cost extra. trueSpace comes with two renderers and uses a third. They are a part of the full version of trueSpace 7.61 (with both the Model Side and Workspace Side). If you choose to use the Workspace-only trueSpace 7.61 (Std/Rosetta), then it will include native support for only one renderer. See the list below.

Second, V-Ray is no longer available for purchase. It was a commercial renderer that used to cost US$199 (a very low price for a renderer of its speed and quality). It is still available for other 3D programs and it costs much more. Sadly, since it is no longer available for trueSpace, you can't buy a new copy for any price.

The full version of trueSpace 7.61 (with both the Model Side and Workspace Side) comes with the following renderers:

• LightWorks (included with trueSpace) -- Model Side only.
• VirtuaLight (included with trueSpace) -- Model Side only.
• DirectX 9c or later (used by trueSpace - provided by Microsoft for Windows) -- Workspace Side only.

The Workspace-only version of trueSpace 7.61 (Std/Rosetta) comes with native support only for DirectX.

I think some artists don't realize just how good the above renderers are. They can each produce great results and they each have their strengths and weaknesses. But the biggest impediment to good results is experience. Each renderer is unique and each one requires unique materials for surfacing your models and unique lights for illuminating them. That's where the skill and experience come in. Choose the right settings, materials and lights and you can get magical results. Choose the wrong ones and you get poor results.

DirectX is a real-time renderer that renders on the fly without delay (unless your scene and surfaces are very complex). V-Ray is an off-line renderer which means that it works in the background doing more elaborate ray-tracing to create a greater level of photorealism. It can take seconds or it can take hours to render a scene, depending on the details.

While V-Ray is no longer available for new users, there are some alternatives for a high-quality off-line renderer and some are quite inexpensive...

• Dribble (RenderMan) -- Model Side only (but this may change in the future).
• Indigo -- Workspace Side only.
• YafaRay -- Workspace Side only.

Each of these renderers will take time to master and new users should not expect to master them overnight. Here is more information:

• Dribble is a trueSpace add-on that enables it to use RenderMan-compliant renderers. You'll need both Dribble and a RenderMan-compliant renderer. Dribble, itself, costs about US$35 and can be purchased at the coolpowers website. There are a number of RenderMan-compliant renderers and some of them are free (such as a single license of 3Delight) and some are not. See the coolpowers website for more information.
• The Indigo exporter add-on for trueSpace is available for free from the Caligari forums (be sure to read the entire "trueSpace Indigo update" thread---the latest downloads are near the end). You'll also need the Indigo renderer, itself, and the trueSpace add-on only works with an older 1.0.9 version of the Indigo renderer which is available for free from the Indigo Renderer website. Note: Indigo is a commercial renderer and the current 2.x version is not free (nor is there a trueSpace exporter for it).
• YafaRay4tS is a shareware add-on for trueSpace that enables it to use the open-source YafaRay renderer. You'll need both the YafaRay4tS add-on and the YafaRay renderer. YafaRay4tS can be downloaded for free from the YafaRay for trueSpace Project website and we strongly encourage all users to donate US$10 so development can continue. The YafaRay renderer, itself, can be downloaded for free from the YafaRay website.

Best regards, First Light

First Light,

Thank you very much for clarifying that! These are exactly the answers I have been looking for. I will definitely be looking into YafaRay, as it seems to fit well into my budget

Thanks again,
MoltenStorm

I just downloaded truespace,the full installation.If I understand correctly,truespace comes with its own renderer,everything is included in truespace to render an .avi file,and nothing else is needed,right?
thanks very much for your help.

deborahjeancrain wrote:I just downloaded truespace,the full installation.If I understand correctly,truespace comes with its own renderer,everything is included in truespace to render an .avi file,and nothing else is needed,right?
thanks very much for your help.

Yes, that's correct. But please be aware that trueSpace is a general-purpose 3D program. Other 3D programs have features and capabilities that trueSpace doesn't have. So some artists use multiple programs, importing and exporting their work from one program to the next for different stages of a design.

For more information about trueSpace, please see our FAQs page (frequently asked questions).

Best regards, First Light

Just for curiosity what TS doesn't have?