Fresh Update: V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max Now Supports 3ds Max 2015

May 29, 2014 by Leave a comment

V-Ray_Andrey-Kobushenko

A new update for V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max 2015 is now available for download. In addition to support for 3ds Max 2015, Chaos Group has added a new VrayPointParticleMtl material. This is a free update for current V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max users.

This update also includes:

  • V-Ray: Added option to the .vrmesh exporter to automatically create a Multi/Sub-Object material when exporting multiple objects in a single file
  • V-Ray RT CPU: Added lights include/exclude list support
  • V-Ray RT: Implemented showing Safe Frame when rendering in a viewport
  • VRayProxy: Added option to render particles as points
  • VRayProxy: Added option to enable/disable Alembic full names support in visibility lists
  • V-Ray MetaballsVRayProxy: Added support for hair and particles color channels from Alembic
  • VRayProxy: Make the “Animation offset” parameter animatable

    • To purchase additional licenses or for more information, please visit: ArchVision.com for the latest on feature update availability. Click product version for current purchase options.

    Licensed users may access the update directly from Chaos Group here.

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    LHB Minneapolis Office Renderings Submitted for LEED® CI Platinum

    March 10, 2014 by 3 Comments

    Gathering Space, LHB, Inc, Minneapolis

    Gathering Space, LHB, Inc, Minneapolis

    LHB is dedicated to being environmentally responsible, reducing long term operating costs, and improving the quality of life for their clients. This is true even when they are their own clients. LHB is pursuing LEED® CI Platinum certification for their Minneapolis office.

    In this project, RPC Content helps communicate the size and the new collaborative environment the Minneapolis LHB offices offer. The design features of the space, such as overhead fabric ductwork and LED lighting, are part of an effort to gain Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Platinum designation for commercial interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council.

    We always enjoy seeing customer projects and how they utilize RPC Content. In this project, renderings were completed in Revit. ArchVision RPC Content was ‘ghosted’ in Photoshop and then merged into the Revit scene for final output. Project design by Bruce Cornwall, models by Nick Vreeland, and renderings by Daniel Stine.

    For tutorials on RPC lighting and techniques, please visit our help site. To see how to place RPC Content into Revit scenes, view our video tutorials. Get started using RPC Content, download ArchVision Dashboard here.

    Meeting Spaces Final 03

    Meeting Space, LHB, Inc, Minneapolis

    LHB ranked as one of the top engineering and architectural firms in the nation by Engineering News-Record (ENR), Architectural Record, and as a 2013 Hot Firm by ZweigWhite.

    LHB ranked No. 381, up from No. 463 two years ago, in the ENR Top 500 Design Firms List. In addition, LHB placed No. 249 on Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms List, and No. 45 on The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List.

    Phone Booth Final 01

    Phone Booth, LHB, Inc, Minneapolis

    Want to see your firm featured?

    Share your project with us. Contact us at dfife@archvision.com

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    V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max Beta Announced

    September 5, 2013 by Leave a comment

    Image Credit: Marek Denko, Courtesy Chaos Group

    Image Credit: Marek Denko, Courtesy Chaos Group


    Chaos Group has officially announced the V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max Beta Program. ArchVision welcomes you to participate in this program and discover the advantages of the latest edition of the V-Ray render engine. Learn all about the V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max Beta program here.

    During the beta process, you will also have direct access to Chaos Group’s development team and the beta community via the V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max Forum.

    As a beta tester, you will have access to new V-Ray features including-:

    • Faster Ray Tracing: Faster Brute Force and Path Tracing calculations
    • New User Interface: New artist-friendly UI with easy access to common controls
    • Progressive Rendering: New path-traced rendering engine with intuitive set up
    • Quick Settings: New presets and controls for tuning quality and speed
    • VRmats: Universal V-Ray shader for use across multiple applications
    • New Shaders: New Skin shader, ray-traced SSS, and support for OSL
    • Improved Hair: Faster render speeds and optimized shading for hair and fur
    • Alembic: Integrated support for Alembic Caches
    • Advanced Color: Improved color workflow with support for LUTs, ICC, and OpenColorIO
    • Deep Data: Complete support for Deep Data and OpenEXR 2.0
    • Render Mask: Define render areas using an image mask
    • RT GPU Render Elements: Support for render element in V-Ray RT GPU
    • Improved Distributed Rendering: Automatic asset collection for Distributed Rendering

    Check out all of the V-Ray products currently available at ArchVision here. Visit this blog often for more news on the development of V-Ray 3.0 for 3ds Max.

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    5 Rockin’ Revit Presentation Tips from Steven Shell, Architect

    August 29, 2013 by 1 Comment

    Revit Tips: Marketing + Proposal Process

    Revit Tips: Marketing + Proposal Process (image: Daniel Hughes, Bradley BIM)

    When you see a great blog post, you have to share it! Everyone enjoys learning Tips & Tricks to improve their workflow and they become more valuable when they improve your presentation. Daniel Hughes, of Bradley BIM, storyboards architect Steven Shell’s tips to show you how to make your Revit presentations “POP” for consultants, contractors and facility owners — without using Revit rendering or Adobe Photoshop. Hughes summarizes the 5 basic tips:

    1) Turn On Ambient Shadows in Hidden Line View
    2) Add Background Image to Hidden Line View
    3) Apply Graphic Override to Individual Element
    4) Apply Graphic Override to Category
    5) Switch Hidden Line View to Realistic View

    See Hughes’ complete storyboard that starts with a standard, Revit hidden-line Camera View and goes to a Revit Realistic View: Revit Presentation Tips.

    Like Daniel Hughes, we highly recommend you sign up for Steven Shell’s class at Autodesk University 2013. Registration opens September 12, 2013.

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    ArchVision Dashboard Releases with New Features

    August 6, 2013 by 3 Comments

    ArchVision Dashboard

    ArchVision Dashboard just got better! This is a free update for all ArchVision users and is now available for download. Newly added features will improve your workflow. Check out the new features and improved user interface:

  • Drag & Drop support for RPC Content into Autodesk Revit 2013 & 2014, Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk 3ds Max     Design and Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture.
  • Management tools for RPC Plug-ins.
  • Organization tools for local and global RPC Content.
  • Simplified licensing system.

    • How do you get ArchVision Dashboard on your desktop?
    Users will receive an update notification or you may opt to download the installer here.

    Who needs ArchVision Dashboard?
    ArchVision Software License and All Access License holders definitely need it! There are a few users out there who are still using legacy versions of 3d software applications who should keep their existing ACM to allow support for older plug-ins. Not sure what to do? Please contact support@archvision.com.

    Special thanks to our beta testers who worked with our team to get the kinks worked out earlier this year. Because of their commitment to improving the ArchVision experience, this version of ArchVision Dashboard lays the ground work to enable us to develop several new features, including cloud rendering support, content creation and new admin tools.

    If you have any issues that come up during the install process, please contact us so we can help you quickly resolve.

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    Project Alpha: Green Building Doha, Qatar Leverages RPC Content in Animation

    March 6, 2013 by Leave a comment

    Project Alpha is an approximated 160,000 square meter development surrounded by 11 hectares of landscaping. It is comprised of a resort hotel, multi-residential condos, business center, commercial shops, museum, university, and exposition centers. Project Alpha promises to be one of the most advanced high rise development of its kind in the world.

    Submitted into a global competition for consideration by the Kingdom of Qatar, Project Alpha was selected as a to-be-built project in Doha, Qatar. CIVE, XV Studio (Xavier Vilalta i Sabartés) and fco3d collaborated on this project.

    ArchVision RPC Content user, Francisco J Penaloza, fco3d , produced the models, renderings and video animation. Francisco shared the video submission with us recently to discuss his use of RPC Content within the presentation. Thanks for sharing this project with us Francisco!

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    Kroger Co. rendering includes RPC Content to communicate re-design.

    February 6, 2013 by Leave a comment

    With over $90 Billion in sales and nearly 2500 supermarkets throughout the USA, The Kroger Company, is one of the largest grocer retailers in the country. Like countless other retailers with brick and mortar locations, the need to expand, re-design and re-brand is ongoing. The process often entails community meetings, developer meetings, zoning commissions and the like. Providing stakeholders renderings of buildings is standard fare in the design process. Renderings provide a visual representation of a proposed design and they can offer context to neighborhood, traffic patterns, building orientation, new walking paths, parking facilities and more.

    The Kroger on Euclid Ave in Lexington, KY, is a great example how to leverage RPC Content (People and Cars) in a scene to provide context. This particular facility is going from 38,000 square feet to 65,000 square feet.

    Kroger rendering, Euclid Ave, Lexington, KY. Image courtesy The Kroger Co.

    Kroger rendering, Euclid Ave, Lexington, KY. Image courtesy The Kroger Co.

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    Happy Holidays from ArchVision

    December 16, 2011 by Leave a comment

    We wish you the very best of holidays.


    On behalf of ArchVision, we wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year! 2011 was a milestone for ArchVision as we celebrated our 20th year in the industry. Thank you for your support over the years. We look to the coming year with much excitement.

    Download your very own 2.5D Moving Santa Claus RPC FREE here:

    Santa.zip (6.7MB)

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    Revit Architecture: Using Additional RPC Content from ArchVision

    November 18, 2011 by Leave a comment

    RPC Plants & Trees in Revit Architecture

    RPC Plants & Trees in Revit Architecture

    Many users refer to our video tutorials for tips and tricks using RPC Content in Revit Architecture. Another great resource is Autodesk. Autodesk provides a great series of Revit Architecture User Assistance documents.

    Topics include:

    • Creating an RPC Family
    • Specify a Render Appearance for an RPC Family
    • Create an Entourage Family
    • Using the ArchVision Content Manager
    • Using Additional RPC Content
    • Placing Plants and Entourage in a Project view
    • Changing the Size of Plants

    We encourage you to check them out. Happy rendering!

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    Autodesk University 2011: Expect to SEE and Learn a Lot

    November 4, 2011 by Leave a comment

    Autodesk University: Expect to SEE and Learn a Lot

    At the end of this month, Autodesk University will convene in Las Vegas, November 28 – December 1. This annual event is a great networking, learning and certification opportunity for both end users and software developers. Hundreds of classes will be available live and many are also offered online. For complete details visit: Autodesk University 2011

    Several ArchVision partners and friends will be exhibiting and/or attending this year. We encourage you to stop by and learn about their technologies. For a complete list of exhbitors, click here.

    ArchVision will be available to meet with customers one on one. To schedule a time with a member of the ArchVision team, please email Dee Fife, dfife at archvision.com.

    Tweet about Autodesk University 2011: #au2011

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