ArchVision Viewport for Adobe Photoshop CS6 Update

ArchVision Viewport for Adobe Photoshop CS6

ArchVision Viewport for Adobe Photoshop CS6


ArchVision Viewport for Adobe Photoshop CS6 is now available. Both 32-bit and 64-bit installers are available and can be accessed via the following links:

ArchVision Viewport for Adobe Photoshop CS6 32-bit (version 4.0.0.0)
ArchVision Viewport for Adobe Photoshop CS6 64-bit (version 4.0.0.0)

ArchVision Viewport allows users to easily place RPCs into their Adobe Photoshop scenes. ArchVision Viewport licenses are included with ArchVision Software Licenses and may be purchased here: www.archvision.com.

Learn all about using ArchVision Viewport here:
http://help.archvision.com

ArchVision RPC Content: December Plants Additions (2)

December_19_2012_thumbnail_new_templateThe holidays are quickly approaching here at ArchVision and greens and reds are everywhere. One more place you’ll find green and red is in the new ArchVision RPC content addition December Plants Additions (2). This collection includes vivacious green flowering shrub [9], outdoor plant [6] a small red-leafed plant and outdoor plant [8], a hearty green plant.

These beautiful hi-res flowering plants and shrubs are ready for download via the ArchVision Dashboard.

ArchVision Software License plan customers have access to these and thousands more.

Check out all of the latest RPC Content added to the RPC Content exchange by clicking recently added from ArchVision Dashboard.

Download the ArchVision Dashboard to try these now.

V-Ray 2.0 is Now Available for Autodesk 3ds Max 2013

The wait is over. V-Ray 2.0 for Autodesk 3ds Max 2013 is now officially available. V-Ray 2.0 license owners can login into www.chaosgroup.com and download it now from the downloads area.

This new version features:

  • Support for 3ds Max 2013
  • Support for motion blur (transformation and deformation) with V-Ray RT and V-Ray RT GPU
  • Optimized interactive rendering using the NVIDIA CUDA™ architecture in addition to OpenCL
  • New “Matte for reflection/refraction” option to the VRayWrapperMtl material and the V-Ray object settings
  • Support for Ornatrix 2.0

View a complete list of features and improvements here: Features and Improvements List (PDF)

Need to purchase a V-Ray 2.0 license? Get it here: V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max

Have V-Ray 1.x and want to upgrade to 2.0? Get it here: V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max Upgrade

Check out this video from Jimmy at Chaos Group showing off some of the new features:

ArchVision Releases New RPC Cars

New RPC Content Added to RPC All Access Exchange

RPC All Access plan customers now have access to a new library of Rich Photorealistic Content (RPC) from ArchVision®. This RPC collection features a series of automobiles.

Check out the latest RPC Content added to the RPC Content exchange by clicking recently added from ArchVision Dashboard. ArchVision Dashboard is available as a free download and provides users free trial. Download ArchVision Dashboard.

We’ve got several tutorials on working with RPC Cars. Visit our help.archvision.com page to access them all. One we recommend frequently is: RPC Seated People in RPC Cars.

Update Released: New Download Available for ArchVision Dashboard


ArchVision Dashboard version 1.0.2.4 is now available. The latest version is delivered via an automatic update that will prompt existing users to upgrade older versions. The latest installer can also be downloaded here:
http://www.archvision.com/dashboard

The ArchVision Dashboard is the latest member of the ArchVision Content tools. Installed accompanying the ArchVision Content Manager, this tool is the new platform for delivering quick access to content and plug-ins. The ArchVision Development Team continues to work on improving the user experience for this tool. In the coming year, you will see an improvement to our user licensing process, user content creation and drag and drop support in more applications.

What is included in this Update?
Version 1.0.2.4 includes:

  • Optimized Load Times
  • Improved Error Reporting
  • Failed Connection Detection
  • Search Cancellation

Watch for more features and functionality coming soon.

Help on Managing Firewall Issues

One of the top challenges for developers today is building software that will compliment restrictive corporate firewall and security implementations (software and hardware). Applications want to take advantage of a the dynamic content of the web, while IT Departments want to control what data is going into or coming out of their network. Understandably there is a need to control the flow of this data to protect the network. Unfortunately, when a network is overly restrictive it can lose the power of the Internet and access to all of the data outside of a network. ArchVision is actively working to address this need with future versions of our products.

The ArchVision Content Manager (“ACM”) and ArchVision Dashboard are two applications which actively rely upon the Internet. These software tools enable users to access a growing database of RPC Content (33GB+) and drag and drop RPCs into scenes of various applications or download them to local drives. The only thing standing between this conduit of RPC content and plug-ins is a firewall. It is helpful to understand how our applications behave so that they can function in harmony within your IT department’s defined parameters.

Like an Internet browser, the ACM and ArchVision Dashboard communicate accross port 80, a common Internet port, to access the following sites:

Usually opening communication ports enable the ArchVision Content Manager and ArchVision Dashboard should be able to coexist with Firewalls and Internet Security and function as intended. However, sometimes the IT department may restrict permissions for applications themselves. Make sure that Internet Security software is not blocking the ArchVision Content Manager application (rpcacmapp.exe) located in C:\Program Files (x86)\ArchVision\ArchVision Content Manager or ArchVision Dashboard (dashboard.exe) located in C:\Program Files\ArchVision\Dashboard.

Feel free to contact me if you have firewall experience, or feedback to share.

The New ArchVision Support Manager

As the Customer Service Manager of ArchVision (for nearly a decade), I am very excited to announce a new channel for customer service interaction. The ArchVision Customer Service channel offers more support options than ever before to keep our users connected to the information that they need to get the most out of their products. Here users can chat with live customer service representatives, submit support tickets, browse frequently asked questions, search a knowledge base, access help documentation, access tutorials, watch videos and even interact with social media like Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Support tickets help us to log data and better assist product design and development as well provide you with answers as quickly and efficiently as possible. ArchVision also incorporates the use of Go to Meeting software to assist in troubleshooting technical support issues. We offer “live” support via desktop meeting, chat and phone Monday through Friday 9am-5pm EST, excluding holidays.

Serving nearly every inch of the globe ArchVision is a customer-centric company that is here to help. We value your business and will work to keep it.

RPC Creator: Where Did You Get That RPC?

Every few days, we receive a customer submitted project that include unique “new” RPCs. My typical response is: “Cool, that’s a new RPC!” Where do you get these “new” RPCs — you create them yourself! Sure, we have thousands of RPCs available but, sometimes, you or more likely your client want custom content. For years, we’ve distributed a free tool to create 2D RPCs for your own use and a paid tool that enables you to create 3D RPCs. For RPC 2D Content, all you need is our ArchVision Creator software (free) and a matted out image (RGB and alpha).

My favorite summer inspired RPC is from WATG (Irvine). Expert, Scott Brown, used ArchVision’s RPC Creator to make custom RPC dolphins to enhance a project. (Dolphins remind me of the beach. I love vacationing at the ocean with my family and this time of the year is great for dolphin watching in South Carolina).

It’s a pretty easy process to make your own custom RPCs. We’ve seen branded coffee baristas and fast food counter clerks to IKEA chairs and a client’s dog. And, I also have users tell me how much they love adding their clients into their renderings.

Thousands of new RPCs are sitting on servers around the planet. And again, I say, “Cool!” Of course, I’m a little biased when it comes to RPC Content.

How do you get a copy of RPC Creator to create your own 2D RPCs for Free?

You can download the RPC Creator here. (Editor’s note: This product is currently under development for enhancement and will be released as a feature in ArchVision Dashboard in the near future, 8/12/2013). Once installed this tool creates an authorization request code. Send this to support@archvision.com and the Customer Service team will send you an authorization code.

Getting Started is Easy
All that you need is a photo editing software (to create the alpha mask), a photo, and the RPC Creator. You can view a usage tutorial here: Getting Started

Just a few steps in RPC Creator and you can output an RPC file that will work with all of the RPC tools, cross platform just like the 2D RPCs you purchase from ArchVision.com.

Beyond creating cool content, there are some other benefits that come along with creating custom RPCs. Complex 3D models can be rendered and turned into RPCs making them use much less memory and render faster as a planar RPC object instead of a high poly model. All of the Mass Edit and Population features can also be applied to the RPC format unlike other object formats.

RPC Mass Populate Feature: How to Fill a A Large Space Fast

Mass Population

If you’ve ever worked on filling a parking lot and had to place content one-by-one, you know the time it takes. The RPC Plug-ins for 3ds Max and AutoCAD solve that dilemma with the Mass Populate feature.

It’s an easy-to-use feature which allows you to place RPC Proxies (place holders) and then easily populate them with RPC Content. The features enables you to control distribution and randomization of RPC Content placement enabling you to get “the right feel” required for your project.

Customers routinely share renderings and animations with us (we invite you to share your work). One project that took advantage of the Mass Populate was for one of Disney’s Florida PGA Golf Courses. Renderings and animations included heavily populated tree lined fairways. In a matter of a few clicks, they achieved the desired look using the Mass Populate feature and RPC Trees. And, so can you!

Ready to give it a try? I’ve got an easy step-by-step tutorial video for you below and more information in our help documentation.

Spacing Trick

When I was planning my blog post, I started looking back at some of our archives. ArchVision introduced the Mass Populate feature in the early ArchVision days. When it was first introduced, the feature added immediate value to end users. Today, it continues to do so. I still enjoy some of our ‘vintage’ tutorials – I reformatted one so I could share it with you:

Spacing Trick

If It’s Useful to an AutoCAD 2012 User, It’s in the AutoCAD Exchange.

The Autodesk Exchange in AutoCAD 2012 is now live and features a wide array of add-ons (free & paid):

• Plug-ins (yes, the RPC Plug-in for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Civil 3d is in there)
• Standalone applications
• Content (including RPC People, Tree, Cars & Objects Sample Content)
• Books & Training Materials

We’re distributing our RPC Plug-in for AutoCAD 2012 for free and we’ve also included demo Plug-ins and sample Content for use in a wide array of other Autodesk apps! Here’s a quick tutorial to help you get up and running once you’ve downloaded the Plug-in from the Exchange.

How Do I Find the Autodesk Exchange?
Only one way for now. AutoCAD 2012 users access the exchange in-app via the ‘Apps’ tab. We encourage users to check it out.

Step by step instructions: Accessing the RPC Plugin

Feedback
We’d like to know what you think about the exchange! Once you’ve tried it, drop us a note.

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