[Software] Bluerender, a rendering engine for LDD

[iceleftd]

I get a black box that says 'java' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Press any key to continue...'

The instructions at the beginning of this thread say you must already have installed Java 8 and LEGO Digital Designer. Apparently you don't have Java installed yet.

Download and install Java version 8.

Edited November 23, 2015 by iceleftd

[CM4Sci]

The instructions at the beginning of this thread say you must already have installed Java 8 and LEGO Digital Designer. Apparently you don't have Java installed yet.

Download and install Java version 8.

Done...

now I get the black box saying 'Error: could not find or load main class bluerender.Bluerender'

[msx80]

Done...

now I get the black box saying 'Error: could not find or load main class bluerender.Bluerender'

Have you extracted the whole ZIP file to a folder in your disk ? maybe you're running the executable inside the zip

[Arthuriel]

I like this program (easy to use, fast, results look good).

Maybe this hint is out of the realm of Cpt. Obvious, but make sure, that you have installed the 64bit version of Java 8 (I assume, that this only works on systems with a 64-bit OS).

I updated Java on a computer and via the automatic installation on the Java website I only got the 32-bit one and wondered, why the render process was so slow.

Well, I installed the 64-bit version and I got the expected speed.

I also tried to make a 360 degree rotation of a MoC (a 1:8 version of the L.M.S. Explorer from LEGO Rock Raiders). It took a while to get it centered without cutting stuff off, but I think, that the result is okay:

https://www.youtube....h?v=jI5mtplVLlk

edit (after using the search): Okay, iceleftd already noticed the 64bit Java thing back in June 2015 and posted it in this thread.

To answer bublible's question, if that happens automatic or not: Apparently you have to do it manually (or having a program, that does it for you).

I would recommend a note about this issue/non-issue (I don't know, how prevalent this problem is) in the first post, because it may help some people.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Arthuriel

[CM4Sci]

Have you extracted the whole ZIP file to a folder in your disk ? maybe you're running the executable inside the zip

Uh.. no idea.

[Umbra-Manis]

Is there a way to render with a transparent background?

[CM4Sci]

Is there a way to render with a transparent background?

Oof, yeah, need to know this too, otherwise I will never use this program.

[msx80]

Is there a way to render with a transparent background?

unfortunately no, sunflow doesn't support that (doesn't support alpha channel at all). The only thing you can do is render without antialias and then remove the background.

[inkpanther]

Finally I can show my attempt at building warlock destroyer from B5. It still needs some finishing touches, but it's basically done.

http://bricksafe.com/pages/inkpanther/warlock

[___]

Nice build, tho if I could suggest: if you are using completely black background maybe you could replace that black color in the model for something else so they are easier to see?

Edited December 8, 2015 by bublible

[inkpanther]

Nice build, tho if I could suggest: if you are using completely black background maybe you could replace that black color in the model for something else so they are easier to see?

Yeah, a very dark background probably isn't the best but it's not that bad, especially if you look at higher res picture. Still, I was aiming to achieve strong shadows and have the model only partially lit.

By the way, is there any easy way to tune down (or even disable) reflectiveness of bricks? Many flat surfaces are very glossy, often reflect their surroundings and background.

[___]

By the way, is there any easy way to tune down (or even disable) reflectiveness of bricks? Many flat surfaces are very glossy, often reflect their surroundings and background.

No, it is not possible normally (cos even if you lower refl value to "0" in shiny shader it is still reflective) - you'd have to write your own janino shader mixing shiny and diffuse shaders together with specified percentage value (kind of what I did to my special materials).

OR:

I am suggesting you to play more with number and types of lights used in your scene + also their distance from the model and size matters a lot!

Edited December 8, 2015 by bublible

[inkpanther]

No, it is not possible normally (cos even if you lower refl value to "0" in shiny shader it is still reflective) - you'd have to write your own janino shader mixing shiny and diffuse shaders together with specified percentage value (kind of what I did to my special materials).

OR:

I am suggesting you to play more with number and types of lights used in your scene + also their distance from the model and size matters a lot!

I don't have problems with playing with lights, but writing my own janino shader is probably to much for me. :P

In the other news, I've found something about depth of field in an old sunflow wiki pdf that doesn't exist anymore under link from msx80's post. ;)

[___]

Sure, of course + now your model looks quite realistic

And here are my two cents as well...

Edited December 8, 2015 by bublible

[inkpanther]

Cool, I like how they blend in essence these older space/arctic ice planet (*whistles innocently*) classic themes.

Edited December 8, 2015 by inkpanther

[___]

Cool, I like how they blend in essence these older space/arctic ice planet (*whistles innocently*) classic themes.

Yes, I agree ...but, ehm, just to avoid any misunderstanding: these are not TLG models - those are my MOCs - thanx anyway.

[CM4Sci]

Congrats to me, it works now.

Any way to save the image, focus on things, transparent background?

Edited December 15, 2015 by CM4Sci

[inkpanther]

Congrats to me, it works now.

Any way to save the image, focus on things, transparent background?

Congrats to you. :P

Images are saved automatically. You can name them and choose path, but by default in the same folder of your model, and the name is kept. So your-model.lxf is rendered and saved as your-model.lxf.png.

Sadly there's no transparent background.

As for focus... There's a way to use depth of field. Bad news, you'll have to edit .sc file. Well, I just copied some things from Sunflow wiki pdf from OP (reuploaded to Drive since link from OP doesn't work any more- I suppose nobody would mind) so I have no idea if it's the best way but it works for me:

in camera section change its type and add fdist and lensr

type thinlens
fdist 178 #focus distance I assume, the value is just an example, use your own
lensr 1.25 #lens aperture or something like that - controls how deep or shallow dof is; again, the value is your choice

also, in image section set aa to non adaptive sampling and add samples for a sligtly better effect

aa 2 2
samples 2 #can be higher

But rendering with dof is so terribly time consuming task.... And msx80 or bublible probably know a better way of using dof. ;)

Edited December 15, 2015 by inkpanther

[Garry_rocks]

I've noticed a problem with flexible chains, they have some strangely twisted links at times. Here's what it looks like:

If you care to see the whole MOC, here's some more for you!

This is initial BR image:

And this is my edited image (mixed with POV-Ray):

Also, I came across a post on a previous page from jonnysp about LDD to .obj converter (he had similar problems with flex parts), I even downloaded it, but it doesn't seem to do anything. No files are generated. I'm learning to use Blender and such a converter would be a really huge happening for me! Could somebody help me with it, please?

[STAT]

Been using Bluerender for a few weeks now, it is pretty cool. I may need to start playing around with it because I'm hoping for a bit more quality.

First question, what could be the reason that the Rotation doesn't work with me?

[shannanigan]

Been using Bluerender for a few weeks now, it is pretty cool. I may need to start playing around with it because I'm hoping for a bit more quality.

First question, what could be the reason that the Rotation doesn't work with me?

None of those Parameter options (aside from resolution) work for me... I can't change the background color or set a rotation.

In order to get it to rotate I have to "enable steps" which is a nightmare because 10 degrees makes for 10 images!! LOL!

I just end up turning it in the LDD file and hoping for the best!

Edited December 29, 2015 by shannanigan

[SylvainLS]

None of those Parameter options (aside from resolution) work for me... I can't change the background color or set a rotation.

For the background color, check that you have this in your scene.sc:

background
{
    color { "sRGB nonlinear" %BACKGROUND_COLOR% }
}

In order to get it to rotate I have to "enable steps" which is a nightmare because 10 degrees makes for 10 images!! LOL!

That’s because the field is for the number of steps (or images), not the angle (in degrees or radians or grades or whatever).

This option is to help make “360°” animations of your model.

That’s just a documentation problem

[shannanigan]

That’s because the field is for the number of steps (or images), not the angle (in degrees or radians or grades or whatever).

This option is to help make “360°” animations of your model.

That’s just a documentation problem

Oh dang it... I totally misunderstood that. lol!

Ok... well I'm hoping a future release will have a degree angle option then. Haha!

[STAT]

For the background color, check that you have this in your scene.sc:

background
{
 color { "sRGB nonlinear" %BACKGROUND_COLOR% }
}

That’s because the field is for the number of steps (or images), not the angle (in degrees or radians or grades or whatever).

This option is to help make “360°” animations of your model.

That’s just a documentation problem

With me the program just freezes.

[LegoFjotten]

Just did a quick test on my Mac and got it running, cool! I'm gonna have to play around with this a bit.