Creating a 3DTrueView™ Rendering

Creating a photo realistic 3DTrueView™ rendering involves only a simple menu selection or mouse click. Rendering is a two-step process. First, the lighting in the scene is calculated (these is called the radiosity solution). Then, the scene is raytraced, which means all light and shadows are incorporated and the final rendered image is generated.  

Rendered views are displayed instantly on the screen once they’ve been calculated. By default, the image is also saved to a BMP or JPG file that can be opened in a number of graphic editing applications.

To create a 3DTrueView™ rendering:

1. Make sure you have set the 3D scene exactly how you want it.

2. Select View > 3DTrueView > Render 3DTrueView, or click the Render 3DTrueView button on the 3DTrueView toolbar. The solution begins. Before the rendered view is generated, the program goes through a process of calculating light in the scene. These are called radiosity calculations. Basically, it determines how much light is given off by the sun or by lighting fixtures, and how much light is reflected off the surface of elements. The view is updated at regular intervals during these calculations. A dialog appears on the screen that shows you the progression of the radiosity calculations.

If you click Stop during the solution stage, radiosity calculations will stop, and the scene will be instantly raytraced. You may want to do this if the process seems to be taking a long time, but you may not get the result you want. (The image may turn out too dark.)

3. Once the radiosity calculations are complete, raytracing begins. Please wait while the rendered image is generated.

Once the rendering is complete, it fills your current view window. The Rendering 3DTrueView dialog tells you that the image is complete.

At this point you can print the view if you want.

4. When you are finished viewing the 3DTrueView™ rendering, click Close in the Rendering 3DTrueView dialog. The view returns to its original, pre-rendered state.