New beta

[Support]

@Okwa

Chris, this one fixes a lot of things, and the Stars settings has changed. Hope you like this release better?

[Support]

@Okwa @Alienizer @Mike

Can I ask you guys if you could please test this release before I actually post it? I would appreciate it very much

I updated the stars and nebula and added a new checkbox at the bottom (Use environment map). Previously, it generated an environment map using the GPU, making rendering faster. However, this approach had limitations: not all PCs have a powerful enough video card, and since it’s restricted to a maximum resolution of 8192x4096 pixels, it doesn’t look great for high-resolution outputs like 4K. Now, you can choose between GPU and CPU rendering. By default, the setting is on CPU, which is slower but offers better quality and flexibility with resolution. If the GPU option looks good on your setup, feel free to enable it; otherwise, leave it unchecked to rely on CPU rendering, which isn’t limited to a fixed resolution. Note that this setting isn’t saved with your model but is applied globally until you decide to change it.

Thank you, guys, and happy Halloween

[Okwa]

@Support

Sure. I haven't tested the new environment map function yet. But I already have an idea for a scene.

[Okwa]

@Support

So environment map tested. With two different environment maps. We want to be thorough.

"added a new checkbox at the bottom (Use environment map)." Where is this new checkbox? In the ‘environment’ tab, only ‘cull underground back faces’ is new. At least I haven't noticed this checkbox yet. Otherwise there is no new checkbox to be seen.

"Now, you can choose between GPU and CPU rendering." Is this the new checkbox? I couldn't find such an option in the beta of the link above? Sorry to ask, but is this the link to the correct beta version here, or is this still the last beta version in which you revised the stars and the nebula?

[Okwa]

@Support

When testing the new enviroment map setting, I noticed that the ‘normal sun’ from Raylectron has also changed. It now seems to shine brighter and turn orange more quickly.
Here are three comparisons: The first image is the original rendered a few weeks ago. The image below is rendered with the same settings in the new beta. In the third image I have set the sun to 11 am.

The second image was rendered at the same settings with morning red, which I think is somehow appropriate when the sun is 12° above the horizon. But with ‘midday sun’, the image suddenly seems brighter to me!

[Support]

@Support

So environment map tested. With two different environment maps. We want to be thorough.

"added a new checkbox at the bottom (Use environment map)." Where is this new checkbox? In the ‘environment’ tab, only ‘cull underground back faces’ is new. At least I haven't noticed this checkbox yet. Otherwise there is no new checkbox to be seen.

"Now, you can choose between GPU and CPU rendering." Is this the new checkbox? I couldn't find such an option in the beta of the link above? Sorry to ask, but is this the link to the correct beta version here, or is this still the last beta version in which you revised the stars and the nebula?

Thank you Chris but first, let me say that this render is amazing, it came out super nice.

Sorry, I didn't explain properly. That checkbox is in the Stars/Nebula settings. The way it was before, is that it created an internal environment map for the stars and nebula, hidden from the user, so you didn't even know that's what it did. You do have to re-download from the link above. That checkbox allows you to still use it like before or use the new way (unchecked).

[Support]

@Support

When testing the new enviroment map setting, I noticed that the ‘normal sun’ from Raylectron has also changed. It now seems to shine brighter and turn orange more quickly.
Here are three comparisons: The first image is the original rendered a few weeks ago. The image below is rendered with the same settings in the new beta. In the third image I have set the sun to 11 am.

The second image was rendered at the same settings with morning red, which I think is somehow appropriate when the sun is 12° above the horizon. But with ‘midday sun’, the image suddenly seems brighter to me!

ah yes, I forgot to mention that one too. The old way was wrong, it applied the gamma factor twice to the sun when it should have been once, that's why it's more orange when the sun is low in the horizon and brighter when higher up.

[Alienizer]

@Support

ah, I too couldn't find that option, but now, I understand. I tested it and for low resolution like 2000 wide, the env map (checked) works good for me, but at higher resolution, it becomes pixelated and without the env map (unchecked) it's so clear and clean, takes a bit longer to render but worth it. I think even at low resolution it's worth not to use the env map of it.

I noticed the sun changes, but I think it's more natural this way. Maybe a bit too orange? I'm not sure, I'll have to wait tomorrow morning see what color is projected into my room and set Raylectron to use the same lat/lng and date/time see if it makes the same color.

[Alienizer]

@Okwa These 2 building (left and right) are really, really awesome, they look very real.

[Support]

@Support

ah, I too couldn't find that option, but now, I understand. I tested it and for low resolution like 2000 wide, the env map (checked) works good for me, but at higher resolution, it becomes pixelated and without the env map (unchecked) it's so clear and clean, takes a bit longer to render but worth it. I think even at low resolution it's worth not to use the env map of it.

I noticed the sun changes, but I think it's more natural this way. Maybe a bit too orange? I'm not sure, I'll have to wait tomorrow morning see what color is projected into my room and set Raylectron to use the same lat/lng and date/time see if it makes the same color.

Thanks for the feedback

...and that's a good idea, I'll do that too tomorrow morning and every hour after that see what the sun color is like, if it's not cloudy!

[Okwa]

@SupportFortunately, I had already realised that I would have to download it again and I did so. And now I have also found the checkbox. But I won't try it out until tomorrow.

@Alienizer Many thanks. But I have to give 100% of the credit to Michael. The building itself is just a simple shape, with a even more very simple window texture. The good look is all down to Raylectron.

[Okwa]

@Support
I'm currently working on a scene for next week and used it to test the “Use environment map” option for the stars. The first two images are rendered without the option, the other two with this option. One image with stars and one with nebula. Otherwise no changes to the settings. I only reduced the zoom level for the Nebula from 4 to 3.9 for the image without the “Use environment map” option (second image from the top). Otherwise the background would just be a brown wall of nebula, without stars. Everything else is the same. It's really amazing what a difference it makes whether you check or uncheck this checkbox.

Rendering time with “Use environment map” option is actually, for me, about half as long as without the option.

[Support]

@Okwa

Thank you Chris

I've tuned it even more and zoom=4 gives you the gas as it did before. I also fixed the sun color too, it's proper now. You can download it again, same link.

While I'm at it, anything needs changes? updating? adding? removing? anything?

[Support]

@Okwa

That's a mean looking ship

[Okwa]

@Okwa

Thank you Chris

I've tuned it even more and zoom=4 gives you the gas as it did before. I also fixed the sun color too, it's proper now. You can download it again, same link.

While I'm at it, anything needs changes? updating? adding? removing? anything?

You`re Welcome.
I'll download it right away.

There is one thing I really wanted to ask. Is it possible to combine stars and nebulae so that you can use them at the same time? So create a gas as a background with nebula zoom=4 (by the way, I love that you can now set the color for the nebula separately ) and then use the stars to create the stars in the gas separately. The stars of the star function are a bit sharper, clearer, look better. It would also allow to customize the look independently.

I noticed yesterday in a PC game that the background images look as if the nebulae and stars were created separately.

[Okwa]

@Support
I have been having slight problems accessing the material cloud for some time now. It takes a while for the preview images to be displayed. Downloading also takes longer. I think this started with the beta 2 weeks ago. But today it's particularly extreme. The thumbnails take a minute to load. A few times I got the error message “raylectroncloud time out” or something like that, i think. I can't say for sure, the error message disappears quickly. And when I go to “apply this material”, no progress can be seen even after 10 minutes. When I go to cancel, Raylectron seems to crash. I can go to all tabs, change all settings, but Raylectron does not respond. For example, I can set the sun to 3 o'clock, but the light does not change.

I have already tested my internet connection, I have full download. I have also tested different models and textures. Always the same.
We once tested my connection to the forum, if you remember, because I had connection problems with the forum. Maybe it's because a server somewhere between us is having problems. But maybe other users have the same problem.

[Okwa]

@Support It's official: Today is a sh...y day. I'm experiencing massive connection problems with the forum. Everything is extremely slow, twice the site “crashed”, meaning it loaded and loaded and loaded. It's only here, no other side. I've been trying to post this comment for an hour.

What's more, assets won't load. No matter which ones, trees, grasses, stones. I have taken screenshots of the error messages. Screenshot 1 came with the trees, screenshot 2 with grasses, screenshot 3 with stones.

[Okwa]

I remembered that I still have the last regular build (build 114) on my hard disk. I installed it. The problem with the assets no longer existed, everything worked. Then I installed the beta. Immediately problems with the assets again. As far as the connection to the Raylectron database is concerned, this problem also exists with the regular build. In the meantime it has become even worse. When I try to access the database, Raylectron crashes. No matter if it is the beta or build 114. @Support

[Support]

@Okwa

Error is fixed and I've made the stars and nebula that can be both enabled as you suggested (good call ). Same download link.

I had to add the color hue because not everyone likes it reddish and it's more flexible. I'm glad you like it

I didn't see any downtime in the server log, so maybe it was a server between it and you. No one else reported this but again, I'm not famous

I just did a trace route to your area and it stalls at t-ipconnect.de with 42% packet loss.

[Mike]

@Support

Thanks Michael for the update, I'll give it a try and let you know.

@Okwa

Nice model and nice render, and than mean ship, oh my, it's NIIIICE, as usual

[Okwa]

@Support
Will try it out as soon as possible.
Today, the connection to the forum is better. Not perfect, but absolutely acceptable. US server

@Mike Many thanks. I'll write the last section today and then I'll post the scene with the background story.

[Okwa]

@Support These are the test images for the new beta. Except for the third image, all images are rendered with “use enviroment map”.

Oh, and I still can't access the texture database. Probably the same connection problem as to the forum. But, Raylectron no longer crashes when I cancel.

[Support]

@Okwa

I've check the "Online Materials" and it comes up without any errors. What is the error you get?

I may change “use environment map" to "use pre-computed map" so it's not confusing. What do you think?

Thanks for the feedback Chris. But you didn't need to post all the renders, I just wanted your opinion as to how it works for you, if the combination of stars/nebula works as you expected, and if you can get the effects you're looking for.

[Okwa]

@Okwa

I've check the "Online Materials" and it comes up without any errors. What is the error you get?

I may change “use environment map" to "use pre-computed map" so it's not confusing. What do you think?

Thanks for the feedback Chris. But you didn't need to post all the renders, I just wanted your opinion as to how it works for you, if the combination of stars/nebula works as you expected, and if you can get the effects you're looking for.

The preview images of the “online materials” are only displayed after about 1 minute. And when I go to “apply”, nothing is downloaded. I let the download run for 10 minutes. No progress. And twice it happened when I pressed cancel that Raylectron crashed. That is, the program was still running, I could switch between the tabs. But when I changed any setting, Raylectron did not react, nothing changed.
This didn't just happen with the new beta version. This has been the case, albeit in a weaker form, for quite a while. I assume that it is the same connection problem that I have with the forum. I really became aware of this over last weekend.

P.S. Just tried it again. Now I got an error message “Connection to raylectron.com: 443 timed out”. But this error message only came up once. On two further attempts to access “online material”, the behavior described above occurred again.

You're probably right. After all, there is a separate tab for the enviroment maps. The term “use enviroment map” for this checkbox could confuse some users. Then the alternative name would be better.

Okay, I'll hold back a bit from now on.

[Support]

Okay, I'll hold back a bit from now on.

NOOOOOOOOO! That's not what I meant