Suggestions for rendering SW animations?

[Raycaster]

Thx to this board I am well on my way to producing objects required for a project.

 

I seem to have hit a wall trying to figure out how to animate realistic renderings with SW. Photoview 360 seemed very impressive for quick renderings but animation features seem missing.

 

Do I have to export the SW part into 3Dstudio, MAYA or Modo etc? I not interested in fancy animation features but need the rendered realism offered by PhotoView 360 etc. I tried the Maxwell trial render package but seems very slow (my fault with overkill setting probably).

 

I'd appreciate any suggestions for simply animation functions.

 

If I require another package..ok.. but I'm not rendering a movie here...

[shift1313]

You have to do two things. Setup an animation,basicmotion or advanced motion. then you need to setup your photoworks environment, materials lights etc. When you go to save animation you will the option (shown below) for photoworks buffer. I believe the quality is going to depend on several things including what you use for your video compressor. I think Microsoft Video 1 will probably give you the lowest quality

 

BUT i have never rendered a video before so it would take some playing around.

[Raycaster]

Thank you very much. Perfect, just need simple explode, rotation.

[shift1313]

If you do an exploded view It will show up in your configurations. You can right click on the configuration and animate the explosion or collapse. You will have the same Rendere options for photoworks. Cinepak seems to do a pretty good job.

[stairpak]

Thanks shift1313 for the info I also need this...

[shift1313]

no problemo

[Raycaster]

Yes, Thank you for the info, awesome forum.

 

Its nice to go to a forum and have a question answered nicely without sarcasm etc. I've seen many forums where a simple question will be stomped on with RTFM etc. Yes, we all have the 675 page manual and service manuals on our desk but a gentle nudge in the right direction sure saves a ton of time.

 

After using motion study etc.I may now give Modo a shot as the "lightwave fever" is still in me and I can't resist proper shading effects and ultra realism photo shots for product evaluation. Little things like avi's decals can really boost presentation value. I might take a shot at using a video sequence (frame1,frame2) as a decal. Perhaps scripting is the key, another late night of reading and research.

 

Most 3D packages allow avi's as texture maps but then again most 3D packages can't duplicate SolidWorks design features...

 

Again, Thanks, very much appreciated.

[shift1313]

no problem ray. SW does an excellent job if you spend some time playing around with it. If you create a camera(insert> lights and cameras) you can get some realistic shots. Also creating a scene in photoworks, playing with lights and materials and so on can go a long way. Just today actually i did an exploded animation of an assembly thats going out for bid. I wish i could post it but its too long and somewhat proprietary:)

 

Im not saying dont give modo a shot, just know there is a ton of stuff to play with in SW photoworks.

 

and i completely agree with you on most forums. There is no reason for that and unfortunately its common place. Something about being disconnected from the people you converse with. I don't talk to anyone online in a different manner than I would in real life