Custom Renderworks Options

Custom render settings provide greater control over fine-quality rendering. These settings are used exclusively by the Custom Renderworks rendering mode. Custom geometry settings override the 3D conversion resolution setting on the 3D tab in Vectorworks preferences. These settings apply only to the current drawing and remain in effect in the current drawing until the settings are changed. In addition, the settings are saved when creating templates (see Creating Templates).

To set Custom Renderworks rendering options:

1. Select View > Rendering > Custom Renderworks Options.

The Custom Renderworks Options dialog box opens. The default settings match Fast Renderworks rendering mode.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Options	Enabling the options allows for better quality, higher detailed rendering, but takes longer to
Anti-Aliasing	Select for smoother edges on objects and textures; deselect for faster rendering with rougher edges
Shadows	shadows for a higher degree of realism
Textures	Renders the textures assigned to objects; deselect for faster rendering
Blurriness	Select to render textures with blurred reflectivity and/or blurred transparency (this can add significant rendering time)
Displacement Mapping	Renders with displacement mapping when a texture’s bump shader setting has a displacement height set; select the displacement mapping quality below. Deselect for faster rendering.
Caustics	Select to render caustics from light objects that have Caustic Photons set to a value other than None from the Object Info palette (see Light Source Properties)
Grass	When a grass color shader is used for a texture, renders the blades of grass. When this option is deselected, the first shader color (or image) is used, but blades of grass are not rendered, saving rendering time for large surfaces or dense grass.
Colors	When selected, renders colors, and textures with colors; deselect to render colors as white
Camera Effects	When selected, the Renderworks camera effects settings for the active camera are used in the rendering (see Placing a Camera View). When deselected, only the active camera’s position and orientation settings are used in the rendering. Renderworks camera effects are camera-dependent; activate the camera to see the effects in the rendering
Fullscreen Preview	Select to render full-screen previews, to help you make faster decisions when adjusting the view, lighting, and/or render settings. To reduce render time, deselect this option when you are not making adjustments.
Lighting Options	Click Lighting Options to quickly access the design layer’s or viewport’s lighting options dialog box
Quality	For each parameter, select the quality level. Higher quality results in better resolution of rendered images, with better texture detail and softer shadows, but takes more time.
Quality Levels	Conveniently sets the quality level of all the options at one time. Custom indicates that some options have different quality levels set.
Curved Geometry	Select the quality level for faceting of curved geometry (such as NURBS surfaces)
Anti-Aliasing	Select the quality level for anti-aliasing (smoothing) of edges on objects and textures
Indirect Lighting	Select the quality level for indirect lighting effects
Soft Shadows	Sets the quality level of shadows for light objects that have Soft Shadows enabled. For area and line lights, specifies the sampling quality of the light.
Blurriness	Select the quality level of textures with blurry reflectivity and/or transparency
Environment Lighting	Select the sampling quality level for environment background lighting. This option has no effect when indirect lighting is enabled for the lighting options.
Displacement Mapping	When enabled in the Options and set for a bump shader, select the quality of the displacement mapping. Higher quality is more realistic for fine displacement bumps, but will require longer rendering times. Rendering can be significantly slower with displacement mapping.
Max Reflections	Enter the number of levels of reflection among shiny surfaces; a higher value slows rendering, but can yield a more realistic image for scenes with many inter-reflecting objects

When testing a rendering, set the Quality levels to low and turn Anti-Aliasing and even Shadows off. Lower rendering quality is offset by faster rendering times.

To create a “white card” or white model rendering, turn off textures and colors.

2. Click OK to set the Custom render options.

Click here for a video tip about this topic (internet access required).

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Rendering Modes

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