Forum: Carrara

Subject: About Vectorsyle2 for C5

martial opened this issue on Jul 15, 2006 · 20 posts

martial posted Sat, 15 July 2006 at 10:11 AM

Hello

I see this plugin for half price at DAz.Someone use it?How is the output?Is this a good one or just a gadget one ? Thanks

danamo posted Sat, 15 July 2006 at 12:55 PM

I'm curious about that one as well. Seems to be a natural for a web or multi-media specialist if it works as advertised.

ren_mem posted Sat, 15 July 2006 at 2:11 PM

Depends. It does some unique things you couldn't do otherwise, but it can't produce actionscript. It can produce larger files because it tweens, so won't be the same as flash's approach. It also can't output , but so much detail, for vector reasons. It outputs ai also. I just got it, myself. If you were considering getting it before it is a great buy, if not don't buy it because it is on sale, unless you have money or vouchers burning a hole. :)

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.

Dizzi posted Sat, 15 July 2006 at 4:24 PM

Don't forget about DAZ's 30 day money back guaranty, so if in doubt, buy and if it's not what you need return it.


Pinklet posted Mon, 17 July 2006 at 5:25 PM

I think the real question is, do you need it? I do, so this being on sale is just a bonus. I do a lot of Flash stuff and this would only tie Carrara to my web production tool set. With todays broadband on the increase, file size is less of an issue and this plug-in can bring true 3D to my Flash sites.

martial posted Mon, 17 July 2006 at 6:13 PM

thanks for the replies.I am finally not sure i need it.I don't do flash...and the actual output satisfy me.I think i pass.

martial posted Tue, 18 July 2006 at 6:58 PM

Hum.For platinium member:34,95$

hein posted Wed, 19 July 2006 at 2:02 AM

EPS output reasonable , SWF looks kinda OK  but that's all , haven't been able to find any program that tries to open the AI & SVG outputs without an "unknown filetype error"  (that list includes Adobe Illustrator's up to 8 and Adobe's SVG viewer).  Can't recommend it, even at $34.95

 

Veritas777 posted Sun, 23 July 2006 at 7:18 PM

I just purchased it- and will be trying it in Photoshop (which reads EPS and AI) and in Corel Draw (which I think also reads those- plus SVG). I initally plan to use VectorStyle as a compositing layer in Photoshop with stuff I've rendered in Carrara's NPR render.

Also- in case anyone doesn't already know- VectorStyle is licensed from Electric Rain- the same people who make Swift 3D. While it's not the very LATEST version of the technology- it will work just fine for my purposes, I think...
http://www.erain.com/company/Technology/

Veritas777 posted Sun, 23 July 2006 at 9:52 PM

Well- I loaded VectorStyles and after a few tests to figure out how it works- I tried outputting in AI, EPS and SVG. Photoshop 7 will ONLY read the EPS output- not AI. There is a free Adobe SVG reader but I haven't gone over to get it yet...

Corel PhotoPaint will also ONLY read the EPS output. Corel Draw will read the EPS and will only read the AI into a document- but NOT OPEN an AI file. Corel Draw also seemed to be choking on the SVG upon opening- so I ended it (CTRL-ALT-DEL).

Veritas777 posted Sun, 23 July 2006 at 9:53 PM

Here's a close-up of that above image...

Veritas777 posted Sun, 23 July 2006 at 9:54 PM

Here's one of my initial attemps- I had not yet adjusted the line-width- so the outline is fairly thin...

BTW- I output ALL of these example files at 2500 x 2000- which rendered usually in about 15-20 seconds...

(They were all saved in Photoshop as JPG's.)

Veritas777 posted Sun, 23 July 2006 at 9:55 PM

...here's just an outline output...

(Sorry about the compression- it actually looks VERY SHARP in the original output...

Veritas777 posted Sun, 23 July 2006 at 9:57 PM

...weird stuff happens when you fiddle a lot with the various parameters. You need to do a LOT of experimenting to find the best settings for your needs.

I also found that outputting at BEST QUALITY crashed my WinXP machine (not a drastic crash- but needed to re-boot and PhotoShop would not work, etc.)- so AVOID that setting- probably requires a TON of RAM to be happy, I suspect... you don't really need it anyway- (at least not for my purposes...)

ren_mem posted Thu, 27 July 2006 at 11:40 AM

nice veritas....the engine is eovia's on VS2...Version 1 was the other engine. Also...it can't hurt to post these issues in the bugs under Carrara.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.

Veritas777 posted Sat, 29 July 2006 at 3:40 PM

I seemed to get the "weird stuff" only when using the Full Color mode- so I stopped using that mode (as the others work just fine) and there isn't a problem. I'm sure there is a good reason for having it as an option...

 

Veritas777 posted Sat, 29 July 2006 at 3:42 PM

The Drop Ship done in Four Color mode with shadows...

Veritas777 posted Sat, 29 July 2006 at 3:47 PM

...and then importing the EPS file into Photoshop and blending it over a regular Carrara render.

Gives it a nice illustration look. I'm really happy with all the NPR and Toon type render EFX in Carrara. Carrara and these great add-on plug-ins make C5 a great value...

ren_mem posted Sat, 29 July 2006 at 6:01 PM

Nice to see someone making good use of these features...don't think they get as much use as Carrara's other great features.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.

MarkBremmer posted Sat, 29 July 2006 at 6:32 PM

Sweet Veritas! :-)