A360 Cloud Rendering

[kevinwatts]

Do all A360 renders cost credits?

I noticed in a tutorial that there is a small 1000 x 750 free render option. That would allow a test render on the cloud to see the results before choosing a larger render with cost.

Also how are the cloud credits calculated when rendering? I have no idea how much would be used before starting or need.

[kevinwatts]

I would like to render so that the background can be dropped out as a transparent alpha channel. PNG24 files support alpha channels. The option for transparent within Fusion 360 Ray Tracer is not selectable.

Is there a method to create and save with an alpha channel for the background?

[colin.smith]

Hi Kevin, 

I'll try to answer your two questions here.

1 - Cloud rendering and credits:

When you start a cloud render you will see section at the bottom of the cloud rendering window call "Cloud Credits"

Generally speaking, the cost of renders is based on either size or quality or a combination of the two.  The more computer horsepower needed to create the render the more it costs.

For example, a Standard quality screen size cloud render costs 0 credits, a Final quality render of the same size costs 1. 

You will see the numbers update as you make changes to the custom settings or the preset settings.

2- Rendering alpha channel for the background:

The capture image dialog is a bit confusing.  You can create an alpha for a screen grab of the regular sceen, but this feature doesn't work when you grab a local render.

You can render in the cloud with an alpha channel.  

Hope that helps.

Colin

[kevinwatts]

Hi Colin,

What is the resulution DPI or PIX/Inch of the A360 Cloud renders? Local seams defulted to 72 pix/inch.

Kevin

[colin.smith]

Here is my Batman vs. Superman logo with the backgroun knocked out from the cloud render.

If you don't have any more questions on the subject I'll mark the issue as "solved"

Thanks

Colin

[colin.smith]

Hi Kevin, 

Local renders are always based on the size and resulution of your screen.  Since it is a realitime renderer it can't be adjusted.  We will have a backround local render feature in a future release.

Cloud renders can be changed to be whatever size you want - your only limit may be the cost of credits needed.

When you click on the Cloud Render button from the Fusion 360 Render workspace it uses your screen size as the image size.  You can chage those settings, or click on the PRESET tab to choose from a number of presets based on the output for the image (ie: Web, Moblie, Print, Video)

[kevinwatts]

Thank you Colin.

I appreciate your solid clarification on the subject of rendering.

I read your bio with interest. Years ago, I knew a few at Alias.

Regards,

Kevin

[kevinwatts]

One last question before I proceed....

Do you have any comments about the KeyShot plugin for Fusion 360? I have seen some in the gallary with very good resaults. Is it more like Maya with more optoins and controls over lighting, camera's and environment? I belive that it also costs.

[kevinwatts · Accepted solution]

https://www.keyshot.com/fusion360/

"You may assign materials, set up animations or set up lighting and camera angles inside KeyShot. In Fusion 360, you may continue to refine your model. When you are satisfied with the changes, select Update KeyShot from the Image pulldown menu. All updated parts (geometry/location) will be replaced inside KeyShot with all materials, animations, etc. also maintained. Note: New parts will be added to the scene and may not automatically get painted.

 This download is a fully-functional license with all features. Only the render output is watermarked."

[colin.smith]

Hi Kevin, 

Keyshot is a standalone rendering software created by Luxion.  It is widely used in product design for creating images (I would almost say defacto-standard).

The Keyshot plugin was developed so that Fusion 360 users who already had keyshot could work efficently between the two products. You can create models in Fusion and then push them to Keyshot and use Live Link to push any changes to the model back in to Keyshot.  Keyshot doesn't read Fusion360 materials but it will assign RGB values as part of the transfer so that you can see where your Fusion materials were assigned.

Keyshot prices can be found here: https://www.keyshot.com/buy/

Colin

[kevinwatts · Accepted solution]

Thank you Colin. Sounds like something to put on my wish list.

[WHolzwarth]

Hmm. I'm here with Product Design Suite Ultimate.

What can Cloud rendering do better than Showcase?

Thanks for showing the benefits

Walter

[colin.smith]

Hi Walter, 

As far as rendering technology goes, Showcase uses the same underlying real time raytracer as Fusion 360 (although I don't know if they are on the same release schedule or not).

The two products also use different material systems. Fusion uses a new set of materials called Prism that were specifically created for consumer products rendering, and that work on both the desktop raytracer and the cloud raytracer. 

Fusion has a connection to cloud rendering that Showcase does not have.

Showcase has tools for creating interactive walkthroughs and presentations which Fusion does not.

Lastly, Showcase is available only on the Windows platform.  Fusion is Mac and Windows.

Hope that helps,

Colin