3D Real View on New Computer

[wisoak]

When I copy this file and render it on my older desktop computer, I have no problems doing the rendering in 3Dreal View. My problem is only on my new laptop.

Attached is a simple room with only a window, door and ceiling light. I tried a basic 3D and get the "Unknown Error", and then verticle lines.

[Doug.S]

I'd conclude then since its so repeatable that your new laptop problem is either Vista (I have not used Vista at all; very few TFP users with Vista) or your video card h/w or s/w compatibility with TFP

Best advice is to render on your old system (and consider adding some RAM; even only another 256MB to 768 will make things better all around) and pursue any updates or older versions of vid card s/w....sometimes older s/w is better.

And hope someone here with Vista has an answer about Vista and TFP.

[Ray Lilley]

I too have the same problem Unknown Error.

Problem:  When I try to render in 3D Real View it starts 'calculating shadows',
then the error box appears with 'Unknown Error' when the OK button is pressed another 'Unknown Error' message appears and I get vertical coloured lines,but no render and this is saved to file.

My computer is fairly new;
Dell Dimension 9200 (DXP061)
Intel Core 2 Quad CPU @ 2.40 GHZ
Memory 4 GB
32 bit OS
Windows Vista Ultimate (Service Pack 1)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600GTS

[Allan Chesney]

Ray,

I can't help if it is a Vista issue as I use XP on one machine and my main one is still Win2000.  However I  assume that you are fairly new to TurboFLOORPLAN, so may not know about the problem that seems to appear on most PCs where it does not like using Hardware Acceleration. If you have it on (it is on by default) then try with it off. (Settings/Program Settings/Graphics).  Try this for anything odd that happens, as it seems to affect different PCs differently and some not at all.  Neither of mine will do the Advanced render with it on.

There are a number of issues in the Advanced rendering area and we are hoping for a shortly. I know they are working on it.  If you do get it working and find the renders get lighter and lighter, then if you restart the program it resets it. Hopefully this is one of the problems that gets fixed as it is a pain!

When I render the file supplied by the previous user, who got the same message as you, it renders perfectly, so the file itself is OK, the conflict being in the PC.

Allan

[Ray Lilley]

Thank you Allan for your reply.

I tried the basic rendering with the Hardware Acceleration off as you suggested, but got the same Unknown Error.

I then tried the Advanced render on a small scene with success using HA on and off.

I thought it would never end though because in the raytrace mode the raytracing scan line remained on 479 of 480.
I checked to see if the .BMP file was created and it was, so I closed the 3D Real View window even though it indicated it was still
processing the render.

Ray

[Allan Chesney]

Ray,

For some reason it always stops 1 or 2 digits short of the number of lines of the image. 640x480 image will always stop at 479, Similarly 800 x 600 will stop at 599 and 1024 x 768 will stop at 767. (Don't know why)

Interesting that your Raytrace sequence finishes as step 2 of the Advanced render, yet generates the error on the Basic render, when they theoretically are the same thing.

I wonder whether re-sinstalling it will fix the Basic render problem.

Allan

[Ray Lilley]

Allan

I uninstalled and re-installed the program 'TFP Home & Landscape PRO' but I still got the Unknown Error when using the Basic Render.

I did however try the Advanced Render on a more complex scene ie; the Front view of Sample 1 in the program and it successfully completed in about 18 minutes so I am pleased about that.

Ray

[Allan Chesney]

Ray,

Advanced Render produces much better results once you get the settings right so it is better that it works rather than the other way around. Render times are longer of course and you MAY find the results get lighter and lighter so they eventually wash out altogether. Closing the program and re-opening resets it - hopefully a fix for that will be in the hoped for patch.  (for some of the issues on advanced Rendering read the thread http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,117.0.html at the top of the General Discussion section).
Rendering at lower quality speeds it up but 1 and 2 do not display all the lights. 3 is a good compromise.  You will probably find you nned to set the lights to a very low wattage (1W !! frequently) to keep the brightness under control.

Allan

[cgrujon]

I have an HP Pavilion and I also cannot render on Basic setting.  I can do Advanced rendering.  I don't understand why that is because I would have thought that they use the same software components.  I'm generally happy with the result except that the lighting seem to be totally random.  As you mentioned the picture seem to get lighter as you render it over and over again.  So I tried to switch off some lights (in the properties ) and then switch them on again and now I can't seem to get them to come "on" again.  Everything is dark.
I also wanted to show my customer what effects undercounter lights would have on the looks of the kitchen and I cannot seems to get them to show any lighting.  Has anybody tried under counter lighting with and without the ceiling lights turned on.
Chris

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Chris,

The previous post was before the patch was released - this has fixed the need to re-boot the PC to reset it. Unfortunately it did not solve all the issues and introduced some others.

If you have not installed the patch then do that first. You will find the interior lights in out if the sun is coming in through the windows. Position the sun so it does not strike the glass, or extend the roof overhang to shield them. Turn it off altogether and pretend it is night or try the new cloudy sky - this may allow the lights to stay on. Your normal lights and under bench lights should then both work.

I an still experimenting on there workarounds so try them out and let us know how you get on. They still have some work to do to get the lighting right!

Allan

[cgrujon]

Hi Allan,

Thanks for the reply.  I don't know if I have the patch installed or not and I'm not too sure where you get it from.
I have TurboFLOORPLAN Home Designer 12.00.C1.551.
By the way, is TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Interior a newer version of the TurboFLOORPLAN Home Designer that I have?
Thanks for all the help,
Chris

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Chris.

The update info and link is at the bottom of the Forum.

I am using the Pro version so I am not sure exactly what the Designer Version does or the differences between it and Interiors. Only subtle differences I would expect. I would imagine yours needs the update especially if you are getting the washout with repeat renders.

Allan