IRender nXt Rendering Contest

IRender nXt Rendering Contest

Need an Extension? - Just send an email to Render Plus Support Email to request a 1 week extension until March 22, 2010.

Open to All! - you do not need to own IRender nXt, we will provide a free copy during the contest.

This years contest is designed to highlight the features of our new Version of IRender nXt. In particular:

  1. The new Materials libraries of about 3,000 materials for you to use.
  2. The low res Arroway texture library of 100 textures
  3. The new library of 49 RpTreeMaker Plants
  4. RpTreeMaker to create your own plants
  5. ArchVision RPC Objects
  6. HDRi Skies

Each entry will make use of at least 4 of the new features.

Contest

Render Plus is launching a new IRender nXt rendering contest. It starts on Feb 15, 2010, and will run until March 15, 2010. Results will be announced on March 30, 2010.

Need an Extension? - Just send an email to Render Plus Support Email to request a 1 week extension until March 22, 2010.

(You can download a new version of IRender nXt to extend you trial period until March 22nd as well.)

Prizes

There will be 3 main prizes:

  • First prize is you choice of:
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  • NetBook - Samsung NC10 or Toshiba NB205 - Value $334.00, or
  • Render Plus Combo Pack, including IRender nXt - the premier rendering product for SketchUp - value $549.00.
  • Second prize is you choice of:
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  • Spyder 3 Pro mouse - value $139.00, or
  • IRender nXt - the premier rendering product for SketchUp - Value $449.00.
  • Third prize is you choice of:
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  • Vis Tablet - value $100.00, or
  • nXtRender - quality SketchUp rendering at an affordable price - Value $99.00.


Judges

The contest will be Judged by:

  • Scott Davidson - Robert McNeel & Associates
  • Chris Fullmer -
  • Mike Lucey - MD SketchUcation
  • Remus Knowles - SCF
  • Rich Hart - Render Plus
  • Jacob Hart - Render Plus
  • Dennis Bostwick - Savante Wine Cellars
  • One combined vote from all SketchUp Users

Contest Entries

A selection of the best contest entries will be posted in the IRender nXt Gallery section and featured on the IRender web page, and used for mrketing promotions.

Models and Submissions

You can create models for the renderings, or use existing models (even 3D Warehouse models), and use IRender nXt to render them.

Each entry must use at least 4, (and preferably all 5), of the special features of IRender nXt. See: Special Features below.

All images submitted are to be .jpg format, no larger than 1280 x 1024 or 1024 x 1280 resolution. Post-processing is not permitted, (except using the nXtImage processor included in IRender nXt). No more than 3 contest entries per user.

Submit your entries by email to: Render Plus Support Email. Include the name or handle you want to be identified by when the entry is posted to our web site and any other useful information.

Save your model and view so that when you are chosen as a finalist, you can either send it to us, or upload it onto the 3D warehouse. Be sure to save it after you create the rendering so that rendering settings are saved as well.

Downloads and Authorization

For this years contest you should download the latest Version of IRender nXt and the IRender nXt Libraries .

IRender nXt

A Trial version of IRender nXt is available for use during the contest. Download a version from: Downloads Page

See: IRender nXt Version 4.0 for more information on the new version.

More information and documentation is available at: IRender nXt

See also: IRender nXt - Getting Started

nXtRender Users

If you are licensed for nXtRender, you can use the full IRender nXt features during the contest period:

  1. Launch SketchUp and load nXtRender
  2. From the SketchUp Plugins drop-down menu, select Enable for Contest
  3. This should place you in tiral mode until the end of the contest.
  4. Exit and restart SketchUp
  5. Select IRender nXt mode when you load IRender.


IRender nXt Libraries

You will also need the IRender nXt Material and Plant libraries.

The download for these is also on the Render Plus Download page, to the right of IRender nXt.

See: IRender nXt Libraries

Tips

  • Everyone's first thought will be an outdoor building, surrounded by trees and sky. Try to think up some unique approaches.
  • Material Libraries - check out some of the polished and brushed metal materials.
  • Arroway Materials - these have bump and reflection highlight maps build in. Bumps work best if some oblique lighting is applied to the surface.
  • Plants - the library contain premade plants. These could be used indoors or outdoors.
  • HDRi Skies - you can also get other free HDRi images from the web. In addition to HDRi skies, you can use HDRi buildings interiors for lighting and background of interior scenes.
  • RPC Objects - in addition the the sample RPC objects included in the IRender nXt release, Archvision has free demonstration objects on their we site and/or a 30 day free trial of all RPC objects. (We are hoping that some entries will use something different than Penny and the Volkswagen that we always use for RPC samples.)

Rules

Special Features

  • Each entry must use at least 4 of the following 5 special features of IRender nXt.
(Preference will be given to submissions which use all 5 features.)
  1. At least two materials from the IRender nXt Material Library
  2. At least two Arroway Textures, either your own, or from the IRender nXt Arroway Library
  3. At least two plants from the IRender nXt Plant Library , or two plants you created with RpTreeMaker
  4. An HDRi sky for lighting or background - See HDRi Skies
  5. At least one RPC Object - see RPC Objects

SketchUp Model

  • You may start with a 3D Warehouse model, or use a model of your own.
The models do not have to be original. If you use models from the Google 3D Warehouse, we encourage you to give credit for the models.
  • Other Rules
  • Finalists will have to submit their models to Render Plus for verification.
You model will not be disclosed to others without permission.

Rendered Image

Most of the final image needs to be created and rendered using SketchUp geometry and IRender nXt special features, as opposed to placing a small amount of geometry in front of a photograph or other image. HDRi skies or backgrounds are accetable.

Submissions which are mostly background images, mostly SketchUp images or mostly faces with image-like textures will not be considered

Other Rules

  1. Entries are assessed principally on the basis of: quality and the incorporation of IRender nXt features.
  2. Express permission is given to Render Plus for publishing images in any form.
  3. All images submitted are to be .jpg format, no larger than 1280 x 1024 or 1024 x 1280 resolution. Post-processing is not permitted, (except using the nXtImage processor included in IRender nXt).
  4. The finalists will be required to submit the model to Render Plus, which will be used to verify that the rendering was created from IRender nXt. We also encourage you, after the contest closes, to upload your model to the Google 3D Warehouse so other may learn from your techniques.
  5. Entries may not contain logos, signatures or watermarks which identify the author.
  6. Entries should be submitted by email to: Render Plus Support Email. Include the name or handle you want to be identified by when the entry is posted to our web site.
  7. Entries are limited to three per e-mail address. You may withdraw previous entries if you wish to replace them with new entries.
  8. Any entry, which in the judges' decision, breaks the rules will be disqualified.
  9. Merchandise prizes will be awarded as on-line gift cards. You may use them to purchase the items specified, or for any other purpose.
  10. Render Plus Software prizes may be used as a credit at Render Plus for purchase of any products or upgrades. If you already own IRender nXt, you can save your credit to use for purchase of future upgrades.
  11. Any questions regarding contest should be posted in the IRender nXt forum.
  12. The judges' decision is final.