nXt

The next generation of Flamingo is still developing.  The most recent release is WIP 10 September 2009:

• Updated materials to allow bitmaps to have embedded or linked textures.
• Continued to fix found bugs.
• We have published sample material libraries for download.
• A 64-bit build for Rhino V5 beta is now available. 

To download the 32-bit version for Rhino V4 and V5 go here: Flamingo nXT Beta 32-bit

To download the 64-bit version for Rhino V5 go here: Flamingo nXT Beta 64-bit

A detailed view of what we have added lately to the builds. 

WIP 10 September 2009

• Updated materials to allow bitmaps to have embedded or linked textures.
• Continued to fix found bugs.
• Published sample material libraries
• Released 64-bit build for Rhino V5 beta 

WIP 9 July 2009

• You can navigate to different material directories.  The material library browser can be used to drag materials onto objects, layers or into the internal materials in the drawing.  Once assigned to an object, there is an internal definition of the material in the drawing. All editing should be done on the internal material.
• Improved the convertion of legacy materials. If there is one material assigned in many places, we do not make duplicates of that material. 
• FlamingoNXtRenderConstraints command now controls all rendering. If I set the Number of Passes or the Time and Enable the rendering the limits works in all cases.
• The tree editor now works without crashing
• Material drag and drop icons now are working.
• The basic rhino material bump property translates
• If I set the Flamingo NXT object properties of Alpha, Caustics etc now stick.
• XML errors have been fixed.
• Drag and drop refined.

WIP 8 June 2009:

• We have added  on the blog pages a new Basic Tutorial for nXT that covers the basic steps for rendering with Nxt.
• 
• Images can now be saved with or without alpha channel.  At the time you save the image you can choose if the alpha channel is saved in the final image.  Alpha is automatically on for all background pixels.  The groundplane can be set as alpha, and you may select any object to resutl in alpha.
• Both HDRI and EXR high-dynamic range images can be saved out of nXT.  These are the raw rendered image before the tone operator adjusts the image to get it exposed to the screen.  This allows you to save off a high dynamic range image that you can edit in other software edit the HDRI images.  Two programs we have used are: . Photomatix Pro and Artizen HDR.
• Displacement mapping and normal mapping have been added.  You can change the bitmap mapping types in the advanced material editor within the properties of each texture.  Normal maps can create a lot of effects of such as roughness, without impacting render speed.  Displacement will truly displace the render mesh at runtime, creating a true physical texture over the shape.  The drawback with displacement is that rendering currently can be quite a bit slower with displacement.  We are using the products Crazybump or PixPlant

• You can now set the number of passes or limit the time of rendering before you start any renderings.  To do this, type in the command: FlamingoNXtRenderConstraints
• We now support Rhino basic materials including better tiling. This allows you to render models that contain their own render information.  For instance here is a Sketchup file read directly into Rhino and without editing just rendered.  All the materials work. 

We have reconfigured how Lights  are ON/Off  or Visible/Invisible. The property Off/On nows controls if the light projects light.  The property of Invisible/Visible will control whether the light object can be seen. 
A Refraction option is now available with a Sky option.

WIP 7 May 2009:

WIP 5 March 2009:

• Added initial support for Rhino RenderWindow command. Currently renders entire view in background and displays windowed selection.
• Changed default material preview sphere radius to 20 inches
• Working on keeping light user data from getting corrupted
• Added material preview context menu option to set the preview geometry radius
• Fixed a problem with doucment properties not being read in certian situations. When document properties fail to read a dialog is displayed that prompts the user to send the file to tech support.
• Now building with 24 March 2009 tool kit
• Modified material browser removing the mapping button which was never hooked up. Material mapping can be accomplished by using the Rhino object Properties command and selecting “Flamingo nXt”
• Added “Glossy” material to the material browser as a new basic material type
• Added glossy and Anisotropy controls to advanced material editor dialog
• Renamed the light browser “Output” column heading to “Distribution” so it matches the Object Properties Light dialog
• Modified the light browser so the tagged light distribution updates when the distribution combo box selection changes
• Added “Aim” column to the light browser which lets you point a “Spot” or “Diffuse” light for objects tagged as lights
• Control panel tabs now size properly
• Material browser materials should no longer scroll off the screen
• Fixed light browser crash bug when editing a sub item value
• Added a “Remove Tag” option in the Light control panel Right-click menu
• Add a Delete Lights option in the Light control panel Right-click menu
• Added a “Tag objects as light” option to the “Flamingo nXt/Lights” menu

WIP 4 March 2009

In the WIP 2 (3-16-2009) we have added:

• Moved Depth of Field controls from the DocumentProperties/Flamingo nXt page to the Flamingo control panel, Render tab and hooked up controls.
• Added Ground Plane options to Control Panel Rendering tab
• Added true model instancing.
  • If a Rhino block is inserted 3 or more times then instancing is activated.
  • Once instanced, any number of copies can be inserted with a very small additional memory usage. For models with a lot of repitiion in the model this can save a huge amount of memory.
• Modified Flamingo to use Rhino runtime render mesh and only create meshes when absolutely necessary. This may improve translation speed at the start of the rendering process.
• Added ability to cancel during meshing procedure.
• Flamingo Document Properties includes options for:
  • Use legacy 2.x or 1.x Flamingo materials when rendering (this can slow the rendering down quite a bit)
  • Minimum block reference to turn into tool kit instance
• Improved crash protection during meshing
• Optimized legacy material support to use imported material definition as long as name has not been changed
• Restored missing controls from Advenced Tab in the background HDR, Bitmap and color dialogs
• Replace Rhino Object Properties Light page with Flamingo nXt version when Flamingo nXt is the current render plug-in
• Added right click properties option to the Flamingo Control Panel Light tab light browser
• Changing manual sun values now works
• Flamingo NXT Mapping controls Updated
• Added initial plant support. You can import plant files generated with the “C:\Program Files\Flamingo nXt WIP\TreeEditor.exe” or “C:\Program Files\Flamingo nXt WIP\TreeEditor64.exe” program
• Control Panel, Lighting & Background tab now includes a color bleed option
• HDRI properties page now includes a saturation option. This controls the color satuation of the light coming from HDRI files. The default value has been set to .5. 0 will lead to neutral white light coming from the HRDI. A value of 1 will lead to light that is fully colored by the sample point on the HDRI.
• Various bug and crash fixes.
• Inside the advanced tab, refractions option, Custom, HDRI. In the HDRI selection box the controls are all messed up.
• Sun Direction now will update when angle changes.
• Metalic color updates properly
• Exposure adjustments controls now spin smaller increments.
• Updated installer to un-install properly.