Learning curve: VRay for Sketchup

[EverWood]

Hello fellow members,

My question is regarding the learning curve to be anticipated for different levels of ability. Obviously it depends on a multitude of personal experience and aptitudes, I understand. I still would like a few comments to encourage me. Here is my profile and goals;

My profile; I'm a wood worker desiring to represent his custom cabinetry designs in a more photorealistic fashion. I'm currently comfortable using Sketchup and wish to go a step higher. I'm determined to learn to use VRay, I haven't purchased nor tried any demo version yet. I must admit that I'm involved at all levels of my business and can not invest all day with VRay.

Again, my question, will I, shortly after I start, be able to get minimal results abling me to enhance my sketches in a more professional fashion.

Thanks for reading and especially if you're responding.
EverWood
From Montreal, Canada

[Skif]

Re: Learning curve: VRay for Sketchup

I too work in a woodworking industry and were looking to improve my presentations. It took me a bit more then a month spending a couple hours a day to come up wit this picture:

[EverWood]

Re: Learning curve: VRay for Sketchup

Hi Skif,

Thanks for your reply. Very impressive work, it's certainly encouraging to hear from someone in the industry showing such results while investing a few hours a day for a month. I'm so impressed w your pics that I think the investment of time, not to mention the initial cost of the program, is worth the kind of result you were able to come up with. Obviously, its not only a question of time but the effort that you've put in.

I went to see on YouTube some VRay tutorials, maybe its the nature of tutorials, but the process seemed tedious. Maybe it gives an overwhelming impression at first. We'll see!

Thanks again. If you have other pics, i'd be curious to see.
EverWood
From Montreal, Canada

[ValeroStudio]

Re: Learning curve: VRay for Sketchup

If I went on YouTube and searched "woodworking tutorial" I would say that looked tedious. If you invest a little time with playing around and watching the tutorials, it will be like second nature. You will learn your own methods and short-cuts to get what you need out of the program. The great thing about Vray and SketchUp is that they are much easier the learn than something like 3D Studio Max. Fernando has put together some excellent webinars that I believe you can purchase through this website. Check them out. Definately worth the $50.

[Skif]

Re: Learning curve: VRay for Sketchup

I went to see on YouTube some VRay tutorials, maybe its the nature of tutorials, but the process seemed tedious. Maybe it gives an overwhelming impression at first. We'll see!

Well, it's definitely not a two-click operation. Every time I do a render I think about it as if I were making a picture with my DSLR. I think about where to place light, how bright should it be, what colour, where should be the camera positioned etc. How long does it take a professional photographer to create a proper image? Two hours? Three hours? Half a day. That's pretty much how long it takes me to create one render. However I don't think that my renders are all that great and I know that there is a lot of room for improvement there. However I have to admit that for woodworking industry day-to-day jobs it's more then enough.

I recommend you to start with tutorial that Omar kindly created for all of us - http://forum.asgvis.com/index.php?topic=9382.0 . To me that was probably the biggest push, it's like one hour long but it's totally worth it. Then go to the tutorial section on chaosgroup website, step by step and I promise you that within a month you will get to the right level.

SOme of my renders can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/skif.ua/Renders#