Sketchup Plugin Review

I've always been fascinated by 3D modeling and rendering programs. Sadly, I am a "I want it now!" type of person, and just didn't have the patience for learning how to create and place objects, and then wait for them to render. I expected more of the same when I was asked to review RaySupreme from BrainDistrict, but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with this application.

Overview:RaySupreme allows you to create 3D modeled and rendered scenes in the same manner as most programs of this ilk. You can select objects, change them to your liking, place them in the 3D "world", adjust their size and position, and then render the scene. Pretty standard, right? However, RaySupreme allows you to design and render your scene in a completely different, and fascinating way, by entering what you want to see via a text description.

RaySupreme uses what they call "Text-to-3D" that allows even a rank beginner to create a detailed and well laid out 3D scene. Using Text-to-3D is easy. Objects, Materials and Scenes can be built, modified and arranged by English descriptions. You can select specific types and styles of objects based upon your description. You can then use adjectives to customize models, as well as building the models from different materials as the mood strikes you.

For example, following the help file BrainDistrict includes in the app to show how easy Text-to-3D is to use, I entered the following into the app's Language Editor:

# Table

a table.

# Left Side

a chair left of the table, facing the table.

a placemat on the left edge of the table, facing the chair. move the placemat 4 cm right.

a coffee cup on the back right corner of the placemat.

# Right Side

the same chair right of the table, facing the table. move the placemat 4 cm left.

a placemat on the right edge of the table, facing the chair. a coffee cup on the back right corner of the placemat.

# Vase

a vase in the middle of the table.

I then clicked the process language button and the following scene rendered in the rendering window:

I then added the following to the "script":

#Time

It is 1928AD

I then clicked the process language button, and the scene was updated to the following:

As you can see, by setting a time period for your rendering, the application will update the objects in the scene to reflect that time period. Very cool.

In addition to the Text-to-3D engine, experienced professionals can create 3D objects and environments. Primitive objects in the application can be configured to suit the user's needs, and includes polygon-based modeling with a full range of tools. Productivity tools such as Bend, Lathe, Extrude, and Shell are included.

As I said, I'm not an experienced user of 3D modeling applications, so I spent most of my time using the Text-to-3D features, but I did have the opportunity to follow along with some of the included tutorials for the more advanced features, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to understand the tools and how they are used.

BrainDistrict recently updated RaySupreme to version 1.1, and that is the version I reviewed here. New features in version 1.1 include: 10 new modeling tools, Viewport background references, True point and spot lights, Global cut/copy/paste functionality for geometry, render quality improvements, and more.

The app includes free downloadable materials to assist you in creating your screen. The library is continually being updated, so make sure to update your local library via download from within the program.