Topic: no shadows on Lumion 2 free version

[A.Lackovic]

Hello
as title says,no shadows on cars,trees
I'm doing something wrong, or the problem is somewhere else

[thierry tutin]

hi A.Lackovi
do you use lumion with a mac, the bug is kown see topic here
http://lumion3d.com/forum/index.php?topic=3186.0

[A.Lackovic]

I use windows 7,but link no working

[Ferry]

Old ATI drivers have a problem where they don't show the shadows. If possible please make sure you upgrade to the latest ATI PC drivers.

[Morten]

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

[Morten]

Hi Dazomatic, I understand that you are frustrated that shadows are not working in the latest release of Lumion 2.1.

As far as I know, this problem is still affecting 3 customers with iMacs who are unable to update the graphics card drivers for Boot Camp, since Apple computers still rely on drivers that are 1 year old.

PC users with ATI cards are fortunately able to update their drivers, and this resolves the issue.

However, you do not need to buy a new computer.

As I already mentioned in the thread where this issue was first reported on Thursday, the developers of Lumion are working on resolving this issue, so that shadows will work on iMacs, just like they did in earlier versions of Lumion.

It should be clear from the posts in this thread that the problem has a very high priority at the moment, so please bear with them until the problem is fixed:
http://lumion3d.com/forum/index.php?topic=3186.msg20629#msg20629

If you check out the thread above, here's what Remko had to say about the issue:

The problem resides in a memory optimization in 2.1. Before 2.1 we initialized a shadow map with both depth and color buffer. Shadow only needs depth so this is a waste of memory. In 2.1 we initialize a NULL color buffer with the shadow map to save memory. As it turns out on REALLY old ATI drivers this does not work and you get the described behaviour. The solution we have to build in is to check the driver version (or support for NULL color buffers) and initialize a normal color buffer when needed.

[Morten]

The graphics card driver for Boot Camp (v8.812.0.0) is a little over a year old, so "really old" is a slight exaggeration.

In any case, Remko also described the solution they need to implement:
The solution we have to build in is to check the driver version (or support for NULL color buffers) and initialize a normal color buffer when needed.

[Morten]

Is he referring to graphics cards that are A YEAR OLD ?

No, the drivers, ie, the software that controls the graphics card is a little over 1 year old. This software often needs to be updated in order to support the latest games and applications. Graphics card drivers are also often updated in order to improve performance.

But anyway, you don't have to worry about this.

As I said earlier, the developers of Lumion will fix this issue, so that shadows will once again work on iMacs.

Please bear with them until the update is ready.

[Morten]

What computer does remko use ?..........maby i should buy the same

No need for that

The reason they implemented the new optimisation technique in 2.1 was that it would save 128mb of graphics card memory. Unfortunately, as we now know, old ATI drivers do not support this optimisation technique, and the result is missing shadows from some object types.

They will now try to detect if an old ATI driver is used, and if so, Lumion will not use the memory optimisation technique.

It's as simple as that.

By the way, Apple tend to release new Boot Camp drivers every now and then, so hopefully a new update will be due soon.

[Morten]

If you bought a faster computer and graphics card, your renderings would look exactly the same (once Remko and Ferry have fixed the missing shadows on the iMacs, that is).

The only noticeable differences would be:

1) Speed: How smooth it's running and how fast it renders each frame.
2) Memory: How many models (polygons) and textures you can add to scenes.

If you feel that the iMac isn't fast enough for the kind of work you do, and you can't add many models to your scenes before it starts to get really slow, then you could perhaps consider upgrading.

If you're based in the UK, I can recommend PCs from Overclockers.co.uk. One of the most important things when buying a PC is to make sure that the graphics card has got the right power supply. These guys will make sure that your PC runs perfectly, and that it has the right components.

Without this, you can look forward to months of unexplained behaviour, strange glitches and artifacts etc, and constantly having to send your PC/graphics card back to the dealer

That being said, if you're coming from the blissfully silent world of Macs, brace yourself for incessant noise from fans, especially if you buy a PC with a really fast graphics card. Many PCs tend to sound like vacuum cleaners under full load, and use up to 850W (unless you carefully select very quiet components), so I think you should seriously consider if it's worth it, just for faster rendering times and scenes with more objects and textures.

[Morten]

Regarding specific recommendations for a desktop PC, I know that they tend to buy Dell AlienWare PCs for demanding tests at the office in the Netherlands, but having just had a look at the UK version of that website, there's only 2 desktop PCs to choose from, and the upgrade options for the graphics card in the Aurora are not exactly the fastest (ie, GTX 560Ti).

If you still want to upgrade, maybe you could ask other UK-based Lumion users here in the forum to post their recommendations?

[A.Lackovic]

Thx,working now,instal new driver and 

[Ferry]

I have an Alienware at home with a 580GTX which works really well.

Remko just bought a new Alienware with an ATI card from DELL at until now we have a lot of problems with it being much much slower then expected.

For now we would recommend an Nvidia card to be sure you see the same smooth performance we are used to. A 580GTX being one of the best choices.

We will investigate why the ATI card is slow.

[Morten]

Thx,working now,instal new driver and 

Thanks for confirming that it's working after updating your ATI drivers, A.Lackovic.

[Morten]

thanx morton for all the info.....i see that dell alienware , is a gaming computer.
so it would make sense to aim for that , for long term lumion updates.
ill test drive them soon.

What I don't understand is why the Alienware PCs in the Dell shop in the UK only seem to ship with 555 or GTX 560Ti cards. As Ferry mentioned, you can get it with a GTX 580 elsewhere...