Advanced shading in LDD?

[Superkalle]

I just noticed this picture when browsing the web. It's from the same instituion (Alexandra) that helped TLG with the advanced shading in LDD 4. It shows a technique called CUDA photon mapping. I don't know if it's real time rendered or not, but it looks really good. I have now clue if this is just a test where they used a LEGO model as a dummy or not. Maybe something to drool for in LDD 5.0?

[messiah1]

Total drool over here. That looks more like something rendered in a 3d prog like c4d or max to me...although how wicked would it be for LDD 5.0? Get too many sweet features in there though and TLG might want to start charging for the software...which I'd probably buy anyway.

Edited December 9, 2010 by messiah1

[Zerobricks]

Light source manipulation would be really cool in next LDD.

[Brickdoctor]

Ooh, looks nice. I notice a lack of part oulines, though, which makes me supect this isn't LDD.

[XimenaPaulina]

I would certainly love to have that shading functionality in LDD 5.0 Even if it will not be as advanced shading as that, anything just to improve the current lighting in LDD 4.0.

[Bojan Pavsic]

I would certainly love to have that shading functionality in LDD 5.0 Even if it will not be as advanced shading as that, anything just to improve the current lighting in LDD 4.0.

If it's "CUDA" as in Nvidia CUDA, count me out, my graphics card doesn't support (8xxx series+) this as none of the ATI graphics cards do either. So i highly doubt they're picking a Nvidia only renderer for that.

[private_lego]

The edges of the 1x1 bricks in front are unnatural white.

The white bricks on the left have a strong reflexion on the ground. This is also the problem with POVray in standard renderings. Can be changed in POVray.

[Superkalle]

I'm not expert, but it looks like this technique is indeed real-time rendered. Anyayw, I guess it will be some time before we see this technique in LDD.

Info

NVidia CUDA Zone

Some clip