Where to Start?

[BillyRaygun]

I'm successful at importing my OBJ mesh and opening it. My mesh export comes with a mtl file. My scene appears to be zoomed in very close. Now what?

The videos I've seen show a guy spinning a car around and changing materials very fast. But that is about all I know on how to use Octane. Are there any tutorials that explain how to get started? Apply materials? Do I export each material on a layer? Does each object need a unique name, color?

So, can anyone point me to a step by step tutorial?

Thanks in advance!
Billy Raygun

[matej]

The import process must have created your materials, which should be visible in the node inspector. Now you can tweak them (select shaders, parameters, load textures) as needed. You can also pick your model with the material picker, to select materials. Set the lighting model (IBL, sunsky) in the environment tab and camera params in the camera tab...

Did you watch the demo tutorial, it neatly explains all you need to get started:

http://www.refractivesoftware.com/demotutorial.html

[BillyRaygun]

Perfect! I did not watch these. I will tackle them and see where Octane takes me. Thank you!

[matej]

A link to this tutorial page should be posted also in the videos section - there is where people will normally go in search of videos. The link in the demo download page is actually easy to miss.

[irene]

Hi matej and everybody here! I've watched the videos and done my first renders. Now I starte searching for a more detailled handbook that describes what each button thus. Is there any such tutorial, help file or wiki?

[colin]

hi irene,

there is a pdf manual that comes with the download when buying octane.
not entirely sure but i don't think it's available for the demo-version i'm affraid.

colin

[irene]

Thank you, colin, i have been looking everywhere... so that explains it!

[matej]

Yeah, thats a wrong policy IMO. Potential buyers should be able to evaluate Octane also through the manual (especially since the demo version is not updated) - which would in return function as an feature brochure...

You can always ask specific questions in the forum, btw

[radiance]

We have a new manual with the current customer only 2.3 beta which is 95% finished and we will be giving it for download publically (however it contains many things that are not present in the 2.2 version, eg the demo version), but we will supply a demo of 2.3 after 2.3 final is released.

Radiance