How you -easily- weather buildings much faster (start)

You probably wanted a top notch rendering many times but have you ever seriously dared to do this in top quality ? And why did you never do that ? Most likely because it took you too much time to add all the extra details !!

Read more !

  • How you add streaks to concrete, tiles and stucco!
  • How you weather a huge street block quickly!
  • How you add splashes to a front easily!
  • How you add natural variations across a whole building!
  • What are the 2 must have features of RichDirt ?

What do you do -today- when texturing non-rectangular objects?

How do you match the corner points ?
Do you stretch at the price of distortions ?
What do you do when the texture has an orientation (like streaks)? - cut the streaks in Photoshop®, turn them manually, and re-add them - to match the edge?
How do you get the correct orientation on surfaces with an up slope?

  • Streaks

  • Beauty

  • Subtle Splashes

  • Strong Splashes

With RichDirt you get streaks at the edge, even when objects have a different shape. The orientation is correct - automatically.

Optimize thin - the must have number 1

When doing occlusion on walls, tables, doors - any thin object - occlusion would darken the whole object. The following image shows this - the cuboids get thinner and darker.

optimize thin used on the 4 cuboids on the right

The ´optimize thin´ algorithm solves this. The before/after images below show you how well it works and the text below explains why this is so important to get things done fast. The first image is rendered without the ´optimize thin´ feature of RichDirt. The second image uses ´optimize thin´. First take a look, which one do you like more? Read more below (there is a real risk that you stop reading here, because you would miss a really important point). Move the circle !!

no optimize optimize thin

Do you prefer the ´right´ image ? Both images use the very same materials, textures, lights, geometry. 100 % identical. The model itself is a real production model made by Pixelsonic. The model´s geometry has -not- been touched for use with RichDirt. Furthermore, none of the materials was touched. All rendering was done via a single Render Element that uses RichDirt. The original geometry includes objects that are very thin:

  1. All windows are thin
  2. The door is thin
  3. The wall touching the ground is thin
  4. The doorbell plate is thin
  5. The ledge is thin

Without RichDirt the best image you could get is the first of the 2. To get the better image one needs RichDirt - it is the only dirt solution that has the ´Optimize Thin´ algorithm builtin. It even works on the curved part of the ledges ! Why does this create such a big benefit in time (work) ? You don´t have to modify geometry. You don´t have to create local materials (like an extra material for the ledges using a smaller radius to make it look good).

Breakthrough style

Use breakthrough to add more/less break through areas. This is very easy to control, simply set the percentage of gaps/fills. Get the best results with a few breakthroughs, or a lot, the images below use 9% and 92%. Imagine this on a facade.

9% 92%

Wash style

Use wash to intensify the wash effect. Combine this with wash length to determine how far the water reaches. The images below use 35% and 44%.

wash 35 wash 44

Sill Edges

Do your most realistic building ever - add sill edges at the edge of window benches. This new RichDirt feature uses even the wind direction, so you get stronger sill edge streaks on the east versus the west side. RichDirt is the worldwide exclusive plugin to support sill edges procedurally !

Better Streets

After releasing RichDirt1 several studios asked for stronger dirt on streets and with doors/kitchen. Classical ambient occlusion fails here, the dirt stops too early. RichDirt2 is your solution for better streets, more realistic pavements. Flat obstacles (street/curb stone) cast a much better (wider) contact shadow now. The new algorithm also works when your uphill streets have a coarse triangulation. The same algorithm can be used to age wooden doors or a vintage designer kitchen.

The image above shows a street done with classical ambient occlusion. The contact shadow is very short and there is no way to make it larger (a larger radius still does not find the curb stone). RichDirt´s optimized flat cone does a much wider contact shadow - which can be used to make a darker area or add some sand here.


How to weather a whole street block in 1 minute ?

street block

In the past the whole weathering process had been manual, and expensive. So it was exclusively used for film productions. RichDirt itself is a big step forward - but a street block with all details still needs a lot of work with the mouse - to update materials. This is solved with RichScene. RichScene handles all the assignments automatically for you.

Using RichDirt2 and RichScene you add weathering in as fast as 1 minute for 7 buildings, including 4 layers of streaks, splashes and more for every building.

Why is this so much faster ?
1. RichScene handles a full scene, adds dirt maps to all materials.
2. RichScene adds to the ´current selection´, for example the front of a a building.
3. RichScene can change colors and styles in several layers on the full scene.
4. RichDirt PRESETS deliver out-of-the-box effects.
5. RichDirt doesn´t require uvs, save time to tune uvs around windows, doors and benches.

What exactly is the difference between RichDirt and RichScene?

RichScene is a second plugin. RichDirt is a ´map´ plugin in 3dsMax terms. RichScene is a manager plugin - it has been created to make your workflow faster. It adds dirt maps to all materials in your scene, changes colors and styles easily. Never before had it been easier to create variety and realism !


RichDirt Extreme

Back to RichDirt ...

Richdirt comes as Standard and Extreme version. RichDirt Extreme adds a bundle of extra features to get even more variations and realism. Ideal for larger projects, optimal when realistic dirt is your goal and time doesn´t allow for manual painting of details.

Merge Objects - the must have feature number 2

merge objects used for rightmost cuboids

When rendering buildings you often have real models, that use ceilings that extend to the walls. Doing ´inner occlusion´ then triggers an edge/streaks. You don´t want this ! In RichDirt Version 1 (as well as any other solution) you had to change the model to get a good rendering. RichDirt Version 2 has solved this - the new ´merge objects´ feature renders like the objects had indeed been merged (the interior split magically disappears).

  • 3ds max model, ceiling touches walls
  • Streaks at an unexpected place - where wall hits ceiling
  • RichDirt2 merge objects merges wall and ceiling.

Dry area detection (RichDirt Extreme)

Dry areas don´t get rain drops, hence less streaks - for example below a balcony. RichDirt automatically detects these areas for you.

before after

RichDirt Extreme adds more variations using 3 groups of parameters

  1. Per object id: Change falloff, breakthrough , wash effect when touching a different object id.
  2. Per wind (height): Add more breakthrough in the upper part of a building.
  3. Per world: Add more details in worldspace to get a richer image for wide/full shots.

Variety Per Object ID (RichDirt Extreme)

Each window bench has a different id. This is used to change the dirt in a unique way. Some benches get more falloff, some a wider radius, some more breakthroughs.

before after

Variety Per World Space (RichDirt Extreme)

Here the ´breakthrough´ changes from 10%,20%,30% to 50%. Done in worldspace it creates bundles of streaks. This is excellent for realism of wide/full shots, to get a good visual variety.

  • RichDirt world breakthrough 10
  • RichDirt world breakthrough 20
  • RichDirt world breakthrough 30.
  • RichDirt world breakthrough 50.

Variety Per Wind (Height) (RichDirt Extreme)

In nature wind is stronger for higher parts of a building, more rain and longer sill edges are typical. RichDirt Extreme supports this via a builtin height function. It is easy to use and adds another level of realism to your renderings. The image below shows more breakthroughs on the upper part. The sill edge length is bigger, as there is more rain.

before after

Attractive pricing

The offer at $79/€79 - compare this to a permanent license of 3ds Max (3495$) - that is much much more. When you order multiple licenses you get good discounts. But let´s compare apples to apples: Imagine you would hire a person that is really good in painting dirt effects. Take the images above, but at a resolution of 2000 pixels. How long will one need to paint this? 1 hour ? 4 hours ? How many projects do you do each year 5? 10? 20? And how many objects/buildings/facades do you have per project? Imagine that your ´painting guy´ did a great image - but you want it stronger/softer? Simply render several variants as Render Element and combine them as -you- like in Compositing / Post Production !

Farm support

Directly available on your preferred render farm, such as:

Free Render Nodes / Backburner

Each License of RichDirt ® can be used on an infinite number of Render Nodes. For example you buy 1 License. This can be used on 1 seat (= user interface) of 3ds Max. You can use as many Render Nodes as you wish, your investment in extra workstations for faster rendering is fully valid. For example if you have 20 Render Nodes, all of them are included. This free rendering includes all rendering done via BackBurner or the 3ds Max commandline, if your studio has its own Render Node management this works as well.

V-Ray slaves/satellites

Enjoy free rendering with all of your slaves and satellites. Distributed bucket rendering can be a great help when you render single images and want results faster.

Free Trial Download

Use the 30 day free trial for ...

The free trial of RichDirt is fully working, you have unlimited access to all the functionality.

Use the 30 day free trial to ...

Do an in-depth-test before you buy. Test how fast it is on your computer. See how it works on your models. How it works for your new project. Standard installers assure fast installation.

Get the free trial as a present!
V-Ray 6 3ds Max 2018 to 2024.
V-Ray 5 3ds Max 2017 to 2023.
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V-Ray Next 3ds Max 2016 to 2021.
V-Ray 3 3ds Max 2011 to 2019.
mental ray 3ds Max 2011 to 2018.

Two ways to the download links

  1. Fastest - Facebook, like RichDirt. Due to the european Data Protection Law GDPR/DSVGO a simple "like" button is no longer available. First go to the RichDirt page on Facebook. Inside Facebook click the "like" button. Check the posts with the download links. Facebook recently increased security. To download you now need to manually add path and product. See the detailed and easy instructions on Facebook. You can have access to Facebook here. Clicking this link makes you visible to Facebook. If you prefer to remain invisible the classical newsletter is a better option.
  2. Classical - enter your e-mail below, get the links mailed to your mailbox.

Classical - use this to assure to also get the newsletter including a series of tips and tricks.


Product Review - Cyrile Fauvel
"This product is a great addition to the Autodesk plug-in family."

It is great to see this new innovative plug-in from a valued long term partner.

Cyrille Fauvel: Worldwide ADN Sparks program Manager; Autodesk Developer Network
Product Review - Graham Macfarlane
"This tool hosts a very powerful set of controls creating a good number of varied results"

The many presets make working with it a snap for beginners. Will certainly be including this in my workflows from now on!

Graham Macfarlane (Director - Elyarch Ltd)
Product Review - Thorsten Hartmann
"A great tool!"

I´m really excited about it !

Thorsten Hartmann - Infinity Vision
Product Review - Iain Banks
"This plugin looks like a fantastic easy to use tool"

It is set to become one of my favorites which I use in my everday work flow.

Iain Banks - www.iainbanks.com
Product Review - Dano Battista
"After having tried this magnificent product,

I will not hesitate to add it to our architectural pipeline."

Dano Battista - Director db3d
Product Review - Matt Moses
"RichDirt came in handy -

I tried it on a shot i am finaling right now ... one click to get a nice grunge/ambient occlusion map"

Matt Moses - Lighting Director Renkewitz Studios
Product Review - Maher Zebian
"Before using the RichDirt plug-in I used to do this process in Photoshop."

However, it was time consuming. Even though we use VRay at our studio, I now save a substantial amount of time in post production, especially when there's a tight deadline.

Maher Zebian - Senior 3D Visualiser Glass Canvas Productions
Product Review - Peter Stulz
"RichDirt helped us enormously to create weathered texture-maps with the click of a few buttons. Easy!"

Opposed to traditional texture painting, we were able to create highly detailed wear-maps inside of 3dsMax. Since they are based on logical, almost physical principals they look perfect and very realistic. It's indeed very clever!"

Peter Stulz - XOIO
Product Review - Chris Wade
"It's a great Tool asset to have, well done for creating this excellent plug-in."

I worried my MD by showing him the muck it can produce, he was worried I was going to start making all the new building projects we do into grungy images. But it will be used gently - to great effect when modelling existing buildings, next to our new ones. The old ones can be made more dirty. I like the way I can export many layers of grime, and use them how I want in Photoshop or After Effects.

Chris Wade - Lead Artist T2 Design Solutions Ltd


Copyrights
mental images and mental ray, are registered trademarks, and are trademarks of NVIDIA, in the U.S.A. and/or other countries. Autodesk and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Adobe and Photoshop and After Effects are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.