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Maxwell presents the MXM Gallery, one of the online galleries featuring modeling materials. Besides its cross-platform functionality and realistic representation we are having a second look a its materials statistics. For instance, the Top Download Materials section does not only feature the sweet renderings of 'Brushed Steel' or 'Glossy Plastics' but also includes 'Low Grade Glass' followed by 'Old Wine Bottles'.
It is hard to define whether these renderings are considered for new product development but instead of wondering whether or not, why not push this? With more sustainable materials in this library -- "a call for all materials suppliers?" -- designers are more likely to explore the aesthetics of recycled materials and start considering renewable resources such as bamboo or use their modeling skills to reuse waste. Feel free to drop a comment or suggestion on this one.
Dutch Design Week
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Comments
I have been using the Maxwell Renderer since its beta phase. Its ability to achieve photorealism at such a high level allows me to justify materials and designs. I am able to persuade upper corporate staff that the product can look good in certain renewable materials. However, they still seem to lean towards the cheapest material. So, if I can make it renewable and at a lower cost, they will always go for it.
This is one of the first programs that I have been able to create and apply materials in that actually look like the material I assigned (instead of using car paint or asphalt for everything).
It does take a fair amount of resources to get a timely rendering out. My initial renders were taking me several days on a P4 2.8GHz with 2G Ram. What I could do in three hours on the old P4, I can now do in 20min on a MacPro 4 core 2.66Gz with 4G Ram. I
create in SolidWorks and Rhino and render in Maxwell.
To see an example of a product I rendered in Maxwell go to:
http://www.reqsound.com
or
http://www.soundolier.com – I created the models in SolidWorks and Rhino and rendered them in Maxwell with slight touch ups in Photoshop and animate in Flash.
I really love this trend.
it is known that design results are strongly related to the available tools. (that's why now we see the those "surface buildings" that are almost impossible to conceive and calculate with traditional tools).
Unfortunately, testing with 3d materials only effects the eco-aesthetics.
Would be great if the materials had attached some extra information on their eco-performance such as energy consumption for extraction.
(in some cases, make things in Bamboo is less ecological than do it in plastic, because the energy used during transportation and treatment of such material might be more harmful for the environment than use a simple recycled post-industrial plastic)