Vue xStream provides for the same complete sets of options as the Vue stand-alone version (reviewed separately). However, integration of Vue xStream does require a knowledge of what things effect what other things. For example, in cases where you want Global Illumination in your scene, global illumination (or "GI") needs to be enabled in both the host application and in the scene settings from within the Vue xStream => Edit atmosphere settings. The host application creates all of the rays for both the Vue proxy objects as well as the host application objects. However, the Vue render engine takes care of rendering the Vue objects while the host render engine takes care of it’s own objects and some Vue shader functions, like Glow. Additionally, some post processing Vue functions won’t render when using the Host application.
There are some additional things worth noting. Since xStream utilizes proxies while it does it’s thing, you can’t physically duplicate an object with the normal tools of the host application. While you can scale and move the proxy, duplication needs to be done via the xStream menu.
It’s this interplay of options that can leave you scratching your head wondering why thing aren’t rendering as you’d expected. A quick spin through the xStream portion of the Vue manual is warranted.
By virtue of how Vue xStream connects to the host application, not all post render effects are supported. What works and what doesn’t depends on whether you are using Maxwell or not.
As with integrated plug-ins like Vue, there is a special methodology it goes through at render time. Part of the render gets done by the host application and anything that heralds from Vue gets processed by the Vue render engine. This can make it appear that the render “hangs” for a bit when doing global illumination renders. However, everything is functioning normally, it’s just that the screen is not being updated during the preliminary calculations.
This version of Vue xStream has a significant speed boost during rendering and the quality of the render is significantly better. How much faster depends on your system and network. In my work, I’ve noticed speed gains by a factor of four. However, it’s still quite possible to “overset” the render fidelity and bring your system to it’s knees in agony.
