What's New in SU Podium February 2016

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 Gallery Forum Images of the Month

Season's greetings, and a very happy New Year to our users! Thanks to all of you it's been another fantastic year in the SU Podium community. This month's featured images are from the following designers:

1. Eleni Psyllaki from My Paradissi :: Kids Room
2. Anderseide :: Exterior renders
3. Gary Petrovski :: Minima 02
4. Nibelungs :: Shower Work in progress

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 The Podium Panorama server is ready

We've set up a web based hosting platform for your panorama renders.

The Podium Panorama server is now ready to use! Simply click through to the pano server webstite register with a username and password, an start uploading your panoramic renders.

• Easily store and share your panoramas - When you upload an equirectangular image, the pano server automatically generates a unique URL that you can easily share with clients and colleagues.

• Organize your projects - Create a free account and access all your panorama files from the same page. Sort your images into categories and organize your portfolio of panorama presentations.

• Automatically convert panoramic render to VR presentation - The web platform automatically converts your equirectangular panorama render into a spherical panoramic VR presentation. You no longer need to convert your image in PIE if you are uploading to the pano server.

Coming this month in SU Podium v2.5.5: Upload your panoramas to the server without leaving SketchUp. The next Podium builds will include a direct link to your Panorama Server account through Podium Image Editor. Render, adjust, upload and share all from within SU Podium.

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  Take a look:   Try the Podium Panorama Server here

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 SU Podium V2.5.5 Plus coming in March

SU Podium V2.5.5 is a free update for existing V2.5.1 users, and includes the following new features:

1. Improved Generate Script with relative file paths - Podium's generate script tool gives you the ability to output a .SCRIPT file that can be opened later on in OOPR. Podium has always had the ability to generate scripts, however until now it has used absolute file references, making it impossible to share .SCRIPT files between computers.

Generate now outputs a folder containing the materials and textures from your SketchUp model, and a .script file that uses relative file paths. The advantage being, you can now send your .script and textures folder to any computer with access to Podium/OOPR. Previously, .scripts files could only be run on the computer used to generate them.

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2. Defringe feature in PIE - Podium image editor now has a defringe feature used to clean up the edges of Podium images rendered with a transparent alpha channel. This is not always necessary, however transparent images (often those containing a lot of vegetation) end up with a noticeable "fringe" along the edge of the alpha channel.

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3. Upload directly to the Panorama Server from PIE - Starting in v2.5.5, Podium Image Editor will include an option to upload a panoramic render directly to the Podium panorama server (described above). Generate a unique URL for you Pano VR automatically without leaving Podium.

SU Podium V2.5.5 should be ready for release later this month.

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 Podium Walker V1.3.1 has been released - Windows

Click above to watch a short timelapse demonstrating how sky color affects ambient light in Podium Walker V1.3.1. Click here if your browser doesn't support embedded video.

Podium Walker v1.3.1 has been released for Windows; Mac version coming in early March.

• V1.3.1 brings the Mac version up to par with Windows - Podium Walker for Mac has lagged behind for several versions, but is now up to date including the improved embree raytracing algorithm and lightmaps for faster, more efficient video rendering.

• Sky color now affects lightmaps - Podium Walker accounts for time of day and sky color when calculating light color/intensity for lightmaps. This is demonstrated in the timelapse shown above—notice how the ambient color and light distribution change throughout the course of the day.

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 New Additions to Podium Browser

We're still working tirelessly to expand the Podium Browser catalog. Here are some of the new couches, fireplaces, and 2D plants that were uploaded in December:

New Bonsai trees:

Additional Arizona couches:

Additional Haddonstone Finials:

New 3D plant components:

Eglo light fixtures:

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We're adding new content to Podium Browser every month!  Podium Browser is still only $59.00 and includes thousands of high quality, render ready components, with additional models, materials, and light fixtures being added every week. Read more about the speed and efficiency of Podium Browser here. To see the full range of new Browser content, open the Podium Browser web page. Click on Agree, then click on Show only recent files.

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 Ongoning Webstore Deals

The Win/Mac version of the Viso3D SketchUp export plug-in will convert your SketchUp 8, 2013 and 2014 model into a small file that can be read by the iPad 7. The Lightmap in the plug-in will also preserve the sun and shadows settings and create an ambient light for interior scenes. Read here and download the free trial. $29.95 ends soon.

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2nd License Specials for SU Podium V2 continues: The 25% discount on your second purchase special is still in place as it has proven to be popular. If you already own one license of SU Podium, get the second license of each for 25% off the list price. Buy here

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V2+ is a free upgrade: If you have not yet upgraded to SU Podium V2 Plus, don't forget that V2+ is now available as a free update for all existing Podium users! V2 Plus supports SketchUp 2014 (Win/ Mac), 2013 (Mac only), and SketchUp 8 (Win/Mac). Please Click here to Download SU Podium V2 Plus.

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Podium Browser Paid content is still $59.00 for a permanent license. You will be able to access new content that is added each month as a Paid content owner.