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What's New with SU Podium V2 for SketchUp

What's New with SU Podium, January, 2013

1. SU Podium V2 image of the month

    We start out this January 2013 What's New with SU Podium V2 new images created by Tom De Ceuster. It demonstrates fantastic exterior sun light that is used to illuminate a superbly modeled interior. Thanks Tom!! Note the blurred reflections of the floor and the direct reflections on the counter top.
    SU Podium Forum gallery is a very good way to get feedback from other SketchUp and Podium users. Typically you will get respect, attention and very good suggestions and tips. Click on the Gallery Forum.

2. SU Podium V3 sneak peek

    SU Podium V3 beta is right around the corner. It's not released yet but Cadalog developers have been working on it for the last several months. All SU Podium V2 users will be able to try out the beta version in the coming month. In this month's What's New we took a quick look at two of the many features coming in V3.

    A. Podium Image Editor

    The Podium Image Editor or PIE is a simple 2D image editor that can be launched directly from the Podium Render Manager (OORP) or from the Tools pull-down menu. We created this so you could do some fast image editing or post processing without having to open a full blown Photoshop like editor. There are many features that will improve the rendered image's quality. The RGB channel level sliders are an accurate and intuitive way to add more light. You can add your own background to alpha transparent rendered images in PIE as well.

    B. Preset Editor

    Podium Preset Editor or PPE is an application that will be bundled with Podium V3 to create and modify Podium's render presets. It has an interface complete with guidance notes and controls. Currently, you can modify presets with a text editor, but this is only suited to people who are comfortable modifying scripts with a text editor (geek like).

    The PPE UI allows users to unlock the full power of the Podium V3 render engine and tune presets to suit specific scenes, intuitively (less geek like). For example, if you see blotches in your rendered scene, with PPE you will be able to create a preset to eliminate the blotches. We will be providing some support material to help users with the various parameters. PPE allows you to create your own presets from scratch or use the existing presets as templates.

3. Podium Browser 2 coming this month

    Podium Browser Paid 2 will be released before the end of this month. Thank you for your patience. Whether you have free or paid content license, this version will be an automatic free, upgrade when you open Podium Browser. We will be sending out an announcement when it is ready.
    The new Podium Browser has better categorization and a new keyword search field so that you can quickly find the growing number of render-ready components and materials.
    The Paid category is still $59 USD for a permanent license
    Also this month we will be adding new kitchen components and many more 2D face-me people. Podium Browser makes modeling in SketchUp and visualization in Podium V2 fast and easy. Click here to purchase at $59 (USD).Second license is still 25% off even if you already own a license.

4. Podium Walker - 0.5.3 beta version

    The final beta of Podium Walker has been released. For Windows this is 0.5.3. For the Mac it is build 13. For 0.5.3, Podium Walker can handle much larger SketchUp models than the previous beta allowed.
    This video by John Aikin, combines Podium Walker animations with SU Podium created images. Click on the image to launch a You Tube video and make sure you watch it in HD.

5. SU Plugins Store specials - 25% off your second license

    The 25% discount on your second purchase special is still in place after being requested by many. If you already own one license of SU Podium or Podium Browser, get the second license of each for 25% off the list price. Buy here

6. What is Cadalog, Inc. up to?

  • We are rapidly developing SU Podium V3 with the goal of releasing a beta before March, if possible.
  • We are also about to release Podium Browser 2 this month.
  • We are working on releasing Podium Walker with the Mac version up to speed with the Windows version in February.
  • We are also working on an iPad SketchUp viewer called Viso3D. This maybe released in February or March 2012.