Start Vantage from SketchUp

This page provides information about the Start Chaos Vantage tool in SketchUp.

Overview

The Start Vantage tool helps you send your SketchUp scene to Chaos Vantage with a click of a button. It initiates a Live Link session between SketchUp and Chaos Vantage, instantly sending any changes you make to the scene to Vantage without reexporting the scene.

The Start Custom Live Link tool starts a Live Link server with settings specified in the Customized Live Link menu.

The Customize Live Link tool sets specific settings for performance.

Installation

The installation of the tools comes with the installation of V-Ray 5 for SketchUp, update 2 and later.

For detailed instructions on installing and setting up Live Link from SketchUp to Chaos Vantage, see the Live Link from SketchUp tutorial.

UI Path

To access the Start Chaos Vantage tool, in SketchUp go to:

||Extensions menu|| > V-Ray > Live Link > Start Vantage

||V-Ray toolbar || > Start Vantage

To access the Start Custom Live Link, in SketchUp go to:

||Extensions menu|| > V-Ray > Live Link > Start Custom Live Link

To access the Customize Live Link tool, in SketchUp go to:

||Extensions menu|| > V-Ray > Live Link > Customize Live Link

Specify address and port

The Specify address and port dialog, available by selecting Customize Live Link, allows you to specify IP address and port.

Address – Specifies the IP address that the Live Link connection connects to.

Port – Specifies the port at which the Live Link connection is started.

Usage

To use the tool, just click the Start Vantage button and a Live Link session will be initialized between SketchUp and Chaos Vantage. The tool automatically:

• Starts Chaos Vantage if it is not already running.
• Sends the scene to Chaos Vantage on 20701 port for DR or 20703 for DR2.

To stop a Live Link session, click again the Start Vantage button.

Live Link Supported Features

The following changes made in the V-Ray compatible DCC are propagated through Live Link:

• Editing, creating and deleting of:
  • Camera
  • Geometries
  • Lights
  • Materials
  • Textures
  • Environment

Known Limitations

The following actions can be done inside Chaos Vantage during Live Link:

• create cameras;
• create camera animation in the animation editor;
• edit environment and fog;
• add color correction effects;
• Render:
  • snapshots;
  • HQ still image;
  • HQ sequence;
• save .vantage file with the changes from above.

The following actions cannot be done inside Chaos Vantage during Live Link:

• transform objects;
• hide/unhide objects;
• reassign materials;
• edit lights;
• import external(including cosmos assets) files;
• animation playback.

The following requires a restart of the Live Link session in order to be updated properly.

• Updating of:
  • animated V-Ray Proxy files (.vrmesh)

During Live Link session the UI in Chaos Vantage adapts to the limitations mentioned in the Known limitations section. The following is hidden from the Top Toolbar and Side panels:

• Select, Move, Rotate, Scale, Move Pivot tools;
• Chaos Cosmos Browser;
• Create Scatter, Fur, Decal, Lights, Camera and Scene State tools;
• Lights and Object tabs;
• Material lister in Material tab;
• Sun properties in the Environment tab if there is a Sun light already existing in the Host application.