Hi there,
Your question has several answers and a number of issues to be considered.
1 - Your program includes two rendering modes:
3D Rendering and
Photo-Realistic Rendering. The first one (
3D Rendering, uses your video card to create the rendered image: this means that if you don't have a good VC or your have an integrated card, the rendering speed is very low (depends of lots of factors in your design). The second rendering mode (
Photo-Realistic Rendering) uses your computer motherboard so it is very fast:
you just need to define the correct settings.
2 - When you export to (
Photo-Realistic Rendering), you must define the format and this exporting mode (see image below). After your complete the exporting process, the program screen returns to the no-rendered image. You will be able to visualize the rendering image in the exported image. Otherwise, you can define the preview settings and visualize the rendered image in the program.
export.jpg
(23kb) downloaded 0 time(s).3 - Important fact: when you use
Photo-Realistic Rendering you need to set all the sunlight options, rendering time, denoising, as well as the 3D and light effects.
4 - Important Fact 2: you can't mix the settings of both rendering modes.
Check
my galleries to see different images, rendering styles, etc.
Punch, as any program, has a learning curve. The best way to learn the program, IMO, is practice + practice + practice => Take the time to read, search and follow the User Guide (this is important) => try to create simple elements not related with your project, so you will become familiar with the rendering commands and how to manage the different settings.
If you are interested, my
eBook for Punch V22 for Windows includes all the features, lots of tutorials, screen guides, examples, rendering how-tos as well as images for each setting.
Hope this helps.