Professional Architectural Visualization questions

[skogzort]

Hello,
I have a few very basic questions about working as a professional 3D artist doing architectural visualizations:

1) Is the majority of 3D Architectural Visualization done “in-house” or out sourced to a 3D firm?

2) What do you work from most of the time, an AutoCAD file, a technical drawing, Concept Art, Photograph, or something else? If you do work from some type of technical drawing or AutoCAD file, is there a standard, something that a person who wanted to do this should know how to read?

3) What do you deliver most of the time, stills, video, or something else?

4) Why are high quality 3D architectural visualizations needed? Are they used only as a “selling” tool or do they serve other purposes as well?

5) What is the demand for this kind of work? In other words If you work directly for an Architectural firm would you be doing 3D full time or would you be more likely to be handling all of the Graphic tasks: Web, Print, etc. as well as 3D when it is needed?

I’m sure there is more than one answer for these questions, but I know nothing about this industry so any information, be it from a veteran or a novice, would be helpful. I know that whoever does this work professionally is probably very busy; I want to say that your comments and time are appreciated.

Thank you

[cpnichols]

I would suggest you look around cgarchitect. It is a community of architectural visualization people.

http://www.cgarchitect.com

They also have a forum:

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/

[plastic_]

Re: Professional Architectural Visualization questions

1) Is the majority of 3D Architectural Visualization done “in-house” or out sourced to a 3D firm?

outsourced. small architectual offices (10-30 people) have no need for a "full time" 3d guy. often they are able to produce simple renders, or even good quality ones, but never fast enough (2 days) for a competition.

2) What do you work from most of the time, an AutoCAD file, a technical drawing, Concept Art, Photograph, or something else? If you do work from some type of technical drawing or AutoCAD file, is there a standard, something that a person who wanted to do this should know how to read?

80% autocad 2d files, 20% archicad.
it's crucial to be able to read technical drawings, because they are a mess in the design stage. often different views don't match and there is a lot of garbage.
sometimes i recieve simple autocad 3d models, but they are never useable for advanced lighting, because of bad modelling.

3) What do you deliver most of the time, stills, video, or something else?

90% stills. a few hi-res ones.

4) Why are high quality 3D architectural visualizations needed? Are they used only as a “selling” tool or do they serve other purposes as well?

i do mainly renders for competitions, so it's only a selling tool, not a design tool or something.

5) What is the demand for this kind of work? In other words If you work directly for an Architectural firm would you be doing 3D full time or would you be more likely to be handling all of the Graphic tasks: Web, Print, etc. as well as 3D when it is needed?

i think people get more specialized...things are getting too complicated and time is too short. 10 years ago there was one guy in the office doing all computer stuff. this isn't possible anymore.

[Sawyer]

Re: Professional Architectural Visualization questions

1) Is the majority of 3D Architectural Visualization done “in-house” or out sourced to a 3D firm?

I think most of it is outsourced. I know people who work inhouse but mostly I think its a lot of small 1-2 people offices and a few really big houses (focus 360)

2) What do you work from most of the time, an AutoCAD file, a technical drawing, Concept Art, Photograph, or something else? If you do work from some type of technical drawing or AutoCAD file, is there a standard, something that a person who wanted to do this should know how to read?

Autocad is really the standard. And if i't not in acad if it's in another program it is usually expected to be able to get it (the plans) into autocad. But yes you need to know how to read architectural plans and how to use a cad package along with your 3d program. Having worked in a archi firm helps so you know how an office standard system is setup and how to work with layers and blocks.

3) What do you deliver most of the time, stills, video, or something else?

I don't really do animations. Thats me it's a choice and it's because of hardware. I cannot spend the time. Also I find architects often like to micromanage the process to the point where on a "final" image I get comments like "move that wine glass a little bit left and we may want to redo the fabric on the couch I will let you know".

4) Why are high quality 3D architectural visualizations needed? Are they used only as a “selling” tool or do they serve other purposes as well?

I find that usually a project has 2 lifes 1 to sell the project the other to help the designer along the way. Projects usually have at least 1 small redesing after seeing the images sometimes it's just color.

5) What is the demand for this kind of work? In other words If you work directly for an Architectural firm would you be doing 3D full time or would you be more likely to be handling all of the Graphic tasks: Web, Print, etc. as well as 3D when it is needed?

All I do are the images. Sometimes I help with putting together a brochure but usually that is done by another person. I have been asked to do copy a few times

[skogzort]

fallow up

Thanks for all the responses!

They were very helpful to me. I have a fallow up question. If I was going to use Max to do a precise architectural scene I would probably start by snapping splines down on to a grid from the top view, and then extrude them. If I had a bitmap of a floor plan, I would probably open it in Max and trace over it. My question is:

How do you work from a 2D AutoCAD file? Do you make a bitmap from it? Do you import it and just freeze it to use as reference only, or do you actually use part of the AutoCAD file to make the Max scene – You know like convert the “AutoCAD whatevers” to editable splines and meshes?

I would think that to be forced you use someone else’s geometry imported from another program, instead of making it all yourself in Max, would be problematic- but if this is “how it’s done” I wonder if there are any tutorials that outline the import/conversion process and any place to get AutoCAD 2D files to practice on?

Thanks again for the info

[RErender]

I think the preferred method is to import the autocad dwg's if they are available. Any lines and plines from autocad will import as editable splines in Max. Now that most Architects have the whole paperspace thing figured out most linework comes in at the proper scale. Any solids or meshes will import as editable meshes.

If the line work is clean it can be used directly, for instance extruding up the wall lines. Often the linework will need some clean up such as welding vertices and deleting overlapping segments. If it is just a total mess then snapping to it is the best option.

Your right, often models generated in Autocad, Archicad, etc. can be trouble and it's often better to start clean but I have managed with them many times just takes a bit of clean-up like welding and flipping normals.

Snapping on top of a bitmap is only a last resort IMO.

[pshupe68]

I guess I am the exception - although I am a sole proprietor I am mainly working for one client at the moment.

Small architecture firm - mostly all design development interior and exterior stills. Lots of hours on lots of spaces in medium sized health care facilities. It's great that this firm sees the benefit of visualisations for most, if not all, the high impact areas of their buildings. Atriums, waiting areas, treatment areas, exterior facades etc etc.

I model in AutoCAD which I am trying to get out of but I am just so familiar with it. I will try and wean (sp?) myself off by using 2d splines imported in Viz and model from that to start.

I have lots of other clients but their needs are spotty and couldn't justify a full time 3d role with out my primary client. I am just about at the point where I have learned enough and my renders have gotten to the level where I will be doing some promotional material and totally redoing my website and hitting the pavement to get more work from Architects in my area.

Regards Peter.