who will need vis...

[add101]

I think that to some extent programs like that can increase the application and use of 3d and visualisation. They make it more accessible for low-end projects.
For Projects that are costing a lot to build and design it is easier to integrate 3d visuals or animations into a projects budget, but for smaller projects like re-arranging furniture, or small 'interior redecoration' projects it's harder to allocate the time and budget for 'high-end' visuals, so these automated programs can be useful in situations like that, where people wouldn't be using them otherwise.
That program looks a bit expensive though (subscription only!), and the quality looks a bit behind some of the latest off-the-shelf 3d home design/viz packages that are a lot cheaper.

My father is starting to use Floorplan 3d (a product from IMSI). He's an Architectural Designer, and primarily works on small residential projects, and alterations and additions. I do some 3d renderings of some of his projects, but 95% go without 3d's, so it's good to see him creating some 3d visuals of more of his projects. For bigger projects, or off-plan sales type projects he'll still bring that work to me. The export to dwg seems to work ok, so if I can get the models and just do rendering work on them that'll be great!

I've worked on a couple projects where Revit models were supplied by architects, and it was a pleasure. They came through really well, and while i like 3d modelling, the lighting and rendering parts are my favourite. In time as tools develop architects could start doing a lot better work in-house, but then i guess we'll need to adjust and refocus. The building and architectural industries took a bit of a knock after the 'economic downturn', i think people were more hesitant to invest and start new projects, but it's a solid industry, and things seem to have been picking up a lot lately.

Things can be tough for free-lancers and small businesses, and some people will take the cheapest option even if it's not the best (or just skip it), but there are people out there who appreciate and enjoy quality, and the value that 3d renderings add to a project. They're great for sales and marketing, and for people building their own homes it is great to be able to see what it will look like in advance of spending (theirs or the banks) money on what is often the biggest investments they'll be making.
Also, for designers, 3d visuals can be a great design aid, and investigating the effect of different materials, etc. I've found that I need to increase my budgets for changes, especially for interior projects. I'm clear in fee-proposals that we allow for some amounts of design changes within original budget, but after a set of small changes any further changes will be charged for. and if i do any additional small changes without charging i make sure to let them know that i'm doing a favour, or they come to expect it and are surprised when i quote for new changes.
If there aren't changes I use the extra time/budget that I've integrated into budget to push the visuals that much further Doesn't happen enough though

Another problem with these automated programs is their lack of flexibility. For interior projects designers often specify bespoke furniture, although i prefer to source pre-built models when i can.
+ doing stuff like this isn't possible with automated programs http://www.transparenthouse.com/ not to everyones taste, but i like the cinematic inspirations in their animations.

[pailhead]

I am sure there are people who couldn't care less, but these people are the least likely to work with a professional illustrator anyway. so it doesn't really make any difference from my point of view.
this caricature of the client as someone clueless who needs education, it's true only to a certain point. most of the architects I know, do have a clue, and care quite a lot about the quality of the representation of their work.

So i went to the websited of a few architects, off the top of my head and:

http://www.big.dk/projects/arl/
http://www.davidchipperfield.co.uk/ (i randomly opened the project list and the first project i clicked on features renderings, so do "Aranjuez conference center")
http://www.zaha-hadid.com (it's a little bit disappointing, they DO use GI)

Some architects back home, found images on this page:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1334029 A few of them have GI, but i love the exteme perspective and leaning buildings.

And a competition for a project in belgrade (heavy weight architects from all over the world participated



Seems to me like most of these renderings have something in common - they don't look like anything posted on this forum ever.

[glorybound]

I just bought the book, "Is it Art" .
I'll be sure to enlighten everyone, very soon

[rivoli]

Seems to me like most of these renderings have something in common - they don't look like anything posted on this forum ever.

eh, actually the belgrade competition features some quality images, even if not strictly photorealistic (which is I guess what we might define as shared characteristic of works shown here). some are very good, and I'm pretty sure no "single click" solution could ever have produced them. I think there's still craftsmanship behind them, experience, and ultimately hard work.
as the listing of architects, and the style they choose for any given project go, I find it an exercise in futility. it doesn't really prove any point (cherry picking might alternatively prove both I guess), as I could easily respond with a longer list of images, even from the same arch firms you linked, that are high end, very high quality renderings. I doubt the work these people make, will be threatened by the bad images everyone can pull off in a few minutes.
then we can discuss whether photorealism is the most adopted, or the most effective way to convey the conceptual choices which lay behind an architectural design. I'd argue that the lack of photorealism won't necessarily mean lack of quality, nor the need of someone who knows what he's doing..

[glorybound]

Okay. My conclusion, and opinion, is we could be artist (commercial artists). I incorporate rules of design in all my images. I can spend hours moving, and nudging things, to balance my scene. I play with light, shadow, and color....

Although we are not defined as a period, yet, we can be defined as a movement. Isn't post-modernism borrowing from the past? Artists wanted to paint realistically (realism), so they figured out perspective. When the camera came out, the camera could grab reality easily, so we saw a movement in art from realism, to Surrealism, and impressionism. In our generation we got technology, which artists gravitated towards, and used to create digital art.

Not all renderings can be defined as art, or good art, for that matter. My daughter loves to draw (like her daddy) from sun-up, to to sun-down. Technically, when she starts to apply art theory to her little drawings, she'll become an artist. You'd be surprised, I think God placed art in us, and a lot of her pictures are great. Emma (6 years old) will draw a house on the left, and a tree on the right, with a sun in the middle. She naturally balances here pictures. When she learns that she can balance with color, light, and not just geometry, her art will become more sophisticated.

Okay, just my 2-cents

[glorybound]

Timekeeping in the late 1960s (I thought this was a good analogy)

At the time, everyone had clockwork watches, many of which lost or gained five minutes a day. Daily conversations revolved around the correct time, and adjusting watches and clocks. ‘Do you have the time please?’ was a standard pick-up line. Then digital quartz crystal technology arrived, promising precise timing.
Precise timing caught the popular imagination. The dialogue of 1960s TV series reflects the widespread belief at the time that ever more precise timing was the way of the future: ‘Negative, captain, the shuttle is landing in 24.8 seconds.’ ‘You have eight minutes and three seconds to live Mr. Solo.’ ‘Arrival in two point three eight six minutes affirmative, Virkar.’ But by 1980, everyone had a super-accurate quartz watch, everyone knew the precise time. And the timing issue – and with it the craze for precise timing - disappeared.

pubs.wunderman.com/brain.pdf

[pailhead]

we'll live to tell hopefully

[glorybound]

I just read this over on the Area forum

Art is the process arranging shapes to influence and effect human senses and emotion. 3D modeling software is enabling new forms of artistic expression. Using Next Engine 3D Desktop Scanner, you can transform 3D scan data of a human head into topology you can animate, paint and sculpt in other 3D programs using Autodesk Mudbox. This example done by digital artist Ara Kermanikian illustrates manipulation of a face scan in Mudbox.

http://area.autodesk.com/industrynew...ulpt_in_mudbox

[pailhead]

I think the guy who made my salad today is a real artist.

[Sawyer]

And the discussion of whether commercial works can be considered art is much older than anyone on this forum. I know that what I do is as close to art as I can expect to make this much money at.

[glorybound]

Commercial art is historically a subsector of creative services, referring to art created for commercial purposes, primarily advertising. The term has become increasingly anachronistic in favor of more contemporary terms such as graphic design and advertising art. Commercial art traditionally includes designing books, advertisements, signs, posters, and other displays to promote sale or acceptance of products, services, or ideas.

[glorybound]

I think the guy who made my salad today is a real artist.

it must have been good!

[pailhead]

I dont know they did something today, it tasted better and it looked better than it did before.

[flino2004]

Try to sell one of your renderings to regular person as a piece of art... if you can do it, maybe I would say that you are a good salesman before an artist....I think you can call yourself as you want but how your clients call you?.

[glorybound]

I watched a Lynda.com, creative inspiration video, awhile back. The artist moved to a small town, researched the town, and modeled it as it was 100 years ago. After he modeled the town, he matte painted it on PS, and sold prints. The matte painter spent three months doing research, and six months modeling and painting. If an artist was commissioned to do a portrait of a couple, the only one who would purchase that portrait, would be that couple. I guess the subject matter might dictate our audience. The matte painter's audience might be thousands, but the portrait artist's audience might be one.

We need to be creative in how we get work. I know an "artist", who does character sketches, at flea-markets. He'll spend 10 minutes, for $25.00, sketching you. He does 100's in a weekend. His character sketches are far from fine art, but he is an artist, and he loves what he does.

We might be able to separate what we do, from who we are. The local gas station attendant, might be an artist, but he pumps gas.

Anyway, have a great day!