Archviz people: What modeling software do you use?

[jbond04]

Thanks for all the great replies! I really like AutoCAD for its building-block-like simplicity. You draw a shape, extrude it, slice it, etc. This allows lots of freedom when modeling buildings. However, the part I find frustrating is the creation of things like doors, windows, etc. For example, whenever I want to create a window in AutoCAD, I have to subtract a box out of the wall, then create a series of several boxes for things like the trim, the frame, the glass itself, etc. While I can go through the commands for things like that pretty quickly, I wish there were a simpler way. I know AutoCAD Architectural Desktop has a window creation tool, but there are several drawbacks (it never seems to offer enough flexibility, plus the windows and doors created aren't solids-they're meshes).

Natty, I don't necessarily agree with you that modeling in a different software package is a waste of time. Perhaps it's because my 3ds Max modeling skills aren't the greatest, but the command line in AutoCAD allows me to flyyyy through the modeling process. The object snaps in AutoCAD also seem to work better than in 3ds Max. Do you use the object lines that you import from AutoCAD as shapes to extrude for the walls, or do you draw primitive shapes like boxes on top of the imported lines?

I noticed a couple of people mentioned ArchiCAD, which I have heard about before but have never had the opportunity to use. The only thing I worry about again is lack of flexibility. Sometimes parametric software packages are fast for fairly standard geometry, but then when it comes to creating custom shapes, they become more cumbersome than helpful.

Finally, there's Rhino. I've played around with Rhino a small amount. What I like about Rhino is that it has a command line (hopefully the user can modify the names of the commands like in AutoCAD). Rhino seems like a cross between AutoCAD and 3ds Max, and it can handle the creation of complex curves (unlike AutoCAD). I think I'll download a copy of Rhino and try it out to see how I like it...

Anyways, thanks for all of the input. Probably over the next month I'll be evaluating some of my options (AutoCAD 2005 Arch. Desktop, Rhino, ArchiCAD, and 3ds Max) to see how I could improve my workflow. More replies are welcome!

[Frances]

Interesting... I was expecting a lot more formZ... has it become unfashionable? I always find it useful to model in the program you are going to render in. Spending 1/2 your time trying to convert and cleaning up models seems like a waste of time and money.

For me, modeling in max is like trying to shave a cat. Neither me nor the cat would be very happy with the result.

Saving time by getting clean, accurate models is precisely why I use Rhino. I use Power Translators from nPower to open 3dm files in max/viz.

[natty]

its down to personal choice... i use max because i am fast with modelling, i used Acad since realese 12 and did all my modelling in there, but you are very limited ... for example once you have created a model in Acad its not easy to adjust it ... sometimes it was easier to start again ... but in max or rhino you can drag Point's around to fine tune your model.

The snaps in max could be better but the snaps in Acad can be a pain when working in 3D .. 2.5D Snap in max is great and i use it all the time ... something you cant do in Acad..

I just import the splines from cad into max so that my model is to scale.. that use that to trace my max model out.

[Hallock]

I use 3DSMAX, photoshop for touch ups. I tried working with cad a few times and I find it to be rigid and archaic, with 3DSMAX I can spit the modelling out three times as fast as I would in Acad.

[RErender]

My story is a lot like Natty's starting in Acad 12 at the time I could not have imagined modeling only in Max, I was a boolean master :P , next my company used Data cad for a few years, it was actually pretty fast to work with, but it had a limitation of 32 vertices to a surface :P so all the arches and curves had to be modeled in Max. Next we moved to Archicad, it definately has it's strengths but like Acad it can produce some pretty ugly meshes. Nowadays we only use Acad for cleaning up line work wich is imprted into Max and used to snap to and extrude with. We can model a house in Max as fast and accurately as in any other software so why bother with the others. With Maxscript we are able to automate much of the proccess and it just keeps getting easier and easier. Still don't have a "build house button" but we are getting closer, our roof builder is a breeze.

[plastic_]

for me the biggest problem with modelling in max compared to autocad is its slow viewport performance when working with many splines/objects.
and the limited snap...
and of course i miss booleans/solids.
the power solids plugin does some nice things, but it's too expensive and buggy for my taste.

[natty]

roof builder ...sounds interesting

[RErender]

roof builder is very cool, it can take 2D splines and a pitch or 3D splnes it will automaticly build the roof base and flat tile, low res/hi res "S" or Metal roof. It would be cool if we could share it someday.

plastic_ - splines can overwhelm Max, it is very important to clean the CAD to only the information you need and be careful not to explode curves into segments. Max 6 is much better at handling splines than the earlier versions.

[natty]

yeah i normally overcome this by pressing "O" ... so everytime you pan around, your viewport turns to box mode display then turns back once you let go.

[val2]

just to put my two cents in. I'm new to max and Vray so my opinions about max are very limited. what i have used of it it works pretty well for modelling. I still am using blender to do most of my modelling (i'm really quick with blender) I know people don't like it but like every piece of software it has it's good points and bad points. the new builds are interesting.
what I find odd about max is how slow it can be with relatively low numbers of polygons compared with other software (Blender, Wings)

[fdtalla]

I preferred just importing plans/elevation(s) from autocad to max. Importing meshes from autocad is a mess especially if the file is huge.Revising in max is so easy and flexible interactively you can see good texture while modelling.

[reza]

i know this is a little off, but i pay 1 or 2 of my students 50 buck each to clean and redraw in acad then happilly take them and extrude in max.
I dont see why i should spend a lot of time going thru plans and cleaning them when we could do other important stuff..besides....the kidz need money too....

[natty]

Thats not bad for 10 mins work..

[TutanMark]

Hi, nice thread here.

I'm using acad since version 2.5 and i like it to model archviz. First of all i like a lot autocad snaps and 2d... so is more simply , for me, to create things.

For the future we are taking a look to Autodesk Revit Series... it seems interesting, but we need time to learn better.

Sometimes for particular object i like more rhino (design and mechanical), it's similar to autocad and simply to use. For other objects i prefer polymodeling in max.

Regards,
Marco

[marklazaro]

what do you all think of Silo . . . as a low cost modelling solution it is affordable . . but can it be used for architecture

almost forgot what about sketchup 4 . . heard and seen a lot bout it on Cg Architect forums ....