Archviz people: What modeling software do you use?

[Da_elf]

i havent read all the posts yet for this. but i prefer max as well. usually i will get blueprints with all the dimensions on them therefore i can just easily manually type in all the coordinates in max. seems pretty accurate to me. and the snaps in max arnt bad. i know someone here who still uses form-z and claims its the best software for modeling and rendering. Strange how alot of his clients are now my clients lol

[natty]

Strange how alot of his clients are now my clients lol

... Nice

[zapcat]

Interesting thread.

I use AutoCAD to strip out all the unnecessary info and then import to Max. From there everything happens in max with a little post production work in Photoshop. I don't see the point of spending so much money on max and not using it as much as possible. There again I don't have money to burn......

[BBullo]

I use AutoCAD Files as a tracable bacground and model in Max.
I used to model in form-Z and convert into max but the conversion process KILLED me! Waiting for geometry to convert is worse than waiting for a rendering to finish. It took some time for me to make the switch to modeling in max, but it was well worth it. My work flow process is MUCH more efficient. The ONLY thing I miss about Form-Z is the Lofting(Sweep). I feel this is pretty clunky in Max.

[tonymacdonald]

We use ArchiCAD for anything Architectural related. ArchiCAD is built for modelling buildings. Forget about using lines and arc and extrusions. You use walls, slabs, roofs, windows and doors. elements that are building related.

it is extremely fast and powerful due to its parametric modelling capablilities. ArchiCAD has had this parametric technology for over 10 years. Its very solid and robust.
If the design changes you can very quickly modify the existing model to reflect the changes. You dont need to explode anything and remodel elements.

models export out as a 3ds file via material which makes i nice and easy to apply materials once you get it into max.

There are hundreds of parametric doors and windows to choose from. ArchiCAD also has a terrain tool which can generate complex terrain very quickly.

Many Architectural office use ArchiCAD, which means we can simply clean up their models and import it into max without to much difficulty. The polygon count is larger than your standard acad model but the building polygon count has never been an issue for us ,it has mainly been with complex 3d trees and planting.

Good luck on your journey for the best 3d modeller!

TonyM

[nlo]

i use rhino and like it a lot but when it get to exporting to max its a pain. for example long, thin, curved objects tend to get messed up... i know how to deal with the problems but it always costs time...

the other thing i really miss is a nice 'n easy terrain modeller. i can't get good results with rhino and the max terrain doesn't make me happy either...

tonymacdonald: archicad terrain tool? so i'll have a look at archicad - but i guess it's not a cheap software

[ml-a]

nic thread

I am modelling everything in archicad, it is very fast, precise and always need the 2d drawings too. In this way i get everything from the same archicad file. I am modelling in max just minor objects.

[Matt_3D]

We use Rhino for modelling. It's accuracy and ease of use are fantastic.

-Matt

[jiaogang1972]

I use the rhinoceros and sketch up to building modle,because they are
Accurate an fast .then export 3ds to work in max
~rendering ~
or use lightscape render


I do not excel English

Beg your pardon

[s0real]

most of the modelling i do is in AutoCAD since that's what i have most experience modelling in, and most of the plans we get are in cad so are easy to strip down then translate into 3d models...

the file link manager lets me easily work between AutoCAD and Viz... the only problems arise when you've linked a model then tweaked the geometry in Viz - if you re-link the original drawing it can get a bit messy if you're not careful!

i do some modeling in Viz for more organic objects etc, but i find the snaps a lot easier to use in AutoCAD than in Viz, which helps a lot in the modeling process, and command lines are very quick to use when you know what you're doing.

[tom schuelke]

We used to use rhino,and then import to max. we also used Acad for the first buildings.

but now that we are getting better in max, and develloped our own ui, things seem to turn over to max. At last, modelling in rhinoand acad seems more easy, accurate and fast. But this advantage usualy gets shot down, when it comes to import. While import for acad significantly has enhanced, we still have lots of problems, also with powersolids, which for us is worth the money, becauseof better rhino import.

so looking for the overal pipeline, doing as much as we can in max, seems to be the best workflow, starting up from splines, produced in rhino or acad.

Tom

[jbond04]

and command lines are very quick to use when you know what you're doing

Ain't that the truth!

[RErender]

Shortcut keys are faster

[flipside]

so looking for the overal pipeline, doing as much as we can in max, seems to be the best workflow, starting up from splines, produced in rhino or acad.

Tom

How do you get rhino curves into max?

flipside

[Gijs]

Wouter, Export as Iges