Archviz people: What modeling software do you use?

[WWX]

Software

Been an interesting post.

I think it boils down to personal pref and requirements of the model.

For some the model must service more functions than only be used for rendering and in these cases Max does not make any sense.

Personally I also perfer modeling in the same software that I render in, but since my prefered renderer is not available in my chosen CAD prgram (MicroStation) I have to follow the expored route

Cheers

[czoog]

Cool Thread!

I use Autodesk Revit to model, because I'm an architect, and we it use for all of the projects that my firm works on, and I happen to think is the best architectural BIM tool out there. It's nice because all of our staff can contribute to the same model at the same time if need be. The poly counts aren't too bad, but you don't too have much control of the resulting mesh when you export out to DWG. You also have to be careful to only export out what you need for a particular view as Revit models are typically highly detailed.

Revit 7.0 now includes a Viz2005 plug-in that transfers all of the material definitions from revit (revit has an internal renderer) and converts them to viz materials, which can then be converted to vray materials.

I've been very happy with the revit/vray combo so far.

[marc]

Very Interessting!

In office we use almost 100% max.

I used almost every cad prog during my career and like archiCAD the most. But I havent used autocad since r14, so I cant compare the latest features.

And since I work as a 3d designer and not as an architectural darftsman, I almost never again used a cad program.

And I have to confess: I dont know why. A plan I can easely clean in max. No need to do it in AutoCAD (maybe I would be a bit faster with hatchings and the like).
I'm a fan of subD modeling and never liked nurbs. Thats why I experimented with many polymodelers like wings, nendo and silo. But MAX is a quite powerfull polymodeler, especially if you install some handy free plugs like meshtools, polymagus and cs polytools.

Tom Schuelke once posted his ui which I greatly appreciated! I spent much time myself to build an ideal maxui, incorporating all the new features in the contexmenus. (if sombody is interested I will post it..)

Well, to come to an end: I see no reason to use something else than max!

marc

[joconnell]

Just started a project with four builds and it's fairly overwhelming at the minute! I haven't got access to autocad to clean up the curves so it's a bit of a nightmare!

[Neilg]

Blast from the past...

I couldnt image importing an architects drawing straight into max, the very thought of it makes me feel ill.
I spend at least half a day cleaning every last irrelevant piece of crap off drawings at the start of a job, cant stand using messy ones.

[tct70]

Blast from the past...

I couldnt image importing an architects drawing straight into max, the very thought of it makes me feel ill.
I spend at least half a day cleaning every last irrelevant piece of crap off drawings at the start of a job, cant stand using messy ones.

Quoted for agreement! There is nothing more soul destroying than having to work with other peoples crappy drawings. I will often lock all the layers and trace over.

[joconnell]

Yep - I don't have a copy of autocad here so it's a no go - Only max and DWG trueview which is a bit rubbish. Cubicle what's your normal step by step process for stuff like this? I find I normally take a bit of time to develop a workflow for most types of jobs I do and on this there's fuck all breathing room and very panicky, disorganised clients

[Morne]

autoCAD 2010 sound bloddy amazing for modelling. They've added a lot of new 3D features in the new version apparently. (also don't forget about Revit)

[Neilg]

Cubicle what's your normal step by step process for stuff like this?

use quick select - Select all blocks, check what you need, and select by hand/explode the big ones. Keep going until all the blocks left are crap you wont need (incuding windows on plans, so long as theres a marker so you can tell how big they are), then delete them. delete all text, dimensions, hatches, solids, points etc
Explode all polylines, select everything, put it on the '0' layer, go to properties and go through each object type in turn making sure they're all at 0 in the z axis, and then purge a couple of times.

You may need to do more, but just that helps a massive amount.

[artevis]

I always model in Luxology's Modo and then exporting to MAX for rendering with VRay.
I pray for VRAY 4 Modo - MAX isn't my favorite tool. Also, sometimes when I model, I'm foregeting about polycount (Modo handles great number of polys per viewport - much more than MAX) and have then problems with rotating views and setting up cameras in 3ds... and I don't want to pay XXXX for Quatro.

[joconnell]

How does modo handle dwg or are you cleaning up before hand?

[artevis]

Modo only import DXF - if I have to, I just convert it with MAX.
But I rather don't import arch drawings for modelling...

[pnel77]

Revit all the way - quick and when there's changes..to change a handrail from steel to glass with a click - now that's a time saver!