Are you guys who do their 3D modelling for architectural visualisation in 3dsmax typically happy with the workflow (speed/accuracy/ability to deal with changes etc)?
As I have - probably - often mentioned, most of our staff are quite ‘old fashioned’ with our approach: we model in Autocad and file link that model into Max. We like the accuracy of Autocad.
I am doing my annual review of the tools available. I’d rather not have the additional expenditure of cad licenses, but I struggle with the idea of doing everything in 3dsmax, particularly with large, complex (often multi building) projects that can easily have many design tweaks throughout their life.
Everything in 3Dsmax.
As long as you are sensible and organised with your approach, max can handle (almost) everything imo. I only wish for better NURBS type modelling, but Ive gotten good enough with poly modelling that I dont really need them anymore.
Model, texture, light and render right in the same program. tbh I hate even having to open photoshop to tweak textures.
So many modelling scripts and plugins for max.
but, also depends what you know, and what you are used to.
Sketchup is the fastest in my opinion… a lot free and inexpensive tools to speed up the process even more. (huge free libraries as well) technically you can have one pro floating license to import and export models and backgrounds and everybody else with the free version. For organic modeling I use Rhino… kind of Autocad with steroids. I don’t like modeling in max because so many steps you create something in there IMO.
regarding accuracy, Sketchup and Rhino are as accurate as Autocad
Also everything inside MAX. Most of the time poly modelling. In my opinion with max you can make very clean and flexible geometry.
Especially with large scale projects I ran into many performance problems with geometry that comes from other programs (wich some of our freelancer use to model).
Lego like geometry with thousands of objects (Max viewports really doesn´t like huge object counts), unwelded geometry, ghost vertex, flipped normals. Just to name a few problems we sometimes ran into.
when you get models from other people most of time you get problems because they are not playing well with your workflow. Since the other tools are going to be used by the staff of his company… you have to model thinking ahead that the model will be imported into max… ones you do it in that way..no problems at all.
I’ve been using SU since version one and of course I never ever had any problems with my own models…but I got them when I get models in max, Autocad, rhino, revit and SU from others.
I used to be an autocad only modeller but after switching to modelling everything in max I have never looked back!
Autocad is a dog for 3d modelling.
If you file link from autocad any changes you want to do you have to open up autocad/make the changes and then update. When everything is in max it is so much quicker to make the change.
As for accuracy max can be as accurate as autocad.
Move away from Autocad for modelling and you will NEVER look back!
I modeled in autocad for several years before switching to 3ds max. Overall I’m much more productive staying in one software only and it’s a smoother workflow.. But I do miss some CAD specific snap options, mainly intersection (segement-segment and face-segment)
As for accuracy, 3ds max is ok for archviz work. But that doesn’t compare at all with the level of precision you have in autocad or Rhino.
Like yourself, I used to be an AutoCAD modeler, as was skeptical of how accurate one could be in Max. The biggest hurdle I had to overcome was the snapping/accuracy mindset that was burned into my brain from AutoCAD useage. Once you get over this mental block, it’s a great relief - and work is a lot faster. Then you start to realize that if it looks good in the model - then it is good. Nobody looking at the image is going to be worried about all end verts snapping perfectly with others
You may have to spend time getting really familiar with all the ins and outs of the edit poly modifier
My vote is to model in Revit and link to 3dsMax. Takes a bit of time to create your kit of parts, wall and door families etc., but then the building comes together quick and design changes are fast and clean too.
But it sort of mimics the inacuracies in real life constructions;)
To answer Tricky’s question, I also start in Autocad, but only 2d plines then import in Max and start modeling from there. Been working in Autocad for over 25 years and 2D drafting is so superior on every front to the rudimentary 2D toolset Max offers but I really cannot imagine doing any 3D in there. I reckon it did get better in the last few versions though. And I got over Max’s inacuracies longtime ago…
if your working on characters, organic modeling you are fine with “close enough” but for architectural visualization you need to be accurate to represent your clients’ vision.
