Autodesk VIZ 2006 or Vue 5 Infinite

[James Bakanovic]

Autodesk VIZ 2006 or Vue5 Infinite, which one would you choose for you’re Architectural Rendering program and why?

Background
I work in an Architectural Office and our firm has recently merged with another architectural firm. I have been given the task of determining which rendering program to use/ keep. Both of us build our models in ADT 2006 and then bring the model into our respective rendering programs. The other firm uses Vue5 Infinite with Poser 5 for the people. I use Autodesk VIZ 2006, EASYnat for the Landscaping/ Trees, and RPCs for people, environments and some other items. We primarily render exterior still images; however, I have done a good amount of interior images. Plus, we also do exterior and interior animations of the buildings. We have both rendering programs setup on rendering farms. The Vue 5 Rendering Farm consists of 5 computers at the present time and the VIZ 2006 rendering farm uses Backburner with 12 computers.

I would appreciate any information/ suggestions on my current dilemma. I am not very familiar with Vue 5, except with what I have read about it on the web site and on this forum. Going to 3ds Max and getting Vue 5 xStream is not an option. Furthermore, I am no expert in using VIZ 2006, as I am still learning all the ins and outs of the program. I have to come up with which program would be best suited for architectural rendering (Exterior Buildings and Interior Spaces) in mind.

Thanks for your comments and if you need any more information to make a decision, please ask.

[Joseph Thompson]

I have V5I, but of these two programs i would say go with Viz.

if you are using ADT, you would have a much better connection to viz than V5I. you can link your models in the scene and update them from ADT. My experience of Vue is that its a nice program, it doesnt do an archviz workflow very well.

plus you can get Vray and other renderers with VIZ. it used to be that viz was 3ds max minus some features, dont know if thats still the case. but with viz, you will have alot more tools available for you to use.

[Lambros Potamianos]

If you do all modelling in ADT and do not require a single change in your rendering application you could try the Vue option, but actually, VIZ with Vray cannot be beaten. Vue can really help with adding trees etc, but there are several options to try with VIZ. RPC are one of them, and you can always choose people from AXYZ or some other firm, plus trees from RPC, Bionatics, Onyx, Xfrog. You can even upgrade Vue to Vue infinite and export trees as 3d meshes (no need to use an Xstream plug in).
It all goes down to what your needs are. Vue is a great landscaping program, but as a rendering application, I find it is a bit restrictive. VIZ can use a better and faster radiosity, and you can always buy Vray to get a high-end professional solution. If you wait for a while, you can try maxwell too. Also, VIZ can be used to change things if needed when you import your meshes, and it is a bit friendlier that Vue in scene navigation. On the other hand it is more expensive, but since you have licenses, you can't go wrong with that!

[James Bakanovic]

jntdigital, thanks for your imput. The work flow from ADT to Vue could be an issue. Let me ask you. If the model was built with materials all added and ready to render. Then the clinet/ boss makes changes to the building and/ or site do you have to reload the new model and start from scratch with Vue or do you just reload the new model and the materials reassign to the previous layers?
Yes, VIZ is still a stripped down version of 3ds MAX. VIZ does not have the movement nodes and some other features.


lambros, thanks for your imput. We do all our modeling in ADT 2006 and when has a model been built that has not required changes. I am using some of the options you mentioned in your post such as RPCs and Bionatics. I have also started learning to use Mental Ray which is a rendering option in VIZ 2006. As for Vray and Maxell I know the firm is not going to go that route any time soon. The firms focus, main objective is to make the building or interior space the main focus of the rendering/ animation.

[Joseph Thompson]

in Vue with any changes to the design, you have to reimport the model. thats a royal pain. but since 3ds max and Viz still share the same code, maybe you could link you model in viz and use xstream from viz to vue? that seems like alot to go through when you could just use Viz. Vue's ecosystem is really good for handling large amounts of vegetation for your overall masterplan type images. but you really need to have the design finished to keep your sanity.

it has some shaky results, but you can export almost everything out of Vue so you can use it in viz. I use Cinema 4D btw, so your result may be different.

[Ryan Spaulding]

in Vue with any changes to the design, you have to reimport the model. thats a royal pain...

Not entirely true. Vue notices any change made to your model outside of the program and automatically asks you if you'd like the program to reload it. It only becomes an issue if you resize it in Vue.

I'd go with Viz. Vue's just not there yet in speed. Animation is rough. I like the program, I'd just wait til Vue 6.