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Hi All, I work for an Arch Viz practice that has a project coming in soon where the client's sending over Revit models for which we intend on rendering with Vray in Max. This is a question for those who have working knowledge in Revit as I'd love to pre-empt potential issues when translating from Revit to Max. So that in mind, what issues have other found when working with Revit to Max? When considering workflow - how have people found it compared to their usual methods? (i.e. for us - Historically we model in AutoCAD). I'm expecting to adopt a stronger relationship with our client's CAD technicians to assure they send us correct information - however at this point I need to invest a lot of time in figuring out exactly what is it we'd need from Revit i.e. .RVT and FBX files. Any input would be greatly appreciated and apologies if the topic has been discussed before - I had a look! Greg

Hey guys I've been working with 3d for a little over 10 years, I'm a little sad with my work, despite having taken several courses I still feel that I don't have a pleasant job. I'm thinking about buying the Creative Light course because I think it's something different in the course market... Here is my portfolio: https://www.behance.net/bruna-gaut7aa9

Hi. I am currently completing arch viz projects on the side for a couple clients and am looking at expanding into higher end production as a second option for specific clients. My current workflow is to model the building in Revit using the .dwg files I am sent from the client and once complete I move into Lumion for the rendering, before I finalize with post production in Photoshop. Both Revit and 3DS Max have VRay, however 3DS max has the additional plug-ins that could advance the imagery beyond what is capable in Revit. As I have been looking at expanding into VRay, I was wondering what experiences others had who have a drafting background and what their workflow is like? Is it worth continuing with Revit (a program I am very familiar with) and testing the VRay plug in? Should I consider taking the time to learn 3DS Max? Alternatively is the Revit to 3DS Max to VRay workflow worth considering? Thanks

Hi all, I'm hoping to get some feedback on my workflow as I want to make sure that I'm doing it right! I'm doing arch-viz renders in 3D Studio Max and V-Ray. I render out to an EXR file with all of the separate layers, which I then open up in Photoshop with the ProEXR plugin installed so I get access to all of the layers. I render out with Colour Mapping Only and save the EXR's as full 32bit. In Photoshop, I get the layers that I need and create a smart object out of them, and I leave that smart object in 32bit. I then convert the main document down to 16bit so I can use all of my tools. Between the main document and the smart object, I do all of my post processing work which works well. Two questions: Is this the proper workflow? How do I fix blown out areas? I know that in a 32bit file, the data is still there, but how do I get it back? Should I just be manipulating the relevant layers in the 32bit smart object? Should I be converting the file down to 16bit? Anything else?

Hi everyone, New to vRay, could someone confirm whether or not I am setting up linear workflow correctly in maya? Here are my settings: Image Format: EXR vRay Settings Color Mapping (I believe checking the 'Linear Workflow' box is not the way to go) Gamma Correct Node Insert .454 gamma correct to 'Diffuse Color' and diffuse textures (but not for bump/spec/greys) Click sRGB in vray VFB Could someone please confirm whether I have got this correct. Many thanks

Hello, I would like to open a thread to collect some experiences and points of view about the workflow I've been using for the last two years, which is based on Sketchup (for modelling) and Cinema4d+Vray (for rendering, and adding entourage). The reason why I want to ask other user to step in with their own points of view is that I find this workflow really underrated: it's so hard to find information on the web, expecially in contrast with the "skp to 3dsmax" w.f. which has been broadly discussed and demonstrated (for example by some great artists like Ronen Bekerman or Peter Guthrie). I'll start by briefly explaining my personal workflow which I would like, after two years of usage, to re-analyze more critically, also comparing it to other users' experiences. In my case, I model the building (sometimes even part of the furniture) in sketchup, giving materials to every surface (usually I just use colours as placeholders, because I will apply the real materials later on in C4d). Important thing: in sketchup, I model everything as separated objects: for example if I have to model a bookcase, I will make every shelf as a group, as well as the main structure of the bookcase and then I will group everything together or even make a component. Doing so, helps me with keeping the model tidy but will also imply some ease of use in C4d. After having modeled everything and applied colours/materials in Skp, I move to Cinema, by exporting the model as .3ds file with the option "by materials" -but now I would like to give the "full hierarchy" option a try (never used the "by layers" option since I rarely use layers in sketchup). There many more things to be said about the "export texture maps" option, and the fact that the .3ds file will have separated faces and edges so that you will have to optimize the meshes in cinema, but I would like to start the discussion with the basic facts moving to details later. Thanks in advance to everyone who will join this discussion, hope it will help other people!

Hi everyone, Whether it's archviz or studio projects in school, my usual workflow is to use SketchUp for massing studies and final renders (coupled with VRay) and AutoCAD for 2D project documentation. While for simple archviz this has sufficed so far, I have quite a hard time keeping the 2D and 3D work in sync when I come up with a revision to the building mass during the design process at school. Therefore I was thinking of switching to Revit. Since it has included the Vasari tools, I assume it should be possible to do informed massing studies quite quickly, and keep the documentation always in sync; with the final rendering done in 3DSMax, for example. What are your thoughts on this? Has anyone done a similar workflow switch, or the other way round? What was it like? What tutorials/books did you use? Thanks for any answer.

Hello everybody, that's my first post after having followed this community for some time as a visitor. So thank you all for having me here! I'm opening this thread to get some feedback about the rendering workflow I want to reach. I'm a Sketchup user, and for many reason I decided to make Skp my 3d modeling tool. I have been using Vray for Sketchup for some time getting good results and falling in love with the possibility of rendering the model inside of Sketchup. But now I am facing, as many people do, the limits of using a 32bit software, being unable to manage complex geometries, spending hours waiting for my render to start, etc. (that's an old topic!) Even though I know that the new Vray 2.0 for Sketchup features proxies and a real time rendering engine, I want to try a new workflow, creating most of my model in Sketchup and exporting it to an other software (and therefore rendering it there, or if needed adding some complex objects like trees, etc.). Everything still using Vray if possible. So I was thinking about two options: - 3DS MAX + Vray (e.g. 3ds max 2013): I've never used 3ds before, but I know it's a solid software used worldwide. - CINEMA 4d + Vray (e.g. C4D release 15): I've already used C4D for rendering with it's own engine, but never tried with vray. What is the best choice for you in terms of rendering quality (I aim to photorealistic rendering)? What's your own experience about this kind of workflow? My "dream" would be being able to apply and map the textures with sketchup and then work on reflections, refractions, etc. with Vray inside the rendering software. Is it possible? (I tried with 3ds but I still haven't figured out the proper way) Thanks, Francesco

Hello everyone: I am a interior and arch-viz freelancer from Taiwan. Here is my personal website: http://www.studio-taku.tw In my projects I was always suffering from long and uncontrollable rendering time. The images are almost rendered on separated stand-alone i7 PCs. I would like to know how to combine these PCs to build a more efficient procedure, not only for the final rendering but also for the draft rendering when work in progress. Does anyone can share similar experiences or instructions, for example, V-Ray Distributed Rendering or Backburner or so on? I would very appreciated about the big help. Besides, how long does it take in average rendering a 2000*1500px image of a 30 meter square space should be reasonable? And how to predict the total hours it will take for controlling the deliver time? Thanks and regards, Davis

hi! my name is ricardo and i've been peeping cgarchitect from time to time. now i have something that i would like to ask. i'm trying to understand the pros and cons of using different software to start modelling up from the blueprints/cad designs. usually i use autocad to build the 3d model up and then export to render in another one like c4d. but sometimes i notice that there may be another way/software to build the 3d model that would benefit time execution. when i talk about 3d modelling i'm talking about modelling houses, but also terrains, roads, sidewalks. would you recommend any thread in this subject or any reading or any workflow? thank you!

After spending a lot of time with LWF, trying to get good results & and wondering if LWF was just another way to disrupt the workflow. I have just had an alternative idea... Instead of reducing all the materials RGB Values to 0.255, I just tried reducing the main direct light power to 0.255, and the GI skylight multiplier to 0.255, so changing 2 values instead of hundreds. Turned on the srgb, in the vfb, altered the exposure +1 stop, and tweaked the curves and Hey Presto the results looked ok, It was a real simple scene, so cant be too sure if its exactly the same results as the long drawn-out LWF method.. I can be damned if I am going to convert the scenes rgb values back to 1.0 without an automated script to test it out on a complex scene. But in theory lights with such a low power as 0.255 should render quicker than lights with power set at 1.0. Can anyone else out there test this on thier standard setup files and post results & opinions Cheers