Devin Johnston Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 But with Maxwell and the like on the horizon, who knows? Theoretically, we won't be 'specialists' for much longer. This is something that I've been worried about ever since Maxwell first came on the market. It makes me wonder if this kind of simple setup will cause the death of architectural illustration as a profession in the near future. Do any of you share this fear and how do you think it's going to change your work flow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3da Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Don’t think it will be the death of the profession as such. We as visualizes do so much more than just modeling and then just rendering with few controls to tweak in the case of Maxwell. I think it will become more difficult to compete with others due to a rise in the number of freelancers - companies coming into being. This in my opinion will also increase the quality of work of those serious about the profession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IC Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 Don’t think it will be the death of the profession as such. We as visualizes do so much more than just modeling and then just rendering with few controls to tweak in the case of Maxwell. What do we do that an interested architect or designer can't do or learn to do? Add entourage, find interesting compositions, texture well. These things aren't difficult to learn but lighting is (or was). Yes, it worries me almost as much as it excites me that software is advancing in this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 If you take this development and advance it 10 years think about where we will be. As software program like ArchiCAD continue to develop the total creation of a building in three dimensions becomes more practical. At some point everything that goes into a building can and will be modeled, along with this process goes the application of materials. Lights are placed so as to generate an RPC plan that already has IES data stored in them. It's a simple matter of rendering this scene to what ever resolution you like since all the detail and lighting information is already stored. Animations won't be that difficult any longer with the advent of Wizards that make setting up complex animations easy. Even adding people, cars, and trees or doing cloth simulations won't be a complex task any longer. ArchiCAD already does most of this, it's only failure is the cheep rendering engine that it comes with. If they were to replace it with Maxwell I would almost become useless, the only saving grace is ArchiCAD can't use dual processor systems, and it can't network render. At some point this is all going to change and doing nice renderings will be a simple mouse click. I personally think the profession is going to move from static images and rigid animations to a virtual reality type of setup. Almost like a game you can be immersed into an environment where you can explore the building in 3 dimensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nazcaLine Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 what an interesting thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawyer Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Ok - this is my opinion on the whole "Apolcolipse Someday" scenario for renderers - Yes someday there may be a complete rendering cad package that has the wonderful f9 "make art" button. I really just don't think that that many firms will be able to use it. Most of the cad files I get are cad files - 2d lines not ADT or Revit or Archicad, BIM. Sometimes I get them but most of the time I get cad files. Sometimes I get ADT walls and windows in plan view but no roofs and ceiling grids and linked schedules. Maybe 10 years everyone will be on board but what I see and continue to see is that larger firms have a 3d geek who can do a bit of stuff. But this is an old conversation and has been hashed out too many times on this forum. Actually today I signed 4 for 3 clients contracts all of them wanting the final by next Fri. So about that part when I said I don't do quickies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IC Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 ..........But this is an old conversation and has been hashed out too many times on this forum. Really? I agree it has been discussed before but surely if it's relevant to the initial post we can revisit it. Actually, I find it quite rude to have a discussion I'm involved in being dismissed in such a way. It would be different if we were straying from the topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 So about that part when I said I don't do quickies... everything i have read suggests that the occasional quickie, if done right, satisfies the client almost as much as a job you focus a lot of detail on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawyer Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Really? I agree it has been discussed before but surely if it's relevant to the initial post we can revisit it. Actually, I find it quite rude to have a discussion I'm involved in being dismissed in such a way. It would be different if we were straying from the topic. Your right that was a bit dismissive. I was feeling more repatative than anything as I was making the same points I had made before. But maybe I need new talking points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph alexander Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I don’t believe that offices will "model everything" in the future. The beauty of AutoCAD is that 1 curve can represent a wall. It's a language of compression. Often times you don’t want to specify things in too much detail because you end up assuming a liability which should be the contractors (in the US). In addition, the whole foundation of Revit or other programs is that you have a database of pre-made objects or algorithms. If you have a model that entails 'everything'** you either need 2 times the staff or you're going to have a building that is very generic. I often times get projects where there's not so much definition until I define it. For me 3D vis work becomes a process of detailing and consideration. I've spent days with our interior consultant trying different types of furniture. The real question for 3D artists should be, "what is my role?" and how will it change, this will allow you to evolve. This whole "how quickly can I bang out a rendering" question is troublesome to me. Quite frankly, if you're running an office who's goal is turnaround you're going to have problems getting/keeping staff unless you pay very well + you're putting yourself at jeopardy because turn around is a very competitive market. They're a million guys who can do fast work. There's only a few that do consistently outstanding work. So when the client finds some one cheaper or faster then you they won't hesitate to change. Anyway, that's my two cents. -Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawyer Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Something I am rather curious about: What percentage of contacts do people turn down? And what reasons do you turn down work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Mottle Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 But with Maxwell and the like on the horizon, who knows? Theoretically, we won't be 'specialists' for much longer. On some levels I agree with that, but consider this. If all we are really doing is just virtual photography (what Maxwell proposes to bring us), then that should mean anyone with some $$$ to buy a nice DSLR could compete with the likes of Ansel Adams. While not every client wants or can appreciate the art of photography, at the end of the day an amazing image is only going to be produced by something with an "eye" for the art. Even look at the variey of results from Maxwell now on their forums. If it was only about the tool then all the images should be equally impressive, but that is most definetly not the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I've got to agree with what Wad said, it's pretty apparent that most architecture firms are in business to make money and architectural ideals come in at a distant second to that. This isn't true for all firms of course but I think this situation is more common that we architects would like to believe or admit. I think that there will still be a need for firms to have a dedicated 3D person in house for quite some time because even though there may be a push button approach to 3D at some point, there is probably still going to be different levels of quality especially with animations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 it will be years and years before firms will not need a dedicated 3d person, or need to hire someone to do it for them. of course, there will be more people that know how to do it. put it this way, how long has AutoCad occupied its place in architecture firms? ...and what percentage of people using it, use it perfectly. we complain about the sloppiness and lack of accuracy all the time on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I hope your right; I don't want to have to find another career because some stupid computer took it from me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now