Cant get a job! (wrong software)

[stevewright]

I studied Interior Design at university, and visualising was only a sideline, that has turned out more serious. I currently work in an architects office, and have always modelled using Vectorworks, and rendered using Artlantis. I have been for interviews, and have been told that my work is impressive, however as im now looking to get into a purely visualising role, no one wants to look at me cause i cant use 3ds max! Ive tried teaching myself to no avail, i need to go on a course but cant afford to, and even if i go on a course, theyll tell me i dont have any commercial experience using it! Ive got 3 yrs commercial experience visualising, but seem to have come to a dead end, any suggestions?

[quizzy]

Well I dont suppose you have money then to buy the software yourself. That would make things easier for potentional employers to hire you.. Other than that, download a demo version of MAX it should give you 30 days to play with it. Or maybe if you now a reseller well, he can sell you an educational license for the time being??

 

btw after the demo of max expires, you can download a VIZ demo, and play for another 30 days. Both are very similar... So this should give you 60 days to learn and play with MAX/VIZ.

[stevewright]

I have already tried the demo, and although i can play around with max, i need to be able to use it productively, and prove that i can start using it in the field, it just feels like im going round in circles- even if i learnt how to use max, i wouldnt have the experience of using it, and even if i did, i could apply to another company who use Cinema 4d, maya, lightwave etc

 

Have i missed the point entirely? i thought most places would be looking at core skills, commercial experience, 3d knowledge and capability, and then just train you up on their chosen software

[JamesTaylor]

i'd keep perserving steve.....if your folio is good enough someone will give you an opportunity.

 

i'd say that it would be worth learning the production pipeline of autocad modelling then importing to max / viz for texturing animating etc as i think this is what the majority of what people use (although there are alternatives too, but in my experience this is most common)

[Msamir]

I got about 3 offers for work for just showing my images at the gallery, they didnt ask what programs i was using they just wanted the job done, so publish your work here and i'm sure you'll get the opportunity.

[stevewright]

I did send my cd to one company, who were impressed, and turned round and asked for examples produced using 3d s max!

[thinice]

I did send my cd to one company, who were impressed, and turned round and asked for examples produced using 3d s max!

My suggestion. Keep on refining your portfolio. Target the companies with bigger 3D department.

Smaller companies with 1 or 2 person 3D department tend to wants you to be productive out of the box. The bigger departments can afford to teach you to use new software if you are good enough.

I suspect if they are still asking for examples using specific software, they are not yet impressed enough to take a chance on you.

Not to worry. Keep on improving on your portfolio and your opportunity will present itself.

[CA95F]

I don't think people care about what software you use, as long as the output image quality is good. It is mostly the "Autodesk" log on Viz and Max that makes architects prefer it, since they believe things flow better on an intergrated platform, not knowing that intergration between max and autocad actually sucks.

I need someone who can do large images (4K X 3X pixels) of interior scenes with many lights (mostly nightclubs).

Can you give me a link to your portfolio?

[frank1331]

What about doing free lance work instead of working for a firm. That way you could use whatever software you prefer. On the downside, you would still have to purchase the software on your own, which isn't cheap. But it would allow you to use what you like, and can produce the best results from.

[4DM]

A couple of points:

 

I also started out on VW and Artlantis - but I have to say I outgrew Artlantis quite quickly (though I don't know about its present capabilities.) I render and do organic (furniture) modelling in C4D, though still use VW for .dwg import and some rectilinear modelling. I would certainly suggest using a more advanced rendering app. than Artlantis to be honest, certainly one that also does its own 3D modelling.

 

The second point is that, if you are currently working at a firm of architects, why not suggest that they purchase, say, Viz for you? If your work is that good, they would be keen to retain your services, and you could point out that, if not, you may have no alternative but to move to somewhere that can afford you better opportunities for on-the-job advancement.

 

Going freelance is obviously another option.

 

Good luck.

 

D.

[stevewright]

Thank you for your help and advice everyone.

 

I have considered going freelance, and in fact i have been to some interviews where they have said they would give me freelance work, but could not gurrantee regular work. Its something id really like to do, but financially at the moment, its not feasible.

 

My current employer exclusively use Macs (I have no idea why, very strange for an architects office)-hence why they use Vectorworks, so trying to get Max or Viz here is impossible

 

I have tried using demos of max to work and practice on, but when I get in freelance work in i have to revert back to Vectorworks, as ultimately its all about timescales, and at the moment I am more profecient using Vectorworks.

 

I emailed that company back i mentioned who wanted work samples produced using Max, and i mentioned to them that i have the skills, would just need to port them over to the other software, and was looking into short courses to get me up to speed. Theyre response was they are such a busy office, and although they have cross trained in the past, It never worked for them.

[stevewright]

I am glad however that i found this website, as it does feel difficult sometimes to find resources purely for Architectural visualising

[Ian P]

I had the same problem out of college, we only had lightwave and Form.Z at college and we're strongly encouraged to use Form.Z so when i came out of college everyone wanted people with max experience, I ended up taking a job for a few months that wasn't what i wanted to do (black and white line drawing) beacause the guys doing the interesting work in the company used Max so i just kept pestering them and working on it in my own time at work till i was confident enough that i could have done the work i had produced in other packages just as well in max. sometimes worth taking a sideways step for the good of your long term career. I went back for my degree when i was 27, I do feel left behind by some of the younger guys experience wise but there's only so much you can learn technically so if you have the talent and the creativity you'll catch them up.

[vodka79]

Guess i'm in the same plight as well. I'm using Sketchup but the industry software is max or viz. Almost all the firms are using the software i'm not using,i wish i can take up a course on the common software though