3d_Brg Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 This is my first post here and I must say I like this forum a lot. I have finally convinced the company I work for to invest in some modeling software besides Autocad. I am looking for an add on for ACAD or a stand alone software that will alow me to create a model of a bridge and paste it onto a photo of a given site for proposals and marketing. Does anyone on here do this? If so what software are you using? Any recomendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks, 3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Knourek Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 I know Autocad has some render capabilities but as for a seperate app you can pretty much use almost anything on the market. Also if you are going for photo realism, then for most of the higher end apps you are also looking at a seperate render engine. Im not in any way trying to discourage you but, there is also a large learning curve in most of the more popular 3D apps and render engines out today. I think it mostly boils down to user preference as far as 3D goes, there are alot that use Autocad, Viz, 3dsmax, Maya, XSI, Lightwave... Since your at the begining i would suggets trying demo versions of different ones and go with what ever you feel most comfortable with as most of the larger publishers offer fully fuctioning demos now. Just a thought, -dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3d_Brg Posted May 7, 2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2003 Thanks! I am in the process of trying to find trial versions of some of the software you mentioned like 3d studio max or VIZ 4. I figure I can make the models in Autocad and import them into the rendering software. At least I think thats how it works. (could be wrong) Thanks 3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 david is right, it's down to what the user is used to. all 3d rendering apps will do the job you want it to do, it's all depending on what budget you have. the main stay of my job is photomontaging, ie, combining 3d models with photographs. i'll always do the modelling in autocad. traditionally i've done the rendering in viz/max, but in the last year or so i've been using cinema 4d. i find c4d's rendering output superior to that of viz/max, and also c4d's compositing tools are superior to max/viz. c4d is also cheaper. this is only my own opinion, but i have used both extensivly. try out the c4d demo, d/l it from maxon's site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3d_Brg Posted May 7, 2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2003 Thanks Strat. Our office (like a lot) doesnt want to spend a ton of money on anything. I like the $600 price tag on the Cinema 4D. I am going to download the demo tomorow and check it out. Someone else in our office mentioned MicroStation Tri-Forma. We primarily use Microstation here but I prefer to model in Autocad. Has anyone ever used this? It seems more geared to Engineering/Architecture than some others I have checked out. Thanks again 3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Mottle Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 3d_brg can you please update your profile with real information so I do not have to delete your account. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 if you try the demo versions of viz and max you will need to install them on different machines. even though they are demo versions they still install the licensing software, c-dilla, onto your computer. for whatever reason c-dilla only allows you to have one of discreets demo products installed. c-dilla writes something into your partition that can not be removed without reformatting the hard drive. so even if you uninstall both the demo version of discreet software, and c-dilla it does not matter. we even tried to delete all of the keys in the registry, but that did not work. if you are going to do photo comp you will probably want a copy of photoshop too, if you don't already have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dollus Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Viz would probably be overkill for your application. I would look at Cinema4D and Photoshop. Photoshop is a must! By the way, the new releases of AutoCAD can render some presentation quality images just fine. Tell your boss to upgrade AutoCAD and everyone's happy. It fits within their planned budget and opens up opportunity for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3d_Brg Posted May 8, 2003 Author Share Posted May 8, 2003 Well a local rep is going to drop off a trial of VIZ4 today and do a demo for us. My boss likes the price of 4D as compared to VIZ, but he wants me to check them both out. I downloaded the trial of 4D and am having troubles with the app. so i have been on the phone trying to get service this morning. Thanks again for all the suggestions and keep 'em comin if you will! 3d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Well a local rep is going to drop off a trial of VIZ4 today and do a demo for us.What's to demo? They aren't going to be selling Viz anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3d_Brg Posted May 8, 2003 Author Share Posted May 8, 2003 Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure I ask about that. I thought it just came out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Knourek Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Yea I forgot about that, my bad. That Autodesk by the looks of it is going to be droping Viz and Lightscape. So I would count those 2 out. -dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 ...i thought viz was more or less being incorporated into architectural desktop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 ...i thought viz was more or less being incorporated into architectural desktop? ADT runs on top of AutoCAD, right? If what you want is a rendering app, would it really make sense to have to buy a seat of ACAD for it to sit on? They want you to buy MAX. You will buy MAX. Autodesk knows what's best for you, and this week its MAX. Buy MAX, love MAX, Autodesk commands you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Originally posted by Ernest Burden: They want you to buy MAX. You will buy MAX. Autodesk knows what's best for you, and this week its MAX. Buy MAX, love MAX, Autodesk commands you... LOL. Right now we are trying to persuade our it dept. to switch is from lightwave to max. Viz came into the discusion, and that is where i got the idea that parts of it were being incorporated into architectural dektop. I don't really know what adt is, or what it does. I was brought up a hardcore Microstation guy, and never really had an interest in Autocad. Anyway, our wanting to switch to Max is due to the extensive information, plug-ins, add on render engines, popularity, ect.. when compared to lightwave. I am happy with Lightwave, but when I look at renderings produced in v-ray and final render I feel like I have been living in a closet for the last couple of years. I thought a seat of ADT included Autocad. Is this not right? Isn't the price tag on a seat of ADT around $4,500 compared to $3,200 or so for Max? Our firm owns several (around 60) seats of ADT, should I look a little closer at what is included, or should we keep pushing for Max? Don't mean to steal the thread, just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawyer Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 ADT is not a plug-in but an achitectural version of Autocad & from what I hear the 2004 version might be almost functional. It sits right in with cad and uses most of the same commands but creates 3d objects. So instead of creating 1 line & offsetting it 5.5" you create a 6" wall with a height. Then you can place a indow right into it an it cuts a hole for it, move it and it updates the geometry without having to manually cut and trim and all that good stuff. ADT V2004 comes with Viz light. Images I saw with this were not really good but this is probably a test run if people start using it then the next version will be ADTVIZ. Autodesk is so fractured right now I don't think they have any idea what is really next. They keep trying the parametric road but the cad interface is far too convoluted for really advanced objects. That is why the ADT versions I have used failed because no-one in any office wanted to spent the time to think like Autocad. I use max & I love it but I would not recommend it in a learning/office environment. It has a steep learning curve and it can be discouraging at first. From what I hear Cinema 4d is the way to go. Actually since they dropped their prices a while back I would purchase Maya if I were to do it over again. It is a lovely toy with some great features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 we were seriously considering maya but dropped that a couple of weeks ago when we did research into network rendering with maya. it sounded like more of a headache than it was worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3d_Brg Posted May 8, 2003 Author Share Posted May 8, 2003 Man I thought this was going to be easy! I actually got the demo for 4D working and imported a model from ACAD. Thats about as far as i got without a manual. Im sure its not that tough, I just have to figure out the language. We should be updating our whole 2 seats of ACAD to V2004 within a short time. One of our other offices uses Architectural Studio in conjunction with VIZ4. I downloaded the Architectural Studio from Autodesk and it doesnt seem like it would be that great for modeling. Maybe this is because its a demo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 Originally posted by 3d_Brg: Man I thought this was going to be easy! I actually got the demo for 4D working and imported a model from ACAD. Thats about as far as i got without a manual. Im sure its not that tough, I just have to figure out the language. you can also down load the manual pdf files for free from maxon too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dollus Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 Architectural Studio is positioned more as a competitor to FormZ and SketchUp. I think it is failing in both respects. ADT and Revit are the direction AutoDesk is going and both have adequate solutions for what you want to do. ADT has Viz:Render and Revit has Accurender. Revit would be a better choice for structural engineering because of the strong raytracer and incredible ease of adding material definitions to an AutoCAD model. If the company only has two seats of AutoCAD, then it would make you look better to your boss to extend the capability of the core business while adding presentation capabilities for the same price of a single upgrade. Okay, I give up. You don't work for Horner Schifren.... Is Seiler your dealer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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