MAX and BIM Connection

[Sketchrender]

Is there a different option for this transition.

The office is 2D microstation based.

I work in 3D Studio Max 9+vray.

 

I am tring to make a move to BIM in sort of way for the future.

Do I learn 3D micrstation?

Is Max going to be developed to work in such a way that info can be moved back and forth.

 

What do you think.

 

phil

[mbowers]

You would need to move to Microstation Triforma or Autodesk Revit. Revit has it's own built in rendering system, but most export to 3ds Max for rendering. Hope this helps.

[Sketchrender]

I suppose i am wondering what is the future for this job.

and more to the point is Autodesk up to.

 

Max and Maya what's in the pipe line........are they going to merge.

they retire things all the time ...........three years down the line ..........

 

 

dose anybody know for definate..........

[Vince Paske]

Max and Maya won't merge - people use them in different capacities and their "toolboxes" are far too large and complicated to unify.

If your job is just visualization work, you probably won't have any need to learn a BIM package (which are primarily used to create construction docs) - you can import the models into max, and if the need arises to create geometry, you could do it in max or plain-jane autocad.

I actually end up tracing a lot of the aweful Revit models I get using solids in auto-cad, because the file-link manager doesn't link Revit files, and the Revit model breaks the geometry into thousands of parts, which are a pain to deal with. It's pretty fast, and still better than starting with normal 2d drawings.

It would be great to know if the autodesk guys are in fact working on a file link manager for Revit files. I have a feeling it's no small task though, given how the information is embedded in the geometry - anyone who had brought a revit model to cad and then into max had experienced some funkiness.

[Sketchrender]

Ok thanks for that.

 

Another thought .

 

Most of the staff here can now model in someform in Sketchup, so the Viz end is coming closer to them.

They sometimes lodge sketchup models for planning permisiion , and don't bother with high res images, which they do themselves.

 

 

So it's job sucurity , Are some of us better off moving back to a 3D tech job, which I came from originally a architectural Technician.

 

it's future proofing the industry, what i am trying to find out.

If you can produce a model, and drawings and the Viz from one document...............were does the viz specialist sit in all this.

 

I know you say you have patch up the revit model but the pros out way the cons?

 

what do you think.

 

phil

[Vince Paske]

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/6184-future-architectural-visualization.html

 

The above link is one of many such discussions about the place of Viz specialist in the new BIM era. I've seen sketch-up renderings and think they have a place in communicating ideas. I don't think they fit all the needs people have, and sometimes are used where they shouldn't, but I wouldn't feel threatened by it enough to quit your job.

There will always be a need for specialists - you just need to keep your skill's far above what people are doing with the built-in renders of BIM packages, which isnt really too difficult. Position yourself so people understand the need for high-end viz, do animations, learn compositing apps like combustion. Read architecture design magazines and books and become the designers best friend - learn their language.

I personally try to distance myself fom BIM as much as possible so I can focus on what I really want to do - lighting, texture, render, animate, composite. The less time I spend modeling the better, unless its unusual and kind of fun to figure out.

[gfa2]

I actually end up tracing a lot of the aweful Revit models I get using solids in auto-cad, because the file-link manager doesn't link Revit files, and the Revit model breaks the geometry into thousands of parts, which are a pain to deal with. It's pretty fast, and still better than starting with normal 2d drawings.

 

I've done that same thing and you're right it does go faster than starting from 2D drawings, but it just seems ridiculous to have to go through that. I've pulled some fairly simple Revit models into max by exporting the revit model to a .dwg and I think there was an option to export everything as ACIS solids. It worked pretty well (the layers were nice and clean but there were still a million objects under the Select Objects list). But as soon as the model got bigger and more complicated it really bogged max down and just became painful to work on.

[Justin Hunt]

I actually welcome the advent of BIM and programs like Sketchup. 3D for the masses is great. It eleviates alot of pressure by removing the need for me to model and render every single little job that passes through the office. Most of it is donkey work with little to no budget, making sketchup ideal for the job. The same goes for revit. Now the architects can make their own models, play with a million different options etc.

 

This leaves me with the glamor jobs, the ones with budget to fully develope into beautifyl renderings. You dont need a red ferrari to go shopping;), just for showing off

 

JHV

[Simon Moir]

I understand the service pack (oops, productivity extension) for max 9 will feature improved file linking / importing for Revit. I wonder if it will import all the dreadful sketchup models I receive any better?

[MegaPixel]

More comments regarding the Viz Specialist,

 

I would say that technology is a double edged sword in that it will always make some things easier and quicker for everyone which at the same time, lessens your own job security that much more. The answer to this will always be to diversify yourself and stay ahead of the trend curve as best you can.

 

In my case, I had to take on the greater roll of Architectural Marketing which encompasses not only the 2D/3D visualization roll, but also the professional print work, the graphic design work and the web development work and in some cases, the photography work, the blue screen work, the video editing and compositing work, etc.. etc.. Try to keep your prdocut a few steps ahead of push button renderings and you'll atleast give Architects and Engineers a reason to consider the alternative.

[Simon Moir]

More comments regarding the Viz Specialist,

 

I would say that technology is a double edged sword in that it will always make some things easier and quicker for everyone which at the same time, lessens your own job security that much more. The answer to this will always be to diversify yourself and stay ahead of the trend curve as best you can.

 

In my case, I had to take on the greater roll of Architectural Marketing which encompasses not only the 2D/3D visualization roll, but also the professional print work, the graphic design work and the web development work and in some cases, the photography work, the blue screen work, the video editing and compositing work, etc.. etc.. Try to keep your prdocut a few steps ahead of push button renderings and you'll atleast give Architects and Engineers a reason to consider the alternative.

 

My heating / hot water boiler packed up last week. I looked on the internet, identified the problem and a fix (a £20 rubber diaphragm, which a friendly supplier gave me for free because he had "millions out the back"), job done. No £150 call-out fee, no £200 replacement part, no sucking of teeth etc. Shame really, because if the Archviz industry falls flat I was going to be a plumber. So yes, doesn't matter what industry you work in, you have to stay ahead of everyone else somehow.

[ChooChoo]

I use Revit and while yes it does import into Max/Viz, it does import layers with hundreds to thousands of little names. It's important if you do model in Revit to group similar items and make sure you keep on top of it. Like glass for example.

 

The materials that you put on in Revit come into Max/Viz now, but I usually change them in Max afterwards. It just turns out better. I think modeling would be easier just to do it in Max. Revit has its advantages, but also is going to have disadvantages as with any program.

[Chris Johnson]

Max and Maya definitely will not merge. But their processes, skill sets and other things already have. I have already met a few people that work on Maya, and regularly talk with some on a weekly basis.

Also Autodesk CEO has already committed many company resources (and publicly too) for getting data from one application to another application. For M&E that definitely includes Revit to Max. Which link will only grow stronger as time goes on.

 

Chris J.