Suitable Rendering Software for Archicad office

[tambi]

Hi All,

 

I currently work in a small practice using Archicad 10 (soon to upgrade to 11) for drafting purposes. Due to client demand we are now looking at software to produce some better quality renders than those using the Archicad renderer. We are hoping we may be able to do this using the Archicad model whilst using the secondary program for materials and lighting. We are only 3 people with very little digital rendering experience and would appreciate any advice as to what software will best suit our needs. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

Cheers

[shaneis]

You could look into standalone renderers like Maxwell where you can import your model and then apply materials and set lights/ cameras.

 

Might be easier (and less of an expense) than buying another 3D app (eg 3DS Max)

 

http://www.maxwellrender.com/

[BrianKitts]

Archicad can afford you quite a few options for rendering.... other than the built in render which isn't anything worth mentioning. Off the top of my head I know there are plugins and ports both in and out to a couple of rendering options.

 

You can actually use the maxwell engine in archicad although it's not as robust as porting out to maxwell studio.

 

Other options are plugins for artlantis which is an okay radiosity renderer, and then there's also plugins for going in and out of sketchup from archicad. Which there's now a couple of GI rendering plugins for sketchup in addition to it's built in styles.

 

I just checked on the graphisoft site and the latest addition is there is now a plugin for cinema 4d, which is a pretty popular program.

 

My personal choice exporting a dwg out of archicad and into 3dsmax. My biggest reason for this is to use vray and onyx plugins.

 

So really your next step should be looking at those four I mentioned most of which have demo versions and see which one catches your fancy. It really comes down to picking one and learning it well.

[tambi]

Thanks for your responses.

 

It seems the most popular combination is MAX and Vray so I guess it demands consideration. How exactly would this work? Export model from archicad to MAX, apply materials in MAX and then render using the Vray plugin?

 

As you have said the expense of MAX does make me wonder if with our novice capability would we really be able to get the most out of it as it seems quite an involved program to learn.

 

Like all companies the emphasis will be on how efficiently we can produce the images and it seems a beginner may get lost within the complexity of MAX, but perhaps in the long run it is worth it?

 

The Maxwell option is also attractive as it looks like quite a capable application and I guess it will be less of a financial commitment. Can anybody share any of their experiences of Maxwell?

 

We aren't trying to achieve photo-realistic renderings but something slightly more abstract and evocative.

 

Thanks again

[cianmcgrath]

I use Cinema 4D along with Vray.

You can import models from Archicad with the cad import plugin.

You can make changes to you model in Archicad later on and you will be able to update the model in Cinema with the update option.

All you need is the core Cinema 4D package which Is very cheap and easy to use along with the Vray render engine.

Vray is very fast compared to Maxwell.

 

Cinema 4D

http://www.maxonshop.com/uk/ps/code=270900&act=gpage

 

Vray.

http://www.vrayforc4d.com/

 

Cian.

[AJLynn]

I got a look at that Vray for C4D plugin and the stuff people are doing with it, and I'm pretty impressed. I'd be using it if I weren't in an Autodesk office. It's got the same feature set as Vray for Max, but without a lot of the stuff Max does that annoys me. (Is it true that Vray/C4D doesn't experience Vray/Max's busted-ass gamma insanity? Max's gamma is so funky a whole new field of math has developed for working around it.) And C4D is an extremely intuitive program while being a lot cheaper than Max and similarly powerful for most of what's involved in arch vis.

[Tamir]

There are quite a few rendering software that can augment ArchiCAD

 

Among the ones I have experience with are: C4D and Artlantis. Both are great, and both require time to learn...

 

Never the less...

 

Since you are a small firm, and the experience you have with visualization is limited, perhaps the best thing for you to do is getting this book: http://www.cadgarage.com/neliinarbo.html (Lightworks in ArchiCAD)

 

This will be the best spent $90 you will spend in a while!

 

You will be surprised how much you can get out of the Lightworks engine you already have. Just learn to use it.

 

Furthermore, much of this book is valid for any type of rendering engine; so Lightworks or not, read it!

 

P.S

The only short coming of ArchiCAD + Lightworks combo per se' is; animation. If you only producing still images, this combo will serve you well.

[tambi]

Thanks for all your input:) This really is a constructive forum compared to others I've been on.

 

I had a look at the Cinema4D and it looks like a great option, especially given the "intuitive" interface that I've seen mentioned a few times. The lesser committment with the lower price is also attractive and some of the plugins that let you update the model direct from archicad sound advantageous.

 

Thanks to Tamir also for the Lightworks option that is perhaps the most logical a route to take.

 

I thank you all again for your input, I think we'll now have to mull over the various options and then commit to something. I let you know which way we go.

 

Cheers

[IC]

If you're not after photorealism, discount Maxwell from the equation as that's what it's been developed for and what it does exceptionally well (at the expense of really long render times.)

[cianmcgrath]

AJLynn: I don't have a problem with the gamma settings in Cinema. I never used max so Im not familiar with the gamma problems.

I had thought of getting into Max simply for Vray but now I don't have to. I love working with Cinema and now Vray has given me a new fondness for 3D.

 

The images that Maxwell can produce are great but Im far too inpatient for the long render times I hear people taking about.

 

Cian.

[JackR]

After wasting much time on attempted rendering with Archicad 11, I finally gave up and purchased Artlantis 2. Artlantis 2 does a much better job with a minimal investiment in time and money.