Trying Make the Jump From the Game Industry to Arch Viz...Any Tips?

[kaleb3d]

Hi all,

 

I am currently a 3d Game Environment artist, but I would like to make the jump to the Architectural Visualization field.

 

I would really appreciate it if those of you who have professional experience could tell me which tools and skills you use on a regular basis, or find indispensible to getting your job done.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Kaleb

[mattclinch]

essentially similar skills to what you have probably been using up til now i imagine..

 

a modelling and rendering package, and a compositing package (still or motion depending on what you plan on doing), good modelling, texturing and lighting skills and a good eye for composition. sufficient libraries of textures/people/trees/3D elements to add. good application and understanding of colour theory.. etc etc.

 

welcome! this is an incredibly helpful forum -your lack of responses i would guess is down to the fact you have just asked such a broad question with such a range of potentially correct answers. don't be put off. maybe be a bit more specific. artistic skills? software/renderer combinations? employability factors? what exactly are you after?

Edited July 27, 2009 by mattclinch

[Jim Mann]

No way...are you serious? 65 views, and not one single reply? Is this really the type of community that CG Architect is?

 

I suspect that with the state of the arch viz industry at the moment (in the UK at least) you probably had more people wondering about how they can go about making the jump to the games industry.

 

3DS Max and photoshop would be your best bet for software and associated skills. Digital paint skills and an understanding and apprecation of photography and composition will also be a big plus in your CV/folio. Beyond that, being able to demonstarte that you understand how a building is detailed and constructed will be a massive bonus as you will inevtably end up having to wade through crap architects drawings and fill in cavernous gaps in the information they provide.

 

Still interested?

 

JM

[kaleb3d]

Ok firstly...thanks for the replies everyone! That's what I'm talkin about!!

 

Second, sorry if I was a little too vague as to what I was looking for...but I left it that way on purpose so I could get each individual artist's perspective on what they considered to be most important.

 

@mattclinch - Thanks for the insight! I was basically after information of a more technical nature. What applications, plugins, and resources are most essential to the job. Also, maybe a brief description of a typical workflow from the acceptance of a project to the final submission. Now that you mention it, however, knowing what artistic skills are needed might help too.

 

@JM - Thanks for the help..and yep, still interested!

 

@Everyone - My background is basically this: 4 year degree in Illustration, a 2 year post grad in 3d, and 3 years experience as an Environment Game Artist on current-gen platforms. I have a solid foundation in design, color, composition, modeling (3ds Max), texture painting, and some shader knowledge. Where I am weak (make that a complete noob) is in advanced lighting, materials, and rendering techniques (we don't use em in realtime).

Can you recommend any renderers that I should focus on? The word is that V-ray is the best, so I'm thinking about getting it...and that book "V-ray the Complete Guide". I have also ordered 3DATS Architectural Visualization: Beginner to Intermediate, and Intermediate to Advanced.

Lastly, I'm wondering how people go about generating all of the highly detailed props (trees and vegetation, cars, people) that are used to populate their scenes on such a tight schedule. Is this a matter of buying pre-created libraries of models that they can just import to the scene, or is it a more of a post 2d compositing thing like a matte painting...or a mixture of both? Also, I've heard that Sketchup is used a lot in the beginning stages of a concept, and then the heavy CG stuff happens later when you get the approval for the final images? Is there much truth in that?

 

Thanks again for the help!

Edited July 27, 2009 by kaleb3d

[alexg]

it's one of the worst time for arch viz if you decided to cross over.

 

the main diff between gaming clients and arch clients are the construction drawings, reading and interpreting them (modelling stage) can be quite tricky sometimes.

Once you get the hang of this, then it's quite a breeze.

 

You can model using whatever software you want. Rhino / Acad / Max / Sketchup are ok. Although most architects will supply drawings either in .dwg format or just give you a pdf version of it that you need to trace over.

For rendering, anything goes. Some likes it realistic, some likes it stylized. What matters is that he end product communicates the design intent.

 

Populating image can be done in 3d (using library) or by post pro comp (2d in psd). Either method can produce great results.

Edited July 27, 2009 by alexg

[JDillon]

Sorry, but not a good idea to enter the Arch VIZ field right now. If you don't have any clients right now it will be very hard to find them. Anyone that is hanging on right now is because they have "deep roots" in their particular area.

 

Having said that, 3DS Max and Photoshop are a safe bet. Take a look at this site you are on right now cgarchitect.com and click on some of the ads for props, trees etc... Jeff has done a great job getting all this info in one place.

 

Don't concentrate all your efforts on Arch VIZ look at other avenues in CG for income. Diversify or Die!

 

Good luck!

 

Jason Dillon

[3D_IC]

Stay put until the market picks up. Practice on the work flow and build up a good portfolio to market yourself. Time means money and if you can't produce images quickly then you're eating into your profit. Try and cover all areas and styles in your portfolio. Internal, external, commercial, leisure, Medical, education etc. Some Architects specialize in certain areas, others cover all areas of construction. The wider your variety of work the wider you can cast your net.

 

As for work flow, here's mine;

-receive drawings in dwg or pdf or jpg

-import or open in AutoCAD to model

-file link into MAX for lighting, materials cameras etc.

-render high res and open in Photoshop for post processing.

 

Animations are a different kettle of fish

 

I'm sure everyone works differently and some similar. Everyone has their own preference. Search the forum, I'm sure this question has been answered many times in the past. Hence the no reply to the post. Good luck, but think before you jump.

[kaleb3d]

@3D_IC - Thanks for the workflow breakdown. It's pretty much as I thought, but I needed to know for sure. Thanks for the portfolio tips too:)

 

@alexg - Thanks for the great tips about learning to read architectural blueprints, and how to populate a scene! Definitely useful information.

 

@Everyone else - Why is it such a bad time to enter Arch Viz? Is it simply a matter of the economic situation, or does it go deeper than that? I'm hearing a lot of negative talk about the state of the industry, but not a lot of explanation on why everyone feels that way.

 

Finally, one more question: Is it common for arch viz artists to be asked to get involved during the design phase of the structure, or is that something that is usually left solely for the architects? Conversely, is it common for the architects to be given the job that should go to the Arch Viz artist, by letting them stick with a render from Sketchup or Revit as the final?

 

Thanks again everyone!

[Michael J. Brown]

Gotta agree with most. And I know this adds nothing at all to your inquiry, but if anything, I'd be starting a post, "How do I go from ArchViz to Gaming industry?".

[Devin Johnston]

@Everyone else - Why is it such a bad time to enter Arch Viz? Is it simply a matter of the economic situation, or does it go deeper than that? I'm hearing a lot of negative talk about the state of the industry, but not a lot of explanation on why everyone feels that way.

 

Finally, one more question: Is it common for arch viz artists to be asked to get involved during the design phase of the structure, or is that something that is usually left solely for the architects? Conversely, is it common for the architects to be given the job that should go to the Arch Viz artist, by letting them stick with a render from Sketchup or Revit as the final?

 

Thanks again everyone!

The Architectural industry is taking a massive beating right now and when that industry suffers so do the people doing renderings/animations for them. We've gone from a booming economy to one that is contracting and when that happens most developers don't want to build new buildings. I don't see this situation changing for at least another year or two so unless you are going to be working for an in house department or already have a lot of clients lined up waiting for you it's going to be very difficult to find work.

 

Unless you have an architecture degree and are specifically hired to both design and do illustration work you will have very little if no involvement in the design process. That simply isn't your job and the designers don't need your help to do theirs. I'd say most mid to large sized offices use some kind of 3D CAD package now so the designers are probably creating at least some 3D models which might or might not be useful to you. These packages allow them to produce crude renderings but to get the really good stuff they still need an artist who knows what they are doing.

[nick2730]

helpful thread, i just graduated with a degree in game art and want to be either environmental artist or architectural viz. Does every major architect have a render dept or do most contract the work out? Im in Chicago so there are alot of studios just dont know where to look

[Michael J. Brown]

Every major full-service architecture firm (150+ employees) I've worked for (Detroit region) has had anywhere from one to three dedicated 3D artists. But even with that, some work still gets farmed out. With larger firms, the outsourcing is usually due to timeline constraints. With smaller firms (or those without good dedicated talent) it is usually due to quality constraints.

 

A lot of work gets farmed out to China.

[martin walker]

I made the leap about 7 years ago, I was lucky enough that I had a Architectural / Design Degree, which helped a lot with reading plans / drawings etc.

 

But as everyone has echoed, its a bad time to join us.....the bulk of my work is now from design agencies...product vis, digital touch up, exhibition design etc.

 

The arch vis work I do get is from well established clients who I've worked for for many years.

 

If I was you I'd approach a local architect and offer to create some free visuals for them, explain that you are learning...you will get a live project and will learn a hell of a lot.

Edited August 10, 2009 by martin walker

[wrt]

Kaleb,

 

I came accross your post researching a pipeline question and here's my 2 cents, for what it's worth (meaning maybe even less than that 1 cent : ) ).

 

-Everyone in this thread has given extremely valuable information and advice and I'd agree with all of the pipeline suggestions all the way. You seem like you're in very good shape if you're a modeler. Just push composition, lighting, and compositing skills and you'll be off to a good start for stills. Start with designs that you like and are generally considered good designs in the world of architectural design unless you have a great design of your own that you'd like to visualize, just be careful that the architectural firms that you want to visualize for also think it's a good design if that's at all possible.

 

-As far as modeling goes make sure you're ready to deal with some really haphazardly built models from sketchup and or revit by folks who are not necessarily modeling professionals when absorbing models from other folks. Given that you're a modeling professional this might be especially annoying to you ha so be prepared to deal with it in a methodical way. Be ready to make a ton of decisions about whether to rebuild the models and/or ask the source of the models to make changes to their modeling organization and cross your fingers. Lot's of training and "people skills pipeline" optimization. Tool choices are maybe 50% of the optimization question. Be prepared to do the testing at a small scale and before taking on huge jobs and huge models from other sources. Never criticize others models since people get touchy especially if they are not CG nuts like us more design only, simply suggest that for the purposes of visualization you could "help them" grow their modeling skills : ).

 

-As far as game vs. architecture goes wow yeah you are in a better position than you know if you play it intelligently. Here are two suggestions/ideas.

 

1) This one's not necessarily smart, but at my last gig we did research around using game engines as client delivery models. Lot's of reasons why this is not necessarily possible except at the largest scale and for certain clients but lots of arch vis people would love to have this capability up their sleeves if it were doable. Personally I wouldn't spend a ton of time thinking about this but something to consider as a discussion point at least.

 

2) Tools are expensive but prices are dropping, talent (including one's own) should never stop growing and frankly is a bit of a commodity in the global market at this point. In my experience RELATIONSHIPS are the most important variable in the success of any verture and/or career change (I prefer the term evolution here). Just behind relationships, or rather part of that equation are clients...soooo just wondering why think of it as moving from one field to another, why not try to figure out how you can service both kinds of clients. I guarantee you that there are quite a few architectural vis shops trying their hardest to figure out how to aquire game environment clients. You already have one, your current employer or at least your network. Why not sell to both. Most arch vis folks frankly are trying to figure out the "who's buying envrionmental CG" after architectural budgets have all but dried up in the last 6 or so months. Don't burn any relationships in the game world is my point I guess, see them as part of the same set of clients for your own purposes.

 

-Oh and yes for sure a smart architectural visualizer can absolutely play an extremely large role in the design of an environment/architecture. maybe it's just by generating alternatives and not changing clients for them or it's playing the role of in house specialist and the volume of design simply exceeds the volume being handled by the official architects etc. Or you're a CG specialist and you stay late and generate options simply because you can more quickly than the other designers who are not on 3d and I guarantee your design options or parts of them will be considered. This is part of the point for some for sure, to really not see the process of prototyping, simluation, and imaging as distinct from the process of design itself....

 

Hope this helps!

 

Bill

Edited September 15, 2009 by wrt

[Dan J]

Kaleb,

 

Everyone one has stated the current industry conditions and I'm in the same boat. I haven't been able to secure anything in the architectural area for over a year here in the NW. I'm only finding work in product, exhibit and some interiors. So, it isn't that everyone is trying to be territorial about the field and they are telling you the truth.

 

Over the last several years most of the viz work has been taken over by inhouse groups, younger architects coming out of college with all the training to do the viz work, some graphics folks picking up some of it and a fair amount of the grunt work is shipped overseas for extremely cheap rates. All of this and the economics of developing Real Estate, has made freelancing very competitive if not unsustainable.

 

Just a few questions-

Why do you want to move out of games?

Is the pay low(what's your salary)?

Are the hours lousy?

Just lack of creativity?

??? Do tell

 

Just a few other questions-

How do I, with several years of viz experience, break in to the game industry? (I can model, texture, light, animate, FX, photo process, video edit, sound edit, dvd author, design, sketch, illustrate (hand), BS art/design/architecture/sculpture, Cert. in Multimedia production......)

What is the pay, hours, work environment, locations...?

What does my portfolio need to look like?

Do I have to dress/look presentable and have good hygene to go to the office?

Can I play test games in the office and not be docked the hours?

If you could answer most of those that would be great, though I do have a ton of others.

Thanks for the input.

[mi75]

I 100% agree with what Dan J just said.

 

I'm not new to Arch Vis but I have set up a new company and I'm freaking out big time with how hard it is to find clients. It's been 7 months and I've had no paying work. I just verbally landed a small job and the only reason I got it was because I was prepared to do it at cost. I did some sub contracting for my old business partner and he recently landed a 300+ cookie cutter home job which would have also given me plenty of work, a week later the job was pulled due to lack of money. I lay awake most nights thinking of what else I could do! seriously!

 

If you make the jump........ Good Luck!

 

Mart

 

Ps I'm not normaly this negitive but I'v been cutting back on my coffee intake