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exterior renders


Cesar R
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where can I find a tutorial on setting up radiosity rendering in LW for exteriors and interiors.

 

So far.... do I always have to create a white dome for my sky? (interior/exterior) what about sun light, what should I use to simulate that?

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mmm you are putting me in a difficult spot :). Cinema 4D is also mac based and so far it looks amazing for Viz work.

 

Max is clearly a great tool, but it does not well on polygon count, in other words, handling huge amounts of data, it collapses, both renderer and layout wit our typical large-scale projects.

 

Maya, also great for character animators, but its modeling workflow is way slow for our archviz modeling and time frame constraints. And its rendering engine, not including mental ray, is WAY slow and not good.

 

So far, Cinema 4D and Lightwave are the tools we like (we do not use C4D yet, just played with demos) clearly this is just my opinion. Max is used everywhere and great results come from it. We simply get nervous when using it on real projects.

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David,

Could you walk us through your work-flow if you don't mind. Do you begin modelling from scratch in Lightwave or do you import from 3D from AutoCAD? I am interested in learning more about Lightwave since you speak so highly of it. I have a fiend here at the university who swears by it, but has I first learned AutoCAD, then formZ, then Viz/Maz, then Lightscape, alas Lightwave seems weird to me. :) Thanks.

 

Xavier

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I second Javier.. if you dont mind. also you were going to post an image of the stadium before it went into PS.

 

Well, I am starting to like LW alot better than MAX to be honest. or maybe it has to do with the fact that i am workin on a mac? I love macs by the way, im never going back to a pc !!! ok wrong thread

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We import 2D from CAD via dxf/3ds into Modeler and then we work from there. If 3D geometry was previously or partially done in CAD by our client, then we carefully un-ensemble the object in CAD and export to 3ds by small layers, for then into modeler.

 

I don't think I spoke highly of LW, I am not a fanatic, we clearly use it and have great results from it. Currently we are studding the possibility to start doing projects with C4D, but not 100%, nor we plan to switch, but we are worried that LW recent update history has been very slow.

 

Regarding our stadium, as soon as I get time will post something. Regarding Mac Vs. PC's.. mmm I will not go there :)

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haha,

 

well thanks for the insight. let me as you something.

when i model several object for example cube and ball and another box, in the same layer they become ONE object correct? even if there are far away? or am I doing something wrong?

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In addition to David's answer your objects on the same layer can be textured different. I use different layers for excluding lights for example. But i must admit i do my modelling in FormZ and export this into Lightwaves modeller, and add some things that are easier to make in LW. And although the guys at Newtek have now some rough times i love Lightwave, just wait till their new developement team keeps up pace. The good thing is you dont have to pay much for LW update :) And the Mac via, whats the other one called, aah, a PC, well i won't say anything to that one :D

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Originally posted by ingo:

..not to forget Electric Image and Shade3D. Both are able to produce great renderings...

mmm... well yes, the same goes with Caligari, nice few images, but interface is way strange. Only a very few fanatics can really do images there, I have used it and is WAY outdated software... EIAS just recently added OpenGL! As a "feature" common!

 

:)

 

On the mac, I will definitely pick from LW, Maya or Cinema4D. For 3D Arch, perhaps between C4D and LW. C4D will have a faster learning curve than LW. That is my opinion

 

David

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David,

 

do you have a test model or scene you can share with me to get an idea of how to put together architectural projects? it doesnt have to have textures. - note before anyone says anything stupid like in the past. - i dont plan to steal your work or style , im just looking for some help. bc i know your good at LW.

 

thanks

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Yup, EIAS is a bit behind, but still a pretty fast renderer; but you still cant use the raydiosity engine.

 

Hi Cesar, i think the only way to get a feel for the software is to test it, since everyone has its own way of structuring projects. Just use a standard project and try to rearrange it and see how you can work with it in your renderer, my first work with Lightwave needs a lot of rearrangeing until it went the way i want it, for example it depends on what you want to exclude from Lights/Raydiosity while rendering and of course the different texturing. Remember, try and error are your friends :)

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yeah you are right about that trial and error.

 

My main concerns is going from archicad to LW for rendering. I guess i would have to place all my windows in one layer and walls in another with in archicad and hope for them to import that way into LW via 3ds. BTW, how do do you name layers in LW and is there an instance tool such as the one in MAX?

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Well for layers i put the at least all glass elements on one or more different layers, and the rest of the windows on a different one. So you can work with shadow maps or raytraced shadows. Otherwise i use a construction hierarchy or work with layers by material, but it depends on your working method and what your client usually changes during your work. i think if you just start to work with a lot of layers/objects its easier, because you later can combine things very fast. And take care that you use for polygon heavy elements like a roof with modelled roof tiles a seperate object, that makes it easier to switch it of in views in LW layout later for a faster workflow.

 

HTH

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Originally posted by Cesar R:

I understand, Anyway how do you name layers and create layers? where are the help files.. i need to buy a book dont i?

You can find all the info in the manual, as you know, the manual is huge.. Take the time and read it. PAGE 20.8

 

Resent update 7.5c has help files in addition to the manual.

 

good luck!

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