AutoCAD samples?

[simonmonday]

Hello cgarchitect people.

 

Basically, I'm a UK broadcast tv graphic designer who's been using Max/Combustion/CS for years, and who really enjoys a bit of lighting and mental ray. Being a little bit of and architecture enthusiast (Denys Lasdun, Powell and Moya, Smithsons - the usual stuff,) and having been snapping brutalist/modernist buildings in BW from various extreme angles for years, had a nagging feeling that I may enjoy a bit of architectural visualization. So, just pondering an investigation of Max's AutoCad import capabilities and wondered if there was a resource for AutoCAD sample files anywhere? Or maybe some advice in that particular field, as AutoCAD is something I know absolutely nothing about....

 

Thanks very much.

[3rddimension]

Hi Simon,

 

Welcome to the site. I am sure you will find it more than beneficial.

 

In relation to yuor question, I suspect that you will get divided opinion as some model in Cad and some model in Max. My own studio models in Cad and imports directly to Max. In terms of importing it is straight forward enough. We model in a manner that reduces polygon count and rendering time, however many will solid model. If you are not able to learn it yourself in your spare time I would suggest doing a Cad course. I am sure there are plenty in your area. Once you pick up the basics you should be able to advance yourself by way of online tutorials etc - you sound like you are street wise enough with software programs

 

regards

Nick

[Tommy L]

If you know nothing about Acad, I wouldnt bother learning it beyond the import (file link) options. And if you dont have any Acad models to import, I wouldnt even learn those. Jump straight in and model some simple buildings or interiors in Max. Simple models dont take long, complex ones dont really take that long either! Get some subject matter first. You said you like shooting buildings, just look through your photography for something you like and start modeling..

[simonmonday]

Thanks very much guys for the responses: both helpful in different ways. Have always enjoyed modelling Max interiors - not many exteriors, generally, unless highly stylized. Probably my naivety and unfamiliarity with the workflow, but I imagined that the arch. visualizer would, as a rule, be working with architect- created CAD models, and doing the fine tuning with the Max shaders, materials, lighting and rendering, plus a little embellishment of the environment and Photoshop tweaking. This isn't what happens, then?

[Tommy L]

Varies from job to job, depends on what clients you pick up. If you have a client that has all their architects working in Revit, then you may deal with alot of .fbx exports. You may have a client that doesnt use 3d at all and you get all 2d acad drawings. Its not really that important, you'll learn that as necessity drives you.