Redraw speed

[Cesar R]

John,

 

Arhicad is a great tool. To be honest with you the first time I saw it, it was at my office and I hated it. I used it once to model a project and thought it was slow and very difficult. So I put it away and never touched it again.. until two semesters ago, I have a huge project , the dead line was 6 weeks to design and draw and create a physical model. Is it then when I began to look into the BMI solutions and bought archicad. Archicad not only saved me time, but it was such a great tool in the design and development of my project that I was able to concentrate on a good design rather than on drafting.

 

The tools are great both 2D and 3D. However there a things that are not in the libraries. So you are right if you program then Zoom GDL is the best thing there is. I downloaded the demo and actually what I have been doing is using 3ds files and converting then to GDL using Zoom. The only problem that I noticed is that when I was finished with the archicad model and imported back a 3ds file into 3dsmax (the package I am still using) the object I created had face problems; I will post a screen shot maybe there is a way to fix this. however keep in mind that the demo version is version 2.0 and not 2.1 which is supposed to be better.

If you buy it let me know how this works.

 

Anyway I still debating on switching over to MAC, I love my 17 powerbook, but i love my 3ds max

 

Archicad has a watermark on the extreme edge when you take it to plot maker, but it can easily be fixed for final presentations. trim command hehe so that is not an issue.

 

Let me ask you? how do you like vector works? doesn’t it integrate with C4D ? because archicad does it via 3ds or at least that is how I have been doing it for testing purposes.

 

Let me know how you like C4D, the radiosity is great, but I am not to crazy about the modeling and how to model precisely. anyway sorry about the essay, If have any more questions let me know

 

 

BTW people, the release update to 8v.3 or archicad makes the viewports work the way they should.

[Cesar R]

Ace_Face,

 

How do you manage your archicad objects in C4D, when I import them I end up with a huge list

[Ola]

Cesar R

 

Thanks for the response. I thought the 3ds and wavefront export features were disabled on the student version. I do mostly interior architecture, so precise object creation and lighting is important to me. I'll buy the student version and try it out. As for Zoom , there is a deal going on till the end of summer for $150 (student pricing)/$195 till september 21st.

 

I like Vector works, its a great program and relatively inexpensive . I use the Artchitect version which has additional features to automate model setup, layer( floors/stories as in archicad) and classes(layer in auto cad), objects and architecture specific features. I also have the renderworks add on which is slow on large projects, but saves exporting and works well on simple models. I especially like the 2d features, very intuitive ( like in illustrator) and easy to learn. Extremely fast 2d redraw. Also u can model a lot of precise objects using the included 3d power pack (nurbs,booleans e.t.c), but not as comprehensive as Formz. Integration with C4d is great. You can update your c4d model at anytime after making changes in Vectorworks . The C4d render speed and quality is much better than renderworks. My only gripe is that u don't have a separate 3d viewport for viewing model. This can become frustrating once u are in any other view other than plan because your 2d elements overlap the 3d. unless u spend time managing layer /class visibility. You also do not get live elevations and sections. You always have to go back and cut a new one every time u make changes. You can't work directly on your model without going back to individually linked layers to make the edits. Other than that VW is great but not as architecture specific as archicad it seems.

 

I've not really played that much with C4d rendering, but i heard using the obj export is just as good as .3ds except u have less objects to manage and selection sets. materials however default to gray once brought into C4d. I played with modeling in C4d a bit, it can be very precise, u just have to setup your grid properly, otherwise they become infinite as you zoom in and not fixed. Also units can be a little tricky if exporting out to other programs, should not be a problem with archicad since it is metric based.

 

O.K enough for now

[Cesar R]

 

 

Ok, this is what happens when I created an object using any modeling tool, export to 3ds and open it in zoom gdl to convert to archicad. When I am done with my archicad model an export it to 3ds to bring into max the models just become distorted as if there were 2 faces on top of each other. any thoughts?

[Cesar R]

ok, I ran the same test on a machine somwhere else with 3dsmax and I did not get the same results, I ran it with C4D and did not get the same results. However I did install the Npower tranlator and power solid softwares on my machine at home and I think that is what is cousing the meshing in my 3ds files.

 

so I am gonna buy zoom !

[xgarcia]

Looks like smoothing problem Cesar. Try the smooth (not mesh smooth) modifier and play with thesettings. Should work fine I believe.

 

Xavier

[Ace_Face]

Cesar,

 

I use the following method for exporting Archicad models to Cinema 4D:

 

First, in Archicad I create a palette of materials for the project, (adding a space in front of the material name to keep them at the top of the material list).

 

 

When the file is ready for export I "Save as" 3DS... and use these settings.

 

 

Finally, I create some Null objects and name them Building, Cameras, Lighting, etc. to organize the files. I also rename the objects based on the material names and nest duplicate objects. Then I start replacing the materials and complete the scene with lighting and entourage.

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Originally posted by Cesar R:

Ace_Face,

 

How do you manage your archicad objects in C4D, when I import them I end up with a huge list

[Cesar R]

the null object is what I had in mind also. great thank yo. I apreciate the screen shots and I am sure other who read this will.

[jntdigital]

Hi all,

 

I know im late on this thread but i use archicad with C4D also. i love it! The way ace shows is really the best way to export models to c4d.

[Cesar R]

yeah I have yet to bring a project into C4D, but I am modeling a little something in archicad to do some test renders. I have rendered some doodle models the past few days and I like the radiosity.

[VIC]

http://www.cgarchitect.com/gallery/image_spotlight.asp?galleryID=15890

 

I creat this picture use ArchiCAD 7.0 and Cinema 4D XL 8.1,all are 3D sence(building, trees, flowers,cars......, background use Photoshop to process),only use raytrace render,image size about 6000 x 3000.

 

Cinema 4D's GI is good, but still slow then 3DS MAX+finalrender or 3DS MAX+Vray......

[Cesar R]

if I get a g5 i may just use vitual PC for 3ds max unless i become really good with cinema 4d. I wonder what kind of render engine is use in productiom (movies) when C4D is used. i think Lucas Films uses C4D dont they?

[retire06]

Tom,

 

This has saved me a lot of frustration.. Thanks!.. I need a bit of help.. When I bring an AC 3ds into C4D it is very dark.. What are the best settings to use in C4D to use with AC??

 

Thanks

[Ace_Face]

Tom,

 

This has saved me a lot of frustration.. Thanks!.. I need a bit of help.. When I bring an AC 3ds into C4D it is very dark.. What are the best settings to use in C4D to use with AC??

 

Thanks

 

I usually blow away the Archicad generated sun and lights. Then create them from scratch in C4D. The sun settings are wierd when imported from Archicad. It's going to take alot of experimentation to get the lighting you want in C4D. You should check out the C4D forum for some very good lighting tips from Strat.

[retire06]

Thanks Tom!