3D Visualisation Standards & Procedures

[dark_horse_09]

I wondered if anyone could advise on this subject?

 

I work in a drawing office which produces architectural CAD drawings for onshore & offshore projects. We also have the capabilitie to produce 3D visualisations of interiors that we design using 3ds Max and Vray.

 

We have established a defined set of "CAD Standards & Procedures" that are relevant only to the 2D draughting side of the business. The task I have is to develop a set of standards for producing our 3D visuals and a way of documenting and recording our 3D's by creating some sort of 3D drawing register.

 

Does anyone else work/worked in a similar environment standards and procedures like this have been developed? Our company has just achieved ISO 9001-2008 from DNV for our QMS but the 3D side of the business is lacking in processes and procedures. The main benefit from having this would be the ability to fast-track future employees/new starts so that I don't have to spend too much time talking over the basic department and production workflows.

 

I realise a lot of users on this forum probably come from design agencys etc which have more creative freedom and are generally smaller organisations altogether. However I word for a global organisation with various engineering services so the requirement for this kind of documentation is essential for good management and product delivery.

 

One aspect I want to develop is a drawing border for our 3D visuals, much the same as a typical drawing border you would find on an architectural drawing. I want to place 1-5 visuals per A3 sheet and have a border that has drawing number, revision numbers, issue date etc. This would be good to have as it would tie-in with our 2D engineering style of drawings.

 

Any advice or relevant info appreciated.

[Arnold Sher]

Wow Gavin... Let's standardize Art and then write a rule book on it...lol.. I understand that big organizations need structure and workflow but "Borders and revision numbers"..hmmm... i am not sure... Anyway i would love to hear other people and see what their opinions are. We have a very tight management system that we have developed for our office however i would never get my guys who are creatives and the "flower people" to follow ISO system without killing their spirit, engineering company "yes" but creative design studio i would have to say "no" thank you. Spend all my life running from the "system" only to put back one into my studio, i'd rather not... Anyway, my two cents worth...

[dark_horse_09]

I understand what your getting at, but the visuals that we produce are of an engineering nature. They are derived from detailed design drawings and are issued to coinside. The need for unique drawing numbers and revision numbers is crutial as it will document what the client has seen and what they haven't. We can't allow a drawing at construction status to be confused with an undocumented/unreferenced 3D visual that was produced at a previous stage.

 

Also for your info, the offshore engineering industry can be limited in terms of creatively as there are strict safety regulations that have to be considered at all times. We design and engineer the best possible solution at all times but we need a way of documenting things and coming up with a sytem where a memeber of the team can pick up someone elses work get on with it without have to etablish how that person has managed the scene, the 3ds file, or how they have named and organised there texture maps, etc, etc.

 

We can't just have employees starting and coming into the office and doing whatever they like just because they're creative. If someone's spirt can be "killed" with a bit of organisation then I would say they're not worth employing.

 

Any constructive ideas are welcome.

[Arnold Sher]

Fair enough Gavin.. I guess that is why some people need to be employed and some people are self employed... The world needs both and i commend you on having a structure to abide by. I was merely expressing my own view that works for me and the people are work with... Best of luck to you!

[Jonathan]

Its an interesting dilemma you have, somewhere on the bridge between objective and subjective representation. I guess the answer lies in whom (future employees) you look to bring it. I can see how the objective cad work can be ring fenced and managed as in architecture and engineering but when you try to generalise subjective representation, i.e. lighting, materiality, composition etc then you may find it hard to attract the right people. Im also not too keen on the title sheet/revision notion; there must be a more interesting and forward thinking way to present subjective information.

[dark_horse_09]

Thanks for your response Jonathan.

 

Just to clarify, we are not looking to generalise aspects such as lighting, materials, composition etc. In my opinion it's imposssible to do that and I don't think anyone would want that. Each project requires bespoke finishes and materials and as well as equipment specification. All I want to do is develop a system which manages all this. As designers we want to design areas that are appealing to clients and offer innovation in our field of work. My issues/queries are more along the lines of implenting successful filing naming, management, folder structures, documenting what has been issued outwith the office walls and what hasn't, etc.

I am sure I can come up with something in the end, but I was curious to learn if anyone else was in a similar positions or had any ideas?

I am interested in the possibility of coming up with an innovative way of presenting the 3D's like you say. But I do need to place an emphasis on overall document control, and I just thought some kind of drawing border would be the way to go.

[Tommy L]

I see where you're coming from. I dont think there's any reason to consider the 3d production pipeline any different from your engineering one.

So far as presentation protocols, I dont think bordering your work is necessarily a bad thing. Esp if every image has to carry data. Now if those images go to publication outside of th engineering world, you can always pull the border off.

 

Im not sure what software youre using, but when you set up a project in max it builds you a folder structure for your 3d content/support files.

I usually have job folder with the following folders within:

MAX (max project folder structure within here)

PSD (for photoshop post)

To Client (tests + finals)

From Client

ACAD

Reference

AE

Framestore

Movies

 

All support files (textures and model library etc) are stored on a separate drive. Library organisation is just as important as your job files. The longer you work in this business the slicker you get, one of the reasons is you build a catalogue of assets.

 

In fact, now I come to think about it, efficiency in this job is impossible without set standards and procedures especially in a studio environment. I am self employed but collaborate with others in the studio and employ freelancers remotely and in-house.

Edited July 8, 2011 by Tommy L

[FreakyDroid]

I work similar to Tom's method. My project folder consists of several sub folders like Max, Reference, Markup, Assets (proxies, modified textures from the library, ies files, models and so on), Renders, Final Output, After Effects/Fusion etc. My library is also categorized in this way (models, textures, HDRI .. etc) each having its own folder containing other subfolders to further specify what type of textures/models/etc is in it. I don't have a naming convention for my assets in the library though, I've tried a couple of times to do it, but I failed to see the benefit from it. I also organize my scenes in layers for which I always use the same names like dwg, facade, windows, doors, furniture, foliage, etc. Its nothing special or anything but it helps me manage my projects better. I don't name each individual object in the scene, I mostly group them and put a name on the group.

 

The way I see it, what you're trying to do is a good thing, but you'll have to think of your own way to organize your stuff in a way it suits you and the people you work with. Happy organizing

[carlotristan3d]

In my previous company, I served in the ISO in-house committee. So I'm quite familiar with ISO procedures. It's all about traceability and accountability. You must have a system to trace drawings that are produced by your comapany. We used to release renderings with frame stamp complete with job no., job title, date and revision nos. When the client wants to reproduce the drawing for marketing, they just crop the frame stamp.

[dark_horse_09]

Thanks for all the replys so far, very interesting to hear how other people manage their projects.

 

Tristan, you seem to be talking about the kind of thing I would like to develop. Is there any chance you could attach an example of your frame stamp/drawing border? I'd like to see how you set it out. Thanks

[Sketchrender]

I would love it there was standard somewhere.

I have used the MAx standard folder default set up, in an office.

But never used half the folders.

I did so, so the folders on the server would be there for the next 3D guy and he will be familiar with the set up.

Saying the, as a one man band, I generally set up the folder system now like this :

 

2011(year)_ 01 (project No.)_ file (format)

So

2011_01_Max

2011_01_Image_Ref( Photos , google earth images ect

2011_01_CAD_Ref

2011_01_Renders

|-> Final and Drafts With in the final psds and Jpeg_Tiff

2011_01_Issued

 

If have a better set up I would love to see it please.

 

Phil