Where and how do I start?

[Bill]

Hi everyone!

 

Love this site! Don’t know anyone passionate about this, so I have know one to get advice from. I know architects who render, but view it as hobby. I can tell by examples posted and the advice shared, that this is the information source I’ve been looking for.

 

3 questions are, what skill sets do I need, what’s the most efficient way to go from knowing nothing about architectural rendering to being very good, and are my expectations realistic?

 

Been in the CAD industry for 13 years. Done Printed Circuit Board design, Mechanical Drafting, and currently the CAD Supervisor for a major University. I use the term CAD Supervisor loosely because we don’t do in-house design work, so even though we use AutoCAD, we’re more of a large document library than drafting dept. So I know AutoCAD, but know little about architectural drafting. I’m leaving January 2005, and that’s where I need help.

 

Started teaching myself AutoCAD ADT a year ago because I felt I needed to be a drafting guru before I could start rendering architectural elements. Then I met someone who took a 3D Viz class & said they designed a room right in Viz. That got me concerned that I might be wasting time mastering a product that I don’t need. That’s where the “skill sets” part of my question comes in. What do I need to know in order to be great at rendering?

 

My plan for the next 2 years is this. In Jan. I’m taking an 11 week Digital Photography class. We’ll be using Photoshop where I plan on learning how to manipulate color on the computer. After that they offer a 3d Max class. That might be overkill right now, so I’m going to check and see if they have any 3D Viz classes in the evening that I could audit. I’m hoping that after that, I’ll have enough to offer someone who would be willing to mentor me for a year. Other than the difficulty I might have finding a mentor, does this approach seem logical to you?

 

I know it takes a lot of talent and skill to do work as good as the images I see you guys doing. I know I have the talent, I just don’t have the skills yet. I also know that I won’t be outstanding in 2 yrs, but if I work my butt off, will I be able to at least do respectable work? Are my expectations way off? I’m not expecting this journey to be easy, but being a mid-life crises thing, I have no intentions of going to school for 4 years and working as a drafting monkey at a firm for 10 years hoping someone retires so I can start rendering.

 

Input?

[nuno]

hi bill,

i believe you can do in 2 years a very good work in the cg business...

but i think you'll need to dispend to many hours a day to obtain these results. the amount of hours (experience) in this field is crucial.

if you really 'love' this kind of living .... just go for it.

....i know you will.

 

best to you

nuno

[ingo]

Input for Bill:

 

Hi Bill, welcome to the CGarchitect forum. Well, i was in the CAD business for several years too and got my way to the world of 3D renderings now, BUT i am an architect. For me the best advice i can give you is to work in an architectural office to get into the business, with your skills you could work as an CAD supervisor for a large office. Know the business you want to work for before you start, getting knowledge for 3D software as a CAD specialist should be easy.

 

Well thats my short advice for now, i have to sleep

 

ingo

www.im-graphics.com

[mbr]

Hey there Bill,

I think Ingo has some good ideas about understanding architecture first. I don't think, however, that you need to work for a firm. All of the firms I have worked for (and all my designs) would never have a Doric Column anywhere, but many clients want them, so you learn the detailing, the look, etc. I think you would do just fine buying a few books on framing and materials and you should be fine. So here goes for a little list : )

1. Take that 3D Studio class, pay particular attention to polygon modeling, materials/textures, and lighting.

2. Buy a few books on architecture, probably typical ones (versus 'good' books on 'good' design), 'cause that's what people pay for ; ).

3. Grab a few floor plans, elevations, sections, and import them into Max and build away. That's the best way to learn, practice. Look closely at Architectural/Interior magazines for photos (could tie it into that digital photo class), the rims around can lights, and the details that make it 'real'.

That's it. Then you've got it down and will just get better. If you practice along the way by making models yourself and rendering them, it won't take long at all.

As a side note, I personally prefer to model in Form-Z because it is so much faster for archtitecture.

[kid]

You'll probably have very little problem with the modelling aspect. Choosing a program for modelling that suits you is a bit tricky when your new to 3d. The only way is to try lots of different programs. You have a shed load of time on Autocad so that's probably the best to use while getting used to architectural modelling. Usually a single project will have parts modelled in several programs (usual for me anyway). I might have the main building modelled in Rhino, and the terrain, landscaping modelled in Max, for example.

 

As far as rendering, every program is capable of both beautiful renders and appauling renders. The most important aspect of good rendering is some artistic knowledge, of colour, light, materiality, composition, and planning. Planning is crucial in 3d work because it's too easy to press buttons here and there and then click render without really knowing what you want to achieve. If you get clear idea of what you want to do early in a project then you use the tools to achieve that vision, rather than using to tools aimlessly and accepting whatever happens.

 

I'll stop rambling now...Welcome

[Guest juko101]

Sounds like, if all goes as planned, you and I may be getting into the biz at around the same time. I should graduate arch school in 2005 and only have to do a year and a half internship before taking the licensing exams.

 

Want to partner up? I'm only halfway kidding.

 

Also, if we're voting for best arch modelling software, Form Z is it.

[bigcahunak]

Hi Bill, and welcome aboard.

You got some good advices so far. I have to say, that you might get conflicting advices that each might sound THE right one. The thing is - there is not only one right way to do it. You'll see different people approach a similar project in two different ways. For example, you will find forum members here arguing, which is a good thing for itself, about the ups and downs of a software, or the "right program, to model a specific type of object. Having said that, you do need to find the right way for you.

So, first I'd say that 2 years is anough time to get some good knowledge, and depending on how serious you are, you could even become an expert.

I'd say that before programs, you need to have a "more than avarage" understanding about hardware components, how they work and which parts work harder under specific programs. Most MAX users know a lot about hardware. Learning MAX isn't just learning how to use it like you learn MS word or excell.

Same goes about knowing the OS (Windows).

The way I see it, there are a few groups of softwares in the process of rendering arch projects:

 

Architects CAD : Includes all the CAD programs except for Autocad, meaning - Archicad, Datacad, Revit, ADT, Allplan... Those model buildings, but their model is so much full of details and data (even data that you don't see which is good for later ARCH tables) which is unwanted for visualizers. Autocad is different since you can still build a simple model in it, which doesn't include all this heavy and unneeded data.

 

Modeling : Includes Form-Z, Rhino, MAX/VIZ and also AutoCAD.

 

Rendering MAX/VIZ, C4D, Lightscape...

 

Image manipulating :PHOTOSHOP - Must!

 

There is an ongoing argument about modeling an rendering in the same program, or not. The are ups and downs for both methods, which I'm not going to get into... look at the length of my reply already...

I'd say that since you know and have Autocad already, try to see how doing 3D in it works for you. At the same time, work HARD on learning Photoshop. Photoshop is a world for itself, and there are so many levels of "knowing" it, so you better get started (I believe there won't be much arguing about that).

 

I'm really really sorry for the length of that thing... Geee

Good luck.

[3danim8d]

Hi Bill,

 

I think that everyone has given you great advice and with your artistic background you should make the jump to 3D rendering really quickly.

 

I would recommend getting the book Digital Lighting and Rendering by Jeremy Birn, and the companion book Digital Texturing and Painting by Owen Demers.

 

I'm going to Dan Ablan's new book Digital Cinematography & Directing, I'll tell you if It's any good in a week or two, it should be on the store shelves Wedneday.

 

Also, check your private messages.

 

Best of luck Bill, Go Buff's

 

Jeff