Hello all!

[robertnutter]

Just thought I'd show my face instead of just liking other people's posts constantly So this is my introduction. If you don't like essays or people going on about themselves on the internet though, consider yourself warned. I just feel it's polite to say a little something about myself.

 

I'm an absolute from scratch newbie to 'real' 3D, though I have a strong passion for 3D architecture which stretches as far back as I was learning to talk. I promise that isn't BS; a program called Floorplan 3D Essentials was the first 'design' program I used on Win 95, and I was bitten by the bug. My grandad was also a respected civil architect so I was all the more susceptible! Sadly, it wasn't to be that simple so here I am now; 24 and broke from doing a Master's degree in a mostly unrelated subject (cinematography/colour grading).

 

To break myself just that bit more financially, I decided to learn using Archicad (for blocking it out) and C4D Studio with Vray for everything else (though I'm still to learn much of the lattermost). I don't think Sketchup is something I'll use (can't understand it's workflow for some reason) and C4D just seemed to come more naturally; I can also use Maya 5 (yep, 5) for basic stuff. I've done some simple projects for an AOS game I was lucky enough to land, including one very basic colonial mansion (below), for which I'm now forcing myself to learn Substance Designer to texture for both the exterior and interior models.

 

I know it's not a great start modelling or even from an architectural perspective, but this stuff is literally 100% new to me; I didn't even know what a polygon was until 4 months ago so I have a lot to learn...

 

 

EDIT: I am genuinely open to any and all criticism on my situation/naivity/possible arrogance. It'd be great to hear from anyone else coming from a film/tv background as well. I don't plan on returning to the industry as I have no interest in it anymore, but if I can transfer something (ie my substantial but mostly useless knowledge of lighting) from my existing skillset into archviz, I will gladly do so...it's just where to even begin doing that.

Edited April 7, 2016 by robertnutter

[nejck]

Hello there and welcome

 

I'd say its important to stay grounded and be open to (constructive) criticism. Everything else you will get with practice and hard work. Was a joy to read this intro.

 

Whatever software combo you end up using it is mostly going to be dependant on you and your skills. 3ds Max, Cinema 4D both have their pros and cons and honestly I've seen amazing work in one and the other.

 

Your masters is not that bad actually, you can apply quite a bit of theory from cinematography / color grading to your arch vis, 3d stuff (I'd guess). Post-Production is sometimes predominantly used by certain artists to create imagery but I think its still best doing as much as possible in 3D. Just remember, some folks do PP in After Effects / Fusion / Whatever and not only Photoshop - depending on what you prefer.

 

Lighting in itself can be what sets you apart from the rest of the field. I mean yeah, doing everything top notch (modeling, materials...) is a must but quality lighting can really make it shine and make it more interesting. Just check out some of the more known arch viz artists, they all have super interesting lighting going on (even if its subtle).

 

So yeah, those are some of my random thoughts. Hope you find arch viz more fun and just try not to be too hard on yourself starting out. Then again, don't be too arrogant / blind folded too I know... It's hard haha!

[robertnutter]

Hi Nejc!

 

Thanks for the input, it's very appreciated

 

Thankfully I think you're right; it could be a worse set of qualifications to be saddled with. I'm was a DaVinci Resolve specialist, so I don't know if that's a tool many archviz'ers use? As I am dreading learning PS (another program I never understood) and having to use the layers in AE instead of Resolve's nodes for post production makes my head spin ... So it's good to hear you say that the post stage of the process is user subjective to an extent. Obviously I'll teach myself Revit/3DS and the other acknowledged tools once I feel I'm ready for that, just so I'm at least a tiny bit employable! As many of the companies here seem to use Revit exclusively from what I've seen/read.

 

Lighting's an odd one for me; I can light a night scene with lamps literally everywhere and get an interesting image, but once in C4D I'm lost even with the physical sky. So a big part of it for me is determining the differences and similarities of 3D lighting to real life; though I'm very impressed so far with how realistic even the standard renderer is so I can probably transfer that knowledge with a decent degree of success. It's encouraging to hear you say what a large part it plays though, and I'd have to agree. Viewing the inspiration library on here is a lighting tour de force!

 

Thanks again for the insights and I definitely find it more fun than anything else at this stage; that may change, but I doubt my passion for it will

[nejck]

No problem at all, hope it helped

 

If you are going at it freelance style then it really doesn't matter what you use as long as the result will be good. Yeah, clients might send you Revit files for this, SKP for that, DWG for something else but in the end you'll probably convert it into an app that you're most comfortable with. I think thats how most of us do it anyway...

 

If you'd like to work in a studio then things might be a little more complicated. Studios have established pipelines that you need to fit in, not the other way around. That means if a studio uses 3ds max or Cinema 4D + Corona renderer + PS then thats more or less what you need to bring to the table. That is usually true for bigger studios while the smaller ones can be more adaptive and can actually (in some cases) benefit from people using different software but as long as it fits into the general pipeline.

 

Lighting wise, even with C4Ds built in renderer you can afford to think like a photographer. You should get acquainted with GI and from there on forward its putting theory into practice. With the advent of PBR renderers (Physically based rendering) you are actually "forced" to think solely like a photographer as old school 3D lighting tricks aren't even applicable anymore - that is for the most part at least.

 

The point is that when doing arch viz you will learn to think like you are out there on the field with the exception that you can bend the rules to whatever you see fit. Softboxes, extra lighting and all that comes into play more or less like it would in real life.

 

I'd actually look into How To tutorials (Ronen Bekerman's website etc...) and start some courses (Digital Tutors, SOA...) if you feel like you're really confused about it.

 

In general though, I'd recommend that every artist dabble into a different software than the one he is using only just to see how things work. It can apply to C4D 3ds Max Modo or V-Ray Corona Physical Renderer... It is hard to grasp it when you are starting out but if you do check how your workflow works in a competing software product you might just have a better sense of the general 3D process and how, taking into the account the pros and cons of specifc software, it mostly comes down to you as an artist. Do this once you become really good and super comfortable in your favorite app first though

Edited April 9, 2016 by nejck

[robertnutter]

I got back to this almost instantly but for some reason it got moderated out or something Either way, sorry for super late response!

 

Anyway, this is all gold here! And I'm happy about what you say regarding studios, as that's pretty much what I was hoping; fitting into other people's pipelines; for better or for worse; is something I already know a bit about so that shouldn't be too much of a shock. I'm learning Max either way so that won't affect me; just good to know smaller ones are willing to be adaptive, as you say! And I've been very satisfied with the standard rendered so far; even in my older C4D version it really is amazing, and in some ways find it liberating. I've also started trying to learn bitmap2material/quixel and stuff just to get acquainted with the finer points of texturing, so PBR is hopefully something I'm going to be able to start using effectively at some point in the not too distant future.

 

I chose Digital Tutors over Lynda and they have been great so far; and though some of it's a little iffy (ie I found the archviz realistic vegetation didn't really do as promised), I have learnt so much from them. Of course, GreyScaleGorilla is where I started (as I think everyone did with C4D ) so I occasionally dip back into them too; just anything really so long as it keeps me on the path. Hopefully in a few months I'll have a bit more to show for myself too.

 

Overall great advice, thanks! May I ask, are you a Cinema user at all?