Visualizing ArchitectureVisualizing Architecture

Presented By:Presented By:

Rasha mohamed Mohamed shabanRasha mohamed Mohamed shaban

By: Elizabeth Bollinger

Web Address:http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0410/tools_1-1.html

Topic Number: 134

Date: 10 April 2002                     

Visualizing ArchitectureVisualizing Architecture

For years, Andrea Starkey For years, Andrea Starkey

had relied on pen-and-ink had relied on pen-and-ink and watercolor to create and watercolor to create renderings for builders, renderings for builders, architects, and local architects, and local home shows. But as home shows. But as computer technology computer technology improved, she began improved, she began looking for ways to speed looking for ways to speed up the rendering process.up the rendering process.

After a few months of After a few months of experimenting with various experimenting with various digital design tools, her firm digital design tools, her firm settled on DesignWorkshop settled on DesignWorkshop by Aby Artifice, incrtifice, inc. and Art*lantis . and Art*lantis by by Advent, inc.Advent, inc.

manual methods had manual methods had become monotonous, become monotonous, "especially at times when a "especially at times when a homebuilder wanted six homebuilder wanted six variations of the same housevariations of the same house

or an architect would or an architect would change their mind about the change their mind about the view they wanted to show. view they wanted to show. I'd have to redraw the I'd have to redraw the perspective, which could be perspective, which could be very time consuming. She very time consuming. She think she will use them only think she will use them only to determine the best to determine the best perspective view before perspective view before rendering in watercolor. rendering in watercolor. after using both 3D after using both 3D modeling and rendering she modeling and rendering she found it match previous found it match previous works.works.

• Searching for Digital AlternativesSearching for Digital Alternatives

Starkey tried several 3D modelers. Her previous computer Starkey tried several 3D modelers. Her previous computer experience had been exclusively with 2D graphics, and experience had been exclusively with 2D graphics, and she felt overwhelmed by the interface and technicalities she felt overwhelmed by the interface and technicalities of almost every demo package she tried. of almost every demo package she tried.

Then she discovered Then she discovered design workshopdesign workshop and was able to and was able to jump right in. She began making rough models after jump right in. She began making rough models after spending just an hour or two going through the tutorial. spending just an hour or two going through the tutorial. From the beginning, the process of building a model and From the beginning, the process of building a model and viewing it from every perspective felt gratifying.viewing it from every perspective felt gratifying.

Starkey found Working directly Starkey found Working directly in three dimensions took a in three dimensions took a little getting used to, but the little getting used to, but the ease with which she was ease with which she was able to alternate between able to alternate between views and manipulate views and manipulate objects in 3D helped to objects in 3D helped to speed up the learning speed up the learning process. She found she process. She found she couldn't wait to get objects couldn't wait to get objects modeled so she could see modeled so she could see how they looked when how they looked when rendered with textures and rendered with textures and shadow casting. shadow casting.

DesignWorkshop's same click-DesignWorkshop's same click-and-drag interface is and-drag interface is available for both Macintosh available for both Macintosh and Windows platforms and and Windows platforms and for a range of applications for a range of applications from a downloadable, from a downloadable, upgradeable free version to upgradeable free version to production modeling and production modeling and photorealistic rendering for photorealistic rendering for the design professional. the design professional. DesignWorkshop integrates DesignWorkshop integrates smoothly with all the major smoothly with all the major high-end CAD, rendering, high-end CAD, rendering, and animation systems.and animation systems.

• Adding More RealismAdding More Realism

Starkey used DesignWorkshop Starkey used DesignWorkshop for final rendering but found for final rendering but found herself doing further editing herself doing further editing in Photoshop because she in Photoshop because she wasn't getting the wasn't getting the photorealistic look she was photorealistic look she was seeking. so she looked for a seeking. so she looked for a compatible renderer to use compatible renderer to use on a project with a lot of on a project with a lot of glass for which she wanted glass for which she wanted reflections, transparency, reflections, transparency, and more control over and more control over lighting. lighting.

She selected Art*lantis as a She selected Art*lantis as a rendering tool She liked the rendering tool She liked the ability to see changes in ability to see changes in textures and lights in real textures and lights in real time. she finds it time. she finds it fast,accessible,simple and fast,accessible,simple and flexible. lighting model flexible. lighting model features global illumination, features global illumination, integrating the multiple integrating the multiple effects of light Thus, each effects of light Thus, each element of a 3D scene affects element of a 3D scene affects the color and brightness of the color and brightness of other elements, resulting in other elements, resulting in the photorealistic result. the photorealistic result.

She finds DesignWorkshop and Art*lantis to be a good She finds DesignWorkshop and Art*lantis to be a good combination for several reasons.the two systems combination for several reasons.the two systems together offer the same quality as packages .so She together offer the same quality as packages .so She speaks highly of the companies' technical support it was speaks highly of the companies' technical support it was invaluable in getting good advice from other users. invaluable in getting good advice from other users. Starkey's firm uses Windows and Macintosh, and they Starkey's firm uses Windows and Macintosh, and they have had no problem using both platforms. She reports have had no problem using both platforms. She reports that some things seem to work faster in Windows and that some things seem to work faster in Windows and others work better on the Mac. To transfer models others work better on the Mac. To transfer models created in DesignWorkshop into Art*lantis for rendering created in DesignWorkshop into Art*lantis for rendering she typically exports the model in 3D DXF format, This she typically exports the model in 3D DXF format, This approach speeds the assignment of textures in Art*lantisapproach speeds the assignment of textures in Art*lantis

• The Firm's WorkThe Firm's Work

One of Starkey's big clients is One of Starkey's big clients is Soundfold, a company that Soundfold, a company that fabricates and installs acoustical fabricates and installs acoustical wall panels. After receiving a wall panels. After receiving a drawing file and color and drawing file and color and material selection from the material selection from the customer, Starkey create a panel customer, Starkey create a panel design. She uses Art*lantis with design. She uses Art*lantis with textures she's created in textures she's created in Photoshop to simulate commonly Photoshop to simulate commonly used fabrics. Soundfold shows used fabrics. Soundfold shows their customer the photorealistic their customer the photorealistic renderings of different renderings of different perspectives and color options.perspectives and color options.

The big difference between drawing in 2D and 3D ,Views in The big difference between drawing in 2D and 3D ,Views in 3D provide the client a better sense of balance in colors 3D provide the client a better sense of balance in colors and materials. and materials.

For the past six years, Starkey has been producing For the past six years, Starkey has been producing renderings for the local Home Builders .The project that renderings for the local Home Builders .The project that used to take four to six weeks of drawing and painting used to take four to six weeks of drawing and painting now takes only one to two. She found that the now takes only one to two. She found that the DesignWorkshop/ Art*lantis combination can be effective DesignWorkshop/ Art*lantis combination can be effective in creating proposals because the client can make in creating proposals because the client can make changes to the model throughout development and have changes to the model throughout development and have more option which views are presented. This flexibility is more option which views are presented. This flexibility is especially important when the client provides rough especially important when the client provides rough plans or no plans at all, just ideas. plans or no plans at all, just ideas.

One current project nicely One current project nicely summarizes the range summarizes the range

capabilities of capabilities of DesignWorkshop and DesignWorkshop and Art*lantis working together. Art*lantis working together. For a proposed museum, For a proposed museum, the finished presentation the finished presentation will consist of three to five will consist of three to five boards and a CD-ROM boards and a CD-ROM containing animations. The containing animations. The project takes full advantage project takes full advantage of the palette of tools for of the palette of tools for architectural rendering. architectural rendering.