Render in AutoCad

P.R.S. Sivakumar · September 2nd, 2003

I am a SOHO Architect practising in a a small city in India. Apart from using AutoCad for design & drafting, every now and then I do modelling & photorealistic renderings within AutoCad itself. I have been in search of an answer for the last few years for the following question: When there is built-in photorealistic rendering capabilities within AutoCad itself, why are many of the visualisers resorting to Viz or Max for rendering? I do not need animation nor any fancy lighting effects. Many of my friends advised me to switch over to Viz or Max for rendering.So I attended a course (in an Autodesk authorised center)in Viz. Even after that I am still convinced that my AutoCad rendered images (which do contain lot of textures, background, landscape objects, people, etc. including reflections, shadows etc. at 3600 x 2700 resolutions) are as good as Viz rendered images. So why switch over to Viz? Are many of the users biased against AutoCad renderings just because they learnt renderings in Viz/Max right from the start without ever exploring the possibilities within AutoCad itself? Software is frightfully expensive to us Indians. As a legal user of AutoCad I would like to stick to this single package for rendering also. Am I wrong? Please guide me to take a decision. This is my first entry into any forum and my first question also. Hope I am not troubling with a very long question. Thanks in advance for everyone.

Allen Bussell · September 2nd, 2003

P.R.S.,
You're very correct. If you are getting the quality of rendering that keeps you competitive and that your clients are happy with - then stay with what you have. At the same time,(as you seem to be doing) keep your software options open for better and faster ways of serving your clients visualization needs.
I'm not very familiar at all with Viz versus AutoCAD, as we use Lightwave for rendering and most modeling. The reason for using Lightwave is that it's toolset was more intuitive and faster than AutoCAD - for me.

John Dollus · September 2nd, 2003

Just a personal observation:
For many rendering artists, the CAD interface can seem clunky and some artists feel it places too many limitations on the creator that slow down the creative process.

Arnel · September 2nd, 2003

Hi P.R.S. won't you mind posting some of your best images in autocad render.

Honestly speaking, if you think that what you have produced in autocad render is more or less the same as what you can produced in Viz/Max, then i would say that the learning center taught you the basic of viz/max only. Autocad render is in no way match not even half of what viz/max can do in terms of photorealistice render.

P.R.S. Sivakumar · September 2nd, 2003

Hi Arnel
I am posting one of my Autocad rendered images here for your comments. Thanks.
PRSS.http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...JC-8x12-72.jpg

P.R.S. Sivakumar · September 2nd, 2003

http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...-8x12-72_1.jpg
I think I did not post the image correctly. Hence I am posting it again

Jeff Mottle · September 2nd, 2003

Here's what I posted in the VIZ forum. I think everyone's elses comments pretty say the same. Also,PLEASE do not post to multiple forums with the same question.

I think whether using AutoCAD or VIZ/MAX is really a matter of how you are using them and what you and your clients are looking for. It sounds to me that your clients are not after ultra-photrealistic renderings with advanced lighting or animations, but rather massing studies. If AutoCAD does what you need it to do, then by all means use it. If on the other hand you do need to be able to use third party renderers, do complex modelling, animations etc then a program like VIZ/MAX is going to be your only option as AutoCAD was never designed to meet those needs.

vizwhiz · September 2nd, 2003

hi There

P.R.S. Sivakumar

check This out, a Link to some Max work

http://www.3designarchitect.com/HTML...%20lk%2001.htm

main link:

http://www.3designarchitect.com/

There are others at This same site to look at too:
Alex Gunawan at 3designdarchitect.com does some amazing arch visualization work

with your skills i am sure That you can do the same too with Viz/Max

look here in Jeff's Gallery and see what others are doing,

http://www.cgarchitect.com/gallery/galleryList.asp

i learn by looking at looking at all of the impressive images and try to figure out how they do This

Then asking questions and reading the messages really helps to get more Ideas

Randy

P.R.S. Sivakumar · September 2nd, 2003

http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...-8x12-72_2.jpg
http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...le=KdRd-72.jpg
Dear Mr.Jeff Mottle
Please kindly see my Autocad rendered images posted here. They are not massing studies. Your comments will be highly valuable to me. Sorry for posting the same question in two different forums. I didn't know where exactly to post this kind of question.

Arnel · September 2nd, 2003

Oh please P.R.S., as what Jeff said If both of you (you and your clients) are happy with what you can produced with autocad then use it by all means.

All we can say is have a look at the gallery and judge it by yourself.

September 2nd, 2003	#2 (permalink)
Allen Bussell Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ponder, Texas Age: 47 Posts: 60 Name: Allen Bussell	P.R.S., You're very correct. If you are getting the quality of rendering that keeps you competitive and that your clients are happy with - then stay with what you have. At the same time,(as you seem to be doing) keep your software options open for better and faster ways of serving your clients visualization needs. I'm not very familiar at all with Viz versus AutoCAD, as we use Lightwave for rendering and most modeling. The reason for using Lightwave is that it's toolset was more intuitive and faster than AutoCAD - for me. __________________ Allen www.nthused.com "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

September 2nd, 2003	#7 (permalink)
Jeff Mottle President/Founder Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 5,059 Name: Jeff Mottle	Here's what I posted in the VIZ forum. I think everyone's elses comments pretty say the same. Also,PLEASE do not post to multiple forums with the same question. I think whether using AutoCAD or VIZ/MAX is really a matter of how you are using them and what you and your clients are looking for. It sounds to me that your clients are not after ultra-photrealistic renderings with advanced lighting or animations, but rather massing studies. If AutoCAD does what you need it to do, then by all means use it. If on the other hand you do need to be able to use third party renderers, do complex modelling, animations etc then a program like VIZ/MAX is going to be your only option as AutoCAD was never designed to meet those needs. __________________ Jeff Mottle CGarchitect.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

September 2nd, 2003	#1 (permalink)
P.R.S. Sivakumar Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madurai, Tamilnadu State, INDIA. Posts: 92 Name: P.R.S. Sivakumar .	I am a SOHO Architect practising in a a small city in India. Apart from using AutoCad for design & drafting, every now and then I do modelling & photorealistic renderings within AutoCad itself. I have been in search of an answer for the last few years for the following question: When there is built-in photorealistic rendering capabilities within AutoCad itself, why are many of the visualisers resorting to Viz or Max for rendering? I do not need animation nor any fancy lighting effects. Many of my friends advised me to switch over to Viz or Max for rendering.So I attended a course (in an Autodesk authorised center)in Viz. Even after that I am still convinced that my AutoCad rendered images (which do contain lot of textures, background, landscape objects, people, etc. including reflections, shadows etc. at 3600 x 2700 resolutions) are as good as Viz rendered images. So why switch over to Viz? Are many of the users biased against AutoCad renderings just because they learnt renderings in Viz/Max right from the start without ever exploring the possibilities within AutoCad itself? Software is frightfully expensive to us Indians. As a legal user of AutoCad I would like to stick to this single package for rendering also. Am I wrong? Please guide me to take a decision. This is my first entry into any forum and my first question also. Hope I am not troubling with a very long question. Thanks in advance for everyone.

September 2nd, 2003	#3 (permalink)
John Dollus Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tampa Age: 38 Posts: 619 Name: John Dollus	Just a personal observation: For many rendering artists, the CAD interface can seem clunky and some artists feel it places too many limitations on the creator that slow down the creative process.

September 2nd, 2003	#4 (permalink)
Arnel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Philippines Posts: 182 Name: Arnel Aguel	Hi P.R.S. won't you mind posting some of your best images in autocad render. Honestly speaking, if you think that what you have produced in autocad render is more or less the same as what you can produced in Viz/Max, then i would say that the learning center taught you the basic of viz/max only. Autocad render is in no way match not even half of what viz/max can do in terms of photorealistice render.

September 2nd, 2003	#5 (permalink)
P.R.S. Sivakumar Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madurai, Tamilnadu State, INDIA. Posts: 92 Name: P.R.S. Sivakumar .	Hi Arnel I am posting one of my Autocad rendered images here for your comments. Thanks. PRSS.http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...JC-8x12-72.jpg

September 2nd, 2003	#6 (permalink)
P.R.S. Sivakumar Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madurai, Tamilnadu State, INDIA. Posts: 92 Name: P.R.S. Sivakumar .	http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...-8x12-72_1.jpg I think I did not post the image correctly. Hence I am posting it again

September 2nd, 2003	#8 (permalink)
vizwhiz Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: arizona usa, earth/universe Age: 56 Posts: 1,009 Name: Randy Sanders	hi There P.R.S. Sivakumar check This out, a Link to some Max work http://www.3designarchitect.com/HTML...%20lk%2001.htm main link: http://www.3designarchitect.com/ There are others at This same site to look at too: Alex Gunawan at 3designdarchitect.com does some amazing arch visualization work with your skills i am sure That you can do the same too with Viz/Max look here in Jeff's Gallery and see what others are doing, http://www.cgarchitect.com/gallery/galleryList.asp i learn by looking at looking at all of the impressive images and try to figure out how they do This Then asking questions and reading the messages really helps to get more Ideas Randy

September 2nd, 2003	#9 (permalink)
P.R.S. Sivakumar Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madurai, Tamilnadu State, INDIA. Posts: 92 Name: P.R.S. Sivakumar .	http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...-8x12-72_2.jpg http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/fil...le=KdRd-72.jpg Dear Mr.Jeff Mottle Please kindly see my Autocad rendered images posted here. They are not massing studies. Your comments will be highly valuable to me. Sorry for posting the same question in two different forums. I didn't know where exactly to post this kind of question.

September 2nd, 2003	#10 (permalink)
Arnel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Philippines Posts: 182 Name: Arnel Aguel	Oh please P.R.S., as what Jeff said If both of you (you and your clients) are happy with what you can produced with autocad then use it by all means. All we can say is have a look at the gallery and judge it by yourself.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)