Design Visualization: From Concept to Reality Trent Cito – RNL
Code AB4345
LearningObjectivesAt the end of this class, you will be able to:
Leverage Models you are already creating
Implement an efficient visualization workflow using Autodesk® 3ds Max®
Create Hi-quality, Hi-end Renderings (be your own outsource company)
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LeverageModelsyouareAlreadyCreating
UseAutodesk®3dsMax®tobridgethegapbetweendifferentdesignsoftware’s
Autodesk®Revit®
AutoCAD®
Google™SketchUpPro
Rhinoceros®
SoitisnotnecessarilywhatdesignsoftwareyouusejustthatyouprepitforeaseofuseonceyougetitintoMax.
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Iwillusethisprojectasourexampleandwewillessentiallybecreatingthisimage.
WeusedRhino4.0forthesitemodelandGoogleSketchUp8forthebuilding.BothbasedontheAutoCADbasefile.
WhereintheworldamI?
Knowwhatunitsyourprojectisin–imperial/metricandthenkeepitconsistent
(Inthisexampleweusedarch.inchesforourmodelsaswellasMax.)
ModelPrep
BaseyourmodeletiquetteonexistingofficeCADstandards
Applysamelayeringpracticesfor3Dasyouwouldin2D
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InourRhinositemodelIhaveaddeda3d‐prefixtomylayers.Simplydothisforanyobjectyouhavemodeled.DothisforthebuildingfilethatwascreatedinSketchUpaswell.
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SavetheRhinositemodelin.dwgformatmakingsuretowritesurfacesasSolids.IamusingMax2011soIneedtosavethesketchupfileasaversion7fileandwewillbringthenativesketchupfilerightintomax.
MaxSettings
RenderSetupDialogue–CommonTab–AssignrenderertoMentalRayRenderer
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RenderingpulldownGamma/LUTSetup–CheckboxforEnableGamma/LUTcorrection–2.2isagoodindustrystandard
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Renderingpulldown–Environment
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ImportSiteModel
Choose.dwgasthefiletype‐browsetothex‐site.dwg(exportedRhinofile)‐clickok
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Ontheimportoptions,makesuretheMaximumSurfaceDeviationfor3Dsolidshasalownumber.01(forsmootharc’sandcircles)
AlsobringinobjectsasEntity,BlocksasNodeHierarchy–afterfileisloadedsaveasx‐site.max
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HowlayerscomeintoplayinAutodesk®3dsMax®
SelectManageLayers…
SelectfirstlayerandthenSelectHighlightedObjectsandLayers
OpenupMaterialEditor….
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Namematerial then….
AssignmaterialtoSelection ..selectStandard…. Browseto
MentalRaythenArch&DesignMaterial
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InWindowsexplorerbrowsetothemapyouwanttouseforthematerialanddraganddropitintotheDiffuseColorslot,thenShowStandardMapinViewport(rightclicknexttoviewportnameandselectSmooth+Highlights)
GotoModifyTab browsedownandselectUVWMapandthenselectBoxasthemappingtype,use1’6”forthelength,widthandheight.(remember,selectingthegizmoonlyeffectsthematerialplacementandnottheobject)
WiththeobjectstillselectedrightclickobjectandselecttheObjectPropertiesandassign#1totheObjectID:….Dotheabovefortheremaininglayersyouwanttoapplymaterialsto.
AssignDaylightandtestyourmaterials.
GotoCreateTab–selectsystems–Daylight
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PlacedaylightanduseModifyTab–ChangetoMrSunandMrSky–Setuptochangetime,dateandlocation.
RenderSetupDialogue
GotoRenderElementsTab–selectAdd–browsedowntoObjectID–selectOK–thenselectElementsActivebox
Usesmallimagesize1000x714orsmaller
IndirectIlluminationTab–selectEnableFinalGathersettoDraftandEnableGI
HitRender–saveoften
ImportBuildingModel
Createnewfile
Import–Sketchupfile‐ ChecktheCamerasandDaylightSystem…ExtractTexturestoaCommonfolderonyournetworkNOTLOCALHARDDRIVE
SelectDaylightandgotoModifyTab–converttoMrSunandMrSky–Setuptochangetime,dateandlocation
SelectSunandCamerasputthereownlayerandSAVESELECTEDASS‐Scene_day.max
SaveFileasX‐Bldg.max
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ImplementanEfficientVisualizationWorkflowusingAutodesk®3dsMax®
Compartmentalizeyourproject
Filemanagement
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OpenSceneFile(s‐scene_day.max)
GotoReference..
XrefScene
SelecttheSite(x‐site.max)–uncheckLights,CamerasandHelpers–dothesameforthebuilding(x‐bldg.max)
IfyouneedtomovexreffilecreateDummyobjectandbinditwithinthexrefscenedialogue.
AdjustDaylightifneeded
Type‘C’andselectcameratogoto.
OpenupRenderSetupDialogue–MakeimagesizelargerforHi‐resimage–RenderOutputSavefile(choosefilenameandlocation)–RenderElementsselectObjectID–ChangeIndirectIllumination‐FinalGatherfromDrafttoLoworMedium.
Save
Render
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AmbientOcclusionPass
OpenupMaterialEditor–inemptyslot–selectStandard–changetoMentalRay,Arch+Designmaterial–UnderDiffuseColorSlotselectAmbient/ReflectiveOcclusionmaterial–selectok
NameMaterialAO
BringtheReflectionandGlossinessto0
OntheDiffuseColorslotselecttheAmbient/ReflectiveOcclusionMaterial
ChangetheSamplesto56(onlychangeinincrementsof8)
Maxdistancewillvarydependingonscenesize.Setitto5000’
InRenderSetupDialogue
GotoProcessingTab
CheckEnableMaterialOverrideanddragAOmaterialoverasanInstance
Save
RenderoutHi‐Resolution(sameresolutionasaboveimage)
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CreateHi‐quality,Hi‐endRenderings(beyourownoutsourcecompany)
InPhotoshoporothercompositingsoftware
Openupallthreefiles–Imagefile–ObjectIDfile–AmbientOcclusionfile
Combineallimagesintoonefile–namelayersastowhattheyare–putObjectIDbelowall
MaketheAmbientOcclusion(AO)layeramultiplyLayerandgiveitatransparency
Adjustlevelsandattachittoyourbaselayer
AdjustlevelsfortheAOlayer
IsolatetheIDlayer–gotoSelectpulldownandColorRange–selectacolor
Createlayerandfillwithadesiredcolor–makethislayermultiplylayer
UseIDlayerformasking
AddEntourage/landscape/people/background/sky/effects(Iwilloftenuse3dobjectsinsteadofaddingthepostproductionobjects)
AbouttheSpeaker Trent is a practicing Landscape Architect at RNL, a multi-disciplinary international design firm with offices in Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Abu Dhabi. He has applied his techniques to design projects for over 13 years and is the Director of RNL’s design visualization group. He has been published in Landscape Architect and Specifier News and Architect Magazine, and has won numerous awards utilizing his computer visualization techniques. Establishing a flexible design process based on familiar software practices is critical for today’s design professional.
