Autodesk 3D Max -

Autodesk 3D Max Design

Design and technology as one.

Architectural and design drawings are made to brings out an idea into a visual piece of information. Ideas are thrown on papers, drawn in sketches to get a rough picture of a certain design, and then develop into technical drawings, with measurements and details. This visual information are then used to construct and built the idea from just a simple matter of notion into a reality. However, how could these constructive drawings be appealing to a layman eyes? In order to sell the ideas, send you pure idea across to a person who have the slightest clue of your intention and make it believable, gain trust and funds to built, a complex technical drawings won’t be able to appeal much as to perspective drawings. An artist impression of these technical drawings is used to send this message and sell the idea of a certain design.

For years, hand drawn perspective drawings are used to make design appealing and sellable, and through these years,technology finally catches up with these intentions. 3D softwares are introduces aligned with the progress of computer technology and softwares programming. 3D softwares are commonly used in the architectural, design and development industries nowadays. It helps to make realistic visual of certain design or concept from proposal. From the initial stages of creating a space or designing a building, to the purpose of selling the idea and getting approval for the project, to the promotion of the project and even advertising purposes to the public.

Hand drawn perspective

Graphic perspective

                The visual differences are plain to see to compare a hand drawn perspective and a computerized graphic perspective. It does not only make the design appealing and sellable, but also realistic.

Autodesk 3D Max Design

Autodesk 3Ds Max, formerly 3D Studio Max, is a 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, and images. It has modeling capabilities and frequently used by video game developers, commercial studios and architectural visualization studios. The latest version of 3ds Max also features shaders (such as ambient occlusion and subsurface scattering), dynamic simulation, particle systems, radiosity, normal map creation and rendering, and global illumination.

This software enables to do 3D modeling and create a graphic visual complete with a realistic rendering outcome.

                                  

Initiating a 3D Perspective

                A small organization might need the architect or designer be able to create the concept, produce the material boards and finishes, and develop a graphic visual for presentation purposes. However in a bigger scale organization, job specification might affect directly as the architect and designer to create the concept, design and produce technical drawings, and having a 3D maker, solely produce the graphic perspectives. There are also organizations that focusing only in producing these 3D visual, whereby developers or architecture and design firm could outsource from them.

                In the beginning, sketches are drawn manually, and develop roughly on computer, by using simple 3D making softwares such as Sketch-Up, just to have a basic space and design on a graphic visual. As the design develop, and technical drawings are drawn, a list of finishing materials are selected to the proposed design to match the concept. This finishes mainly involve the floor, wall and ceilings materials. Fit-outs for electrical and relevant wares are also selected and proposed to create a better understanding of the space. Finally the soft finishes are proposed such as furnitures, carpets or plants. These informations are vital inputs gathered that help the 3D maker to visualize the architect or designer intention and create the ambience in the 3D program.

Making a 3D Drawings

                 Technical drawings are needed to start the 3D perspective graphic drawing.The technical drawing gives detailed measurement of the building or space that needs to be visually constructed. For an instance, Autodesk 3D Max support drawing details from Autocad program. Therefore, technical drawing drawn for construction purposes could also be used for the graphic construction as well.

                The technical drawings are transferred into the planar in the Autodesk 3D Max, as a guideline as to start the graphic construction. As for example, to create a space with a movable partition, a complete set of drawing is needed, consists the plan and section drawing of the room, with the details of the partition and its design. This is an example of a musolla and having a detailed partition in the middle of the room to separate the space for male and female praying area. The partition having an intricate design and are build as a movable partition. The intention of the 3D is to be able to express this design to a visual perspective.

                The drawing then will be develop and builtup the construction lines of the area, the partition and every detailed lines that will be constructed technically in the real life. Once the line are drawn out, the software are able to compute it into an object, wall, floor and ceilings and thus create it into a contained space. From the technical drawing, any electrical fit outs such as location of the lightings are determined.

                Initially the objects and features in the 3D could be assigned with bold colours. These could help in roughly visualizing the space and make it easier to work upon, since the file is lighter. The material and finishes board selected previously will provide the input needed for the next step. Autodesk 3D Max have a selection of materials provided to be used, however if there is special materials involve, one could just scan the respective material to be assigned later on. Selected materials images are pick out and put in the materials list, to be assigned at respective object, or the floor, wall and ceiling.

                The rendering stage is the final stage in this 3D process. The view is to be confirmed, as a 3D drawing could get view from any angle. A great perspective would show the best of the intention for the space, with a line of perspective that emphasize the grandeur of the space. Now the room has been constructed, the material is picked out, the fittings are allocated accordingly and the view of the best perspective is confirmed, rendering would be carried out. Normally, a simple render, meaning a small space, with less details and materials would take shorter time comparing with bigger scale of perspective with many details and elements, especially when lights, involved.

                As for example, a 3D perspective of a building is much more tedious and complicated, as the whole building need to be constructed. There are many details involved, and the space widths of materials need to cover is bigger compare to a room. When rendering the materials applied are also definitely affected with the lighting of daylight or nighttime, and as such this will acquire more time.

                     In the end, the 3D image will be edited in software such as the Photoshop to add the background, or superimposed it to the real background. Other editing, such lighting, fixtures, human images, objects, plants and trees could also add up to make the image more lively, vibrant and exciting.

Step by Step 3D Making

1.       Insert all relevant technical drawings.

2.       Built up the planes of the drawing.

  

3.       Construct the skeleton of the drawing.

4.       Add in walls and other built ups to frame the drawing.

5.       Add roof and materials.

6.       Pick the best view.

7.       Render the drawing.

The 3D outcome could be finalized and edited into a suitable environment to make it realistic.

 
 

Autdesk 3D Max in Architectural, Design & Development Industry

Manually drawn staircase

Graphic 3D drawing can change its angle and view easily

                This technology have shown much positive impact and beneficial towards the industry. For example, the image above on the left show a complicated detail perspective drawing of a staircase. Manually drawn perspectives not only tedious to be drawn, it also only offers one view at a time, need to be manually rendered and time consuming. However, using a 3D modeling software, like Autodesk 3D Max Design, simplified things. One drawing could offer many options of outcome, such as variety of views, outside and inside the building, can be computed just the technical 3D lines, or plain surfaces and objects, rendered to with elements and also edited to perfections. The result could be used as mere conceptual idea right down to realistic image used for promotion.

                As one drawing can be edited as pleased, and as design always changes through stages, using this 3D program, also helps in defining the project thorough its design phases. As the design further develop as an architectural, conceptual or engineering reasons, or change as the clients or developers requested, it is less time consuming and the end result are accurately produced.

                The program also have its own downside to it. The cost to obtain the license of this program is very expensive, and could cost up to RM 13,000. The program is also highly depending on the computer and its capability and capacity, thus to run a 3D program, a high powered computer is needed. And the mastermind behind these works, the 3D maker. An experienced 3D programmer could compute a vision of artwork. Training is to be provided to less experience and this would add cost to the company.