Favorite way of working from architect's prints

[Darttman]

So what form of information do people most come across in the field to create architectural renderings? such as autocad files, blueprints, drawings, file types?

How difficult is it to work with all the different file extensions out there? I see alot of people using 3ds to create architectural models why is this? It seems to me LW is more "suited" for rendering al the lights and surfaces.

I am just trying find some information to help me with my modeling in this area

Thanks

[Exception]

Hm, the most common file format I encounter is definately DWG. There is not one definite way to get this into lightwave and usually cleaning it up in autocad and converting and so forth takes more time than to create the design from scratch.

There are several ways of transforming DWG to lightwave, none is perfect. The DXF importer in Lightwave is so bad I dont even bother with that one anymore. Accutrans 3D is a great tool and converts most formats nicely. Also I tend to go through illustrator and use the EPS import plugin.

But mostly I jsut do it on sight. Alt-tabbing between autocad and lightwave.

I do get hand drawings often, or printed out cad files. Occasionally there is the Vectorworks file, which are very nice and usually in pdf format, easily viewable. I create a screenshot and put it in the background. This has one large disadvantage, and this is purely newtek's fault for not listening to us for years: the resolution is often not high enough for the background image. Crap!

Other than that I get Archicad 3d models occasionaly to work from.


I always like to work from handdrawings the best. they tend to highlight what is important and what is not the best.

[nthused]

A quick trick with PDFs. Open them in Photoshop at the desired resolution. Clean up and save out in desired format.

I create posters for my land planning renderings this way - printing as PDFs in AutoCAD. Works like a charm at 150 to 300 dpi and D sized sheets (24x36)

Very clean

[nthused]

Since I have AutoCAD at the office I use it to clean up the drawings that are transmitted electronically - I then export as 3ds for the buildings, and dxf R12 for the parking lot lines. For large drawings, I'll isolate layers and export the model in different pieces. Though this sounds like a hassle, it creates a lot cleaner, more managable models once in LW.

Depending on the quality of the 3ds model, I'll use it as a starting point, adding details (windows, doors, trim, etc...) to the model in LW.

I use the 2d DXF lines as a guide for creating streets and parking lots as well as pavement markings. (If the site has a lot of topographic relief, I use CADEasy's 3d site program for roads and parking lots and export as a 3ds model).

If the file is received as a print I'll scan it and use it as a background for modeling reference.

[robk]

I use Autocad for all major building elements and then save off a version 12 dxf file from autocad which I then run through Accutrans3D to produce a Lightwave or Imagine file depending on what program I am using for rendering the project.
If you use solids in autocad (which I avoid like the plague) the file or at least the layers with solids in them have to be saved out as a .3ds file. The problem with that is there in no control of segmenting of arcs for solids whereas if I use the ver 12 dxf format Accutrans gives me total control of the amount of faceting on arcs.
Wayne Hogue (Accutrans3D's Authour) has recently added support for regions in the lateset version. I had asked him if he could add regions about a month ago and he gave me an updated version to try about a day later. You still have to save out as a version 12 dxf though since regions are written out differntly in later version dxf files. I always save out as version 12 dxf to be safe.
Wayne also has good tools for flipping polygons to face the way you want them so you can usually flip most of them before you save out as a Lightwave file.
Wayne's program is top notch and I have been using it for the last 9 years or so. He originally wrote it for my former partner and myself to convert autocad dxf files to Imagine files for rendering. Wayne is constantly updating Accutrans and it is worth way more than the paltry amount he is asking for it.

[neilp]

I usally get my hands on dwg autocad files. I then open directly into form z and model over the top of elevations and plans. I find form z very very fast and accurate for architectural modelling with all the usual accurate cad snap tools, extrusions and booleans. I am an avid LW user but LW modeller is geared more for organics and character building where pinpoint accuracy i feel is not set in stone (excuse the pun) I then take my model from FZ and export as a fact file (no triangulation) which makes the LW model clean and manouverable and then surface and texture in modeller. I then light and articulate the model in layout.
See some results at www.visualimpactuk.com
I reckon I can model accurately in FZ at least 10x faster than LW modeller, Im not blowing my own here but in the commercial environment time is money!
OK you may say FZ is another expenditure, but you will soon make your investment pay even over a couple of projects once youve cracked the FZ modelling learning curve. Why LW to light, render and texture then? well in this department LW wins hands down. The LW render engine, radiosity and GI are your boys!
If only LW had inbuilt cad accurate architectural modelling tools (without poor third party plugins) then my dreams would be made true. :)
Come on Newtek lets blur those lines between virtual and reality...Get autocad friendly!!!!!

[Dodgy]

I've done a lot of 2d dwg to LW modelling in the last few months, and I'd found using the free dwg to dxf converter from www.opendwg.org then importing to LW is quick and effective. I then just use extrusions and the new poly make command to seal any holes and everything's groovy :)

[Matt]

I find this route pretty easy and accurate:

DWG -> Illustrator -> EPS (v8) -> LightWave

[neilp]

hey guys, smell the coffee....LW is a great render engine, I'll stick to my guns on this one. FZ knocks the bollox off LW modeller for archi viz .ai .eps .dxf .dwg import or whatever. FZ is your modeller! lose your bucks at your will..
But c'mon Newtek listen....please

[Exception]

What is FZ? Never heard of it.
I think LW is excellent for Architectural modeling. I am at least 10 times faster in LW than anyone in MAx could ever hope to be when modeling a building.

Dodgy: what new poly command do you use? I must have missed it.

[neilp]

Form Z is the software i,m talkin bout

[Darttman]

Very interesting, thanks for all the replies.
Makes me think about how to approach some prints of buildings I did back in college in AutoCAD 14. It will be neeto to see some of those prints come to life! I understand that parametric modeling is a beast to convert and keep all the integrity of the files intact, but architecture drawings from the industry is AutoCAD like it or not and it just seems clunky to do all the export voodoo to get it into Lightwave.

Here is great way to see how all the varied ways are achieved to get into Lightwave because we all really like this rendering engine!

Thanks for the "recipes" for work arounds folks.

[ingo]

Well most of my clients give me prints or VektorWorks files, only one with AutoCad. So having a copy of VW is essential for me, and it can read most dwg files easily too. Than i export some of these files into FormZ for modelling. In the end i just import those modells into Lightwave and push the "make-nice-scene-and-render-nice-picture" button ;)

[omeone]

Sometimes I print the CAD file A0, pin it to the wall, take a photo of it and load it as a backdrop in Modeler. lazy but quick (if you sit beside a HP DesignJet anyway)

[Exception]

omeone:

why don't you just print it to PNG in autocad? Saves paper, ink, digital camera batteries, time, and effort....

[omeone]

dont use AutoCAD (thank god!)

I'll always print a copy anyway as its easier for me to read a drawing off paper, scribble on, etc.

The backdrop image is just to help constrain proportions, most of the detail is done by eyeballing the 'pin-up'

I used to convert all my CAD files to electronically to something LW could use, but it was too inconsistent, personally Im faster doing them from scratch and can trust the integrity of the model that way.

I usually dont need the degree of accuracy from a CAD file either.

and considering I work in a drawing office surrounded by about 40 CAD users, who dont do any work, I'm the only one keeping the plotters warmed up :)

[ddho1981]

i do the majority of my arch modeling in Sketchup . . . started that a couple years ago. some detail-oriented things I still do in lw, but in general everything is a ton easier to model in SU.

[kopperdrake]

From paper plans is nice and 'hands-on'...you can get a real feel for the site layout then too when you're constantly looking at it :)

But as for digital files, .ai files are good, plus bog standard dxf!

As for using anything other than modeller for modelling in (re FormZ)...not too bothered about that as it's constantly backwards and forwards between layout and modeller for tweaking so I'm happy to do it all on one package :) Especially with FPrime busy working away :) (Which reminds me...I *need* more RAM!)

Dunk

[antwik-2]

To you Darttman who started this tread.
I think you just need a idea. No material no files.
Make a simpel concept sketch of your idea, it dosent have to be advanced at all it could be painted from the top view.

And then modell it from scratch in lightwave, its a great software for this purpose.
Its all about the idea.

Check this out to see how i architectural scene can be built up from scratch.
http://vbulletin.newtek.com/showthread.php?t=30849

[Dodgy]

Did you get the right link there antwik?

[kopperdrake]

Good point :)