[deegola]

Just to shake things up, here's one of the new things I have been trying out, your thoughts are (as always) grealy appreciated....

Now, when I go measure, I take lots of digital pics..
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuff/panorama.jpg

I then go into Sketchup and make the house (real quick-like)...sometimes I paste the actual picture onto the sketchup model....but not this time...
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuf...e_Sketched.jpg

And, here's the old school in me...I then print something I can just sketch on..
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuff/hand_sketch.jpg

I then do my typical 3D CAD file...
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuff/DJ_Fun.dwg

And I end up with much more realistic renders (since it includes the house) and I also end up with a nice 1/8" scaled topdown shot I can landscape with my point-and-click junk.
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuff/Segars_Day.jpg
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuff/Segars_Night.jpg
http://www.djdelten.com/new_fun_stuff/TOP.jpg

I have upped to ante lately using nice hi-res sat. pics for the rest of the backgrounds.

There's also a nice FMV I made, but I'll have to like stick that on youtube or something...files too big.

PS - I am leaving the landscape business, so over the next few days I am going to try and keep my promise of posting up all my landscaping desing junk I have made over the last few years....that will go here...
DJ's Library of GOODIES



DJ

[tfld]

Lately, it seems like folks are starting to back away from photo-real graphics and going for more gestural or impressionaistic images, at least in larger scale projects. These projects often require months, if not, years of submittals and revisions, so "not showing too much" is an issue.

[papercutter]

If you're leaving the landscape biz, can I ask what you're going to be doing?

I'm on the fence about the photo-real render thing. I LOVE how they look for interior work (I'm modeling an interior remodel in a PR style), but while I'm not totally sold on exterior PR renders- contractors I've talked to have had a LOT of success with them as a sales tool. It's a tough market, so I think any edge is good to experiment with.

[deegola]

Originally Posted by papercutter

If you're leaving the landscape biz, can I ask what you're going to be doing?

I'm on the fence about the photo-real render thing. I LOVE how they look for interior work (I'm modeling an interior remodel in a PR style), but while I'm not totally sold on exterior PR renders- contractors I've talked to have had a LOT of success with them as a sales tool. It's a tough market, so I think any edge is good to experiment with.

I'm just moving to Architectural rendering...Also, why would you be 'on the fence' about exterior photo-realistic renderings? With a little work, they can look ALOT like the final product. Check this post: Regarding color rendering...
Also, they can be done very fast with just a little practice. Now, with access to hi-res sattelite pics, and digital pictures of the area, it becomes more real. In the post I reference, look at the large render, it's super-imposed righht over a real pic of the guys backyard!

[tfld]

Also,

check the following:

asai.org

dennisallain.com

[papercutter]

DJ- I guess I'm on the fence because of how the rendering engines light the models. I've seen a lot of fabulously rendered interior scenes, and they look almost exactly like photographs. Almost all the rendered exterior scenes I've seen look like amazingly detailed and rendered models. The lighting seems a little cold and sterile, and I think part of the issue is that the models often aren't placed in context. In other words, most of what I've seen are gorgeous models of complex outdoor spaces, plunked on a flat monochrome computer plane.

That said, I've seen the work of a few designers who post-process in Photoshop to actually place the proposed works into a photo of the site and tweak the lighting to match. Looks awesome, but it's again a function of time.

It all comes down to how it fits with your personal style. PR's not me, but I admire the heck out of the folks who do it well. I've had some successes with Kerkythea, but I just like a softer look.

Have you mentioned which rendering engine you use?