topic Re: Should I buy Artlantis in Visualization

Should I buy Artlantis

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 11:08:11 GMT

I'm wondering if it is worth it to get artlantis. I have an old copy of artlantis 4 that runs on my old laptop. I have a one person residential practice - doing mostly remodels and additions. Most of my output is black and white with hidden line perspectives. Recently I did some perspectives with shading on and the glass transparent. It didn't take any time and I've been thinking I should improve my presentations. Is artlantis better than the lightworks built into AC10

AC10 mac 2 x 2.66 dual core intel

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dwight — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:35:35 GMT

Get the free fully functioning Demo and find out.

www.abvent.com

Wear a diaper.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:48:09 GMT

With the demo, and until Dwight's book arrives, watch the (tedious) videos on the Artlantis web site to learn how to do things. The online help is only somewhat helpful.

Cheers,
Karl

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

vfrontiers — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:14:13 GMT

Yes!

Here's what I like...

1. Nice skies (without rendering over a picture)
2. I can leave my ARCHICAD file FREE of crap like furniture, people and trees and let ArtLantis take care of that.
3. High polygon counts do not hinder ArtLantis like they do ArchiCAD
4. Cool stuff, like furniture, can be downloaded in .3ds format from the web and converted to ArtLantis objects.
5. Batch Rendering
6. Cars in motion
7. It's fast(er, than ArchiCAD anyway)
8. Radiosity
9. The ability to keep your ArtLantis file as you develop your ArchiCAD file and simply swap out your current building.
10. Great gravity functions for placing trees, cars, etc.

I am sure there's more... Get STUDIO (animations)...

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dwight — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:18:36 GMT

You forgot the best thing: a preview.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dennis Lee — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:54:11 GMT

Two questions I've always had.

1) Seems like artlantis lights are all spot lights, unlike lightworks lights that has general lights, area lights, etc. Is this seemingly limitation a limitation at all?

2) For the budget conscious, does the studio version really come in useful for architects? Never had to do an animation for anybody yet, but is it worth it for a small architecture firm? What about the Quicktime VR or panorama?

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

vfrontiers — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:10:24 GMT

"Spots" can have a light cone of 360degrees... so it's pretty much a general light. I have not experimented a lot with lights as I've done a lot of exterior rendering.

I could not imagine NOT HAVING animation... Not sure I can put a price on though.. I do use animation more than rendering. But for the quick email to the client, then renders are great.

My 2 cents...

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dwight — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:23:56 GMT

You never want to buy the cheap version because of the marvel of having the best features available when someone asks, and the delight of commanding something as impressive as a VR [I'm NOT so impressed with animations unless they are tiny, transitonal parts of otherwise masterful multi-media efforts].

Note: This thinking does not apply to ordering the bubinga wood dashboard accents on your next Buick.

A VR panorama is something the architect totally controls [by choosing a perfect viewpoint], yet the viewer thinks he is driving.

A VR object lets the client encapsulate his little project into a crystalline jewel and imparts deity-like feelings. "He got de whole world in his hands…"

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dwight — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:58:01 GMT

Furthermore, as forwarded to me, this link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7774000.stm

Even though it purports to be an actual design communication, it should really be the topic of my "What Not to Do In Making an Animation" lecture.

Strap in and have airsick bag handy.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dennis Lee — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:47:56 GMT

Thanks. I guess there are always ways to do anything, just have to be a little creative.

vfrontiers wrote:
"Spots" can have a light cone of 360degrees... so it's pretty much a general light. I have not experimented a lot with lights as I've done a lot of exterior rendering.

I could not imagine NOT HAVING animation... Not sure I can put a price on though.. I do use animation more than rendering. But for the quick email to the client, then renders are great.

My 2 cents...

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Eduardo Rolon — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:55:39 GMT

The great Tab/Scene animation dance courtesy of SketchUp with the infamous "shadows of death" bug in full effect.

We don't let our students consider this type of animation worthy of a final presentation.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dennis Lee — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:04:23 GMT

Of course I'd love to buy the Studio version as well. Just have some problem convincing the wife / boss.

Like you said, I don't know if animations are worth it, because it just takes too much effort to make a pleasant one, and kind of cumbersome to present to clients / planning staff. Although the VR stuff does seem to have some potential, I think the main use would always be the still render on printed media for the majority of the presentations.

It just feels like though if I buy the R version, next day the client would say "Gee, I just wish I could move around the space and feel how it would be like..."

Dwight wrote:
You never want to buy the cheap version because of the marvel of having the best features available when someone asks, and the delight of commanding something as impressive as a VR [I'm NOT so impressed with animations unless they are tiny, transitonal parts of otherwise masterful multi-media efforts].

Note: This thinking does not apply to ordering the bubinga wood dashboard accents on your next Buick.

A VR panorama is something the architect totally controls [by choosing a perfect viewpoint], yet the viewer thinks he is driving.

A VR object lets the client encapsulate his little project into a crystalline jewel and imparts deity-like feelings. "He got de whole world in his hands…"

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dwight — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:33:40 GMT

But animations are difficult because the presenter makes them overly complex.

It is easy to understand, because the boss [in your case, spouse] has been cheap: no multi-media or clip editing software in the office. [And no time alloted to assemble the raw material] So you have to do it all in one horrific piece and use your first try. After all, it IS automatic…

What if an animation merely was the segue-like cross fade between hi-resolution stills - with captions? Then you would have something: implied dynamic movement AND actual serene details.

Time for film school.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dennis Lee — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:08:38 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segue

New word for me. Yes, I agree 100%, the VR and the thoughtfully put together animations / fades will definitely tell the "story" in a whole new dimension compared to the still images on print.

It really comes down to time for me. Running a small firm makes you spend time in all kinds of stuff. Right now for example, drawing existing toilet rooms.

I do plan on getting Artlantis though, I really love the ability to create "feelings" of the spaces that I'm designing. I think it's all about lighting, and the real-time (sort of) preview is invaluable in trying to get the right mood out of a scene.

Hopefully I will win the boss over and get the Studio version. I did with two seats of AC, and so far it's been a real success for us.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dwight — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:22:22 GMT

All the best words come from vulgar Latin.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:40:55 GMT

jparchitect wrote:
I'm wondering if it is worth it to get artlantis.

Yes.
As a one man show firm too, double yes.

Using ArchiCad to do the rendering instead of Artlantis is, for me, in the same league as using AutoCad instead of ArchiCad to document the project.

Plain stupid.

😉

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:07:50 GMT

You said:
"Of course I'd love to buy the Studio version as well. Just have some problem convincing the wife / boss. Sad"

If your wife is the boss then you can look at it from 2 sides:

Buy Artlantis and make the Boss/Wife happy with MUCH more quality time. You will win time....thus money ...thus have a happy Boss.

If your relationship with the boss/wife is of a different kind and you rather don't want to gain quality time then don't buy ArtLantis. You will spent more hours in the office and will have much more quality time spending hours alone in your office with just your computer to keep you company.

You decide what you prefer.
All that matters is that YOU want to be happy in the end.

Sjaak

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:34:31 GMT

Or you could buy Artlantis, let the computer do the work, tell the boss you are at the office and go take a beer with your mates.
😉

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Dennis Lee — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:45:20 GMT

Haa! two very good ideas!
Sjaak! I will try to approach the boss from this angle (the first one of course).

Miguel, I don't drink much these days, but I'm always up for sneaking out for a few holes of golf.

Re: Should I buy Artlantis

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:00:06 GMT

Hi Dennis.
Certainly of topic.
My guess is you would not want to golf with me.
A really cool client of mine asked me to go golfing with him a couple of years back.
I said ok, (never done that before), so what the heck.
What I soon found out, to my surprise, was that you had to hit this tiny ball a long,long,long ways into a ridiculously small hole.
Hmm, I thought, you know, the only way I would ever get a "hole" in one was to aim for the lakes!
It worked!
I got several lakes in one. I'm happy!
Client not impressed, (never got asked (to golf) again):-))
BTW, Anyone up for a game of lake golfing?
Bier
ps
Thanks everyone.
It's helping me with my Artlantis fence balancing act.