Aligning a 3D perspective site photo to 3d view?

[rob2218]

so when trying to align a 3D perspective site photo off the google earth "streets view" I used the method indicated on the GS website but when I get to the "align" part, the software tells me "select a photo in plan"......well, I do have the photo selected in plan.....what am I doing wrong?

[Erwin Edel]

Street view photos are some projection of a 360 pano, you are lacking the vanishing points clues to reconstruct it, most likely.

Cropped photos, photomontages/stitched photos won't work either, for similar reason.

The step by step process is described here: http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/guides/archicad-19/archicad-19-int-reference-guide/visualization-2/...

You basically define two verticals in the photo that you know the height and the relative position to the 0 level of your model to.

It is still a fidgety process at best if you do not know the camera angle of the lens and there is lens distortion etc.

I have had more luck modelling the site in rudimentary shapes to have visual clues and setting the picture as background for the 3D window, resizing the 3D window to the aspect ratio of the picture and eyeballing it. I generally ended up having to eyeball it anyway, even using the allign view.

If you want to a really good montage, go out there with a tripod, make a note of where you are standing to take the photo, write down your lens zoom setting and take a whole bunch of pictures.

[Erwin Edel]

If it doesn't have to be a photomontage, and the surroundings are not too complex, you could consider just drafting it up with morphs. If find it rather quick to quesstimate the dimensions of the surrounding buildings, you generally have the footprint from a siteplan drawing, so it's just a matter of guesstimating the heights.

I just treat it like the foam models I'd do back in art-school.

[alemanda]

Erwin ... how is that picture done? Is it done with the sketch engine + "effected" color rendering?

[Erwin Edel]

Photoshop layer effects.

top layer is a tone/saturation/brightness tweak where I tone down the saturation 20% and the brightness up by 5%

under that there is the sketch render set to multiply, in this case 100%

next I used a white model render to subdue all the colours a bit, I put it 50% bleach

then for the real 'magic' Modern Watercolor effect from SparkleStock https://www.photoshoptutorials.ws/downloads/photoshop-actions/free-download-3-awesome-actions-create... I adjust some settings from the final effect as it comes in too blue/oversaturated to my taste. I just want the cinerender to looks less crisp.

bottom is my cinerender

only use the watercolor effect with cinerender layer visible.

Takes about 5 minutes to render and combine in photoshop.

I prefer this over photorealism during the design process. It invites the client to talk about design. Some people don't dare talk about changes if it looks like the project was already built.

[alemanda]

Thanks for sharing!

[Stress Co_]

Well done Erwin.
Technique & design.
+1

[Polasek]

Hey Erwin, older topic, but I try my luck. Setting the picture as background in 3D window seems like reasonable thing, but i was not able to find a way how to do that (only in cinerender). Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Erwin Edel]

In 3D styles (formerly 3D window settings) you need to tick 'As in Photorendering' under 'Background'

[Polasek]

You are great. Thanks!