Built-in 3D in archicad?

[cocoloco]

Hello I have question about built-in add-on inside of archicad for 3D. I don't expect much of this 3D (not 3ds max quality but some decent 3D that are representable).  I guess I am a bit confused.

I know it has some sort of standard build-in 3D (it is just ok to me without making difference between elevation and that 3d tool). I am aware there is also Cinema 4D but I am little confused about how it is used. My intention was to create the 3d's inside of archicad and not using another software/application.

Isn't the Cinema 4D meant to be used integrated inside of archicad?

If not, is there another "free" addon that can be used inside? 

[cocoloco]

thank you! I am going to look over the Twinmotion. I know it is an "outside"software but I understand there is plug-in that transfer it live, without any issues and making it quite convenient? (Instead save as > import and export back and forward? 

[rm]

Keep in mind I’ve used Twinmotion many times, on the macOS. It definitely runs better in the windows environment and offers better functionality. Even on a Mac Studio that is well spec’d, I can easily crash Twinmotion.  Constantly save your file as you work in Twinmotion.

As a reference, I’m also a professional colorist for broadcast television sports. I run DaVinci Resolve with 6TB files, with no hiccups at all, and frankly ArchiCAD runs very well on the same Mac.

[jl_lt]

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@cocoloco wrote:

Hello I have question about built-in add-on inside of archicad for 3D. I don't expect much of this 3D (not 3ds max quality but some decent 3D that are representable).  I guess I am a bit confused.

I know it has some sort of standard build-in 3D (it is just ok to me without making difference between elevation and that 3d tool). I am aware there is also Cinema 4D but I am little confused about how it is used. My intention was to create the 3d's inside of archicad and not using another software/application.

Isn't the Cinema 4D meant to be used integrated inside of archicad?

If not, is there another "free" addon that can be used inside? 

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@cocoloco wrote:

Hello I have question about built-in add-on inside of archicad for 3D. I don't expect much of this 3D (not 3ds max quality but some decent 3D that are representable).  I guess I am a bit confused.

I know it has some sort of standard build-in 3D (it is just ok to me without making difference between elevation and that 3d tool). I am aware there is also Cinema 4D but I am little confused about how it is used. My intention was to create the 3d's inside of archicad and not using another software/application.

Isn't the Cinema 4D meant to be used integrated inside of archicad?

If not, is there another "free" addon that can be used inside? 

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this one is not going to be popular, but for some reason i actually like the creative image suite very much.  Under certain circumstances and type of projects it can give you more than enough to work with.

[Erwin Edel]

We use cinerender with custom scenes for several renders that we overlay in photoshop. It does reasonably well with a multicore CPU in my experience. Render times of 1 to 2 minutes for a 195x135 mm 300 dpi image (exterior render). We see no need to render larger images. Most images get viewed on devices and screens that are roughly HD and it still prints sharp on a full A4 sheet.

These are renders that we expect to reproduce many times over the course of a project for the client.

The out of the box scenes in ArchiCAD are (were?) really poorly optimised for cinerender.

A typical impression takes me about 5 minutes to piece together. They have more of a 'sketch watercolour' look than true photorealism.

[Lingwisyer]

Yeah, people often don't consider how the image will be viewed and spend extra time rendering higher resolutions than needed with detail that would not be seen unless you are zooming into everything...

[jl_lt]

exactly, and sometimes those watercolor sketchy images is all you need, specially on early stages

[cocoloco]

Thank you, unfortunately macOS user here. I actually could not complete installing the twinmotion as I suppose to download first some other app (epic game launcher), and then download twinmotion - but the epic game was relaunching on loop for 30mins.😆 

….
then I proceeded back to archicad with the ugly low res renderings and called it a day. 🥹🥲 it’s for secondary rooms so no hate (it explains the intend to builder enough) but I was definitely surprised of what quality Archicad makes. I know Archicad is not rendering software but thought it could do a little bit more. 

[mikas]

I believe cinerender was introduced in AC18. It was a huge step forward. I loved the new engine. I have used a lot and still do. Of course, I use Twin Motion too; it's ridiculously fast, and their latest Path Tracer improves the quality a lot.

I think you can use internal cinerender as of today still. It requires a lot of tuning with materials and lighting, and especially the rendering settings in interior scenes with lights. And you do need lights with interior scenes, otherwise they look dark and/or dull. But once get into it, it's pretty usable.

Or the advice given above in the thread, they are really good too. If you are good with more conceptual and/or sketchy/cartoonish types of visualizations, they can look pretty stunning too.

[cocoloco]

thank you! So cinerender is already in archicad? It is so confusing sometimes, but usually through the softwares we use, I would search a term and it would find me what I am looking for. Such as Cinerender. No results. Am I looking a wrong term? :))

PS: I am using so far "creative imagining" for renderings via archicad. Or just printscreen. very similar. 😄 

[Barry Kelly]

Yes Archicad has its own photo rendering  built in (search for 'photorendering' rather than renderingengine names).

I know you are not on 28, but that has learning content built in (see above).

I have a button for the photo rendering settings on my tool bar, but you will also find it in the WINDOWS > Palettes menu.

Once you have it open you will see the rendering engines you can use.

Basic renderer is just what you see in the 3D window and uses the basic (hardware) surfaces that you see on screen.

Cineware by Maxon uses the same 3D view but uses the alternate surface settings for Cineware (Cinerender) surfaces - you can't see these surfaces on screen until you do a render.

The sketch rendering engine uses the 3D view but produces sketchy line / painting style sketches.

If you have a high end graphics card, you may also get the option for a Redshift rendering engine (I do not have this).

Same surface settings as the Cineware surfaces.

Be warned there is much to set up with the surface settings and rendering settings.

And when using Cineware (Cinerender) there is no live view and you can not see the surfaces in the 3D window.

Also the Basic and Cinerender settings can be completely different.

You may see red bricks in the basic settings which is what you see in the 3D window, but in Cinerender it could be timber cladding and you won't know this until you use that surface in a render (that is an extreme example, but it can happen).

That is why some feel it is easier to use an external program such as Twinmotion, Enscape, Lumion, etc.

These are much easier to control as you have a live 3D view.

Barry.