LightWorks in ArchiCAD

[Anonymous]

Hi Everybody,

I'd like to see some renders with LightWorks for ArchiCAD to compare it with Art.lantis Studio. Specially renders with radiosity and global illumination. I know Dwight have a great experience in LW... So... Dwight: Would you please give us a comparison (pros/cons) between this two programs/engines?

Best Regards,

Braza

[Dwight]

You don't need to see anything.
The battle is "No contest" for image quality.
Artlantis = radiosity
LighWorks (today) = raytracing (with coal)
LightWorks goes to the mat.
Face down and knocked cold.
The glove of the Parisian Artlantisoid is raised in victory, even though fuelled by red wine, poached rabbit and soft, fragrant cheeses.

There's no question that Artlantis, relative to the degree of implementation of LightWorks in ArchiCAD is:
1: having better light quality in renderings.
2: easier to edit, preview and predict.
3: F A S T E R !! ! ! ! ! ! !

In my opinion - as an intermediate user of Artlantis - drawbacks are:
1: material management
2: adaptation of textures to irregular surfaces
3: management of textures
4: file transfer/edit issues
5: Like a fullback on the Winnipeg Blue bombers footbal team: It's got the SIZE - big renderings.
6: Camera control is adequate for flythroughs unlike in ArchiCAD where it is rudimentary.

Here are MY observations:
1: I love Artlantis as a playful experience. You can learn a ot about rendering quickly playing in Artlantis.
2: LightWorks need expertise and patience.
3: LightWorks has slowed down but gotten better in ArchiCAD 10.

I have done paid work in LightWorks - I don't think it is productive enough or makes a sufficiently sophisticated image for professional work.

And besides, my heart is broken by Graphisoft's implementation of LightWorks. Just look at what this company's product can do when completely implemented:

http://www.lightworks-user.com/

Chose LightWorks if:

You have a tight relation between design and image - as do I with my work being public art - short turnaround time - a day, say, with lots of changes and evaluations. Rarely need huge renderings. Rarely need photorendering - often overlay a sketch rendering on a photorendering for final drawing.

Chose Artlantis if:

-- You aspire to being an illustrator and want to learn more.

-- You occasionally (often) need to disguise the weakness of your design work with wonderful luminous radiance.

In reviewing the possibility of doing an Artlantis book, I asked them who their buyers were "An architect who makes three renderings a year."

Finally:

I don't think of Artlantis as the end of the road. It is a coffee, powdered nasal excitement and gas stop. If you want to change your career, invest your time and money in real rendering/modeling programs like: Cinema 4D, LightWave, Electric Image, and the infamous but widely supported Threedee Studio. And others.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Dwight for the input
I was interested in this issue because I'd like to see a complete design package with ArchiCAD... I don't like to pay for some features (render engines) in ArchiCAD and don't use it... I think ArchiCAD have good tools for lights, cameras, vr's and simple animations (That's enought for me). So... IMHO what is missing is a good render engine and also a material editor.
What do you think about Maxwell Render. I know its render quality is impressive, although its speed is the slowest in the market but it has a plugin for ArchiCAD with a simple interface...