Single program for presentation or not?

[Chadwick]

I'm not sure if this should fall under general discussion or not but I put it here since it has to do with presentation. I would like to know what you guys (who have a lot more experience with this) think about this.

I model buildings in ArchiCAD but for presentation purposes I will go into Piranesi and/or photoshop to touch them up to make them look the way I want.
Another approach is that everything should be done in one program so that only a single file is required for the entire project (which seems to be what ArchiCAD is aiming for).

I personally dont think that powerful tools like Piranesi and Photoshop should be left by the side of the road just because a single file is desired. I also dont see how ArchiCAD alone can create the images these other two programs can. I may be wrong (and it might be proven to me if Dwight's book ever comes out) but for now I dont see how.

I guess this isnt really a question but a litmus test to see how other people approach this. Does anybody have pros or cons for either approach?

[gerd]

in my opinion separate programs (and also separate files for each use) are a better way:

+ the usage of each of the programs is optimized for the task it has to do
+ the program is smaller and will not need to much memory in the computer to work
+ the program code is smaller and the developers can bring new features easier in it than in a too complex program
+ the beta testing and develpment will be much longer as well
+ you can decide what you need and what you want to pay for (I don't use piranesi at the moment, but maybe I'll buy it if I need it) otherwise the developer decide over the available designs
+ if one program crashes, you have possibility to do something else....
+ you can share different work to specialized people
+ users are more independent from software companies (of course I think, graphisoft are 'good guys', but I'm sure its better to have the possibility of choice)

they are also problems:
- you have to store different files (not so much problem of csts but you have to overview the masses of files)
- you have to switch the brain, because every program have a different concept to use
- the exporting and importing and the open a new program takes more time
- changes in one program will cause much work, if you want to update the view in the second program

of course the whole modelling should be made in archicad (in my opinion also things like architerra! or maxon-form), but rendering and things like piranesi or photoshop will be better to keep in sepoarate programs

best regards, g