cant decide what Render engine to use?

[Anonymous]

Well i am sort of a weird spot, our office cant seem to decide on what Render engine to use. We have been using Artlantis with good results have not upgraded to artlantis studio. Now that we are all on Arch10, we have discussed working with Lightworks more. I have used 3D max,form Z, sketch up, and had good results with those as well. But I really wish i could just figure out what the best Engine is for ArchiCAD. ie, least amount of problems, best results, cost for extra textures/libraries. Most importantly since all our time is billable total amount of time spent to produce final rendering. We is the general feeling/opinion on this issue?

[Dwight]

I ca't give you a general opinion, just mine:
Your choice is really between Artlantis and LightWorks. But you exploit both for different management reasons.

One reason for getting good in Lightworks is because the application is directly linked to Archicad. Quick, small, well-illuminated progress renderings can help the design process better than by transferring a file to Artlantis. (Others may differ on this.)

Since your firm already has Artlantis, moving to the modern Artlantis is a good move, considering that you have insight into the application and the new release is much better than the old.

Artlantis renders quickly and ultimately makes a better image. This speeds the learning curve. It compares favorably against the LightWorks engine unless you need sophisticated material definitions that few architects do.

I think that time invested in Artlantis will get you better renderings, but that neither application can justify itself at architect's billing rates, so find a promising junior to do the work. This leads to a management issue for the firm.

If the firm is to have an imaging specialist, this person should be focused on a truly hi-end application like Cinema 4D that is capable of network rendering of fly-throughs, has fast rendering, fantastic material and luminous light qualities. This person might not be an architect - perhaps an illustrator/graphic artist who is trained already. Then you can be making superior images that can be a value-added product for the firm.

[Anonymous]

Well thanks for the input! Funny i have been using your book to do some test renderings on some of our projects. well its funny you should mention having one person do all the renderings, b/c that person in me. When we have clients asking for presentation renderings i land on my deck. that is why it felt i should ask around and get the best, most flexible program to work with and learn it inside and out. I checked out the MAXON web site for CINEMA 4D and its seem really sweet. i have downloaded and trial version to see if i like it. The biggest thing for us is we do a lot of animations at various stages of large projects. helps the client understand better and also works great with city presentations. Do you use this program?

[Dwight]

When LightWorks arrived in Archicad without comprehensive documentation, i saw the chance to get good in it to help the community. It was hard. Especially after eating the five loaves of rye bread.

But now that i have the lighting solution figured out, LightWorks is there for my routine work. Mostly, I make sketch-type images of design concepts that take about an hour, using the light and shadow effects LightWorks brings combined with sketchy overlays from Photoshop or Archicad's Sketch Render.

I think that i have a license for Artlantis here somewhere, but the authorization/de-authorization process is frustrating because i have so many machines going... but i like it.

I am an amateur with Cinema, but enough to see the promise of what it can do artistically and the aftermarket entourage it has access to. Cinema excites me. When the smoke clears from this bunch of public art commissions, I'll be sitting down with Cinema 4D V10 to really get good at it. Mainly, however, for modeling and truly animating (not fly-thrus)multi-curved surfaces. My last project used tensioned metal sheets and I want to do a series of dynamic sculptures that exploit this.

[Stig Bengtsson]

Artlantis gives you quick results and you don't have to tie up an ArchiCAD license for rendering. The exterior renderings with Lightworks and Artlantis are very compatible but when it comes to interiors the radiosity of Artlantis wins. The preview window with instant feedback of light placements and shader adjustments in Artlantis is another great plus.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
So far (until hitting a plugin snag on a MAC) I found Cinema4D to be the top of the pick.
The results are great, speed wise - beats any other programmes mentioned by others here. C4D uses minimal resources, and once you hit render and minimise the app, you can use your computer and you won't even know the render is going in the background.
The exchange plugin is (was) brilliant! lights, materials, the lot.
I do admit i am having no luck running the updated plugin on OSx, but Maxon are looking into it.

I've worked with MAX, LW, real3D, Universe etc. but would not give up C4D for anything.

IMHO only

G.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I also started to work on my rendering about 7 months(before I used Lightworks ), and I have to say that v-ray is the best for me. After you build the model in ArchiCAD, save it like .3ds, import it into 3d max, and render it with v-ray.
On the other hand it si not easy to learn 3d max, v-ray

here is my result after half of year learning

[/img]

[Anonymous]

Hey WhiteMan,
Judging by the size of the time stamp, this rendering is the size you rendered to.
Why 51mins?!?!?
I could understand 5 or even 10, but 51?
I haven't used Vray, so I'd interested to see the time/result comparisons.
What's the render machine you are using?

For comparison, have a look at this image: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40034784/?qo=8&q=by%3Aiqnill&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps

This took 1h:12 on P4-2GHz(old school single core)/640RAM, C4D 9.5

And please, I am genuinely interested and not trying to out-do anyone.

IQ0

[Anonymous]

ok well after talking to my ArchiCAD rep, i think we are going to upgrade our 7 licences of Artlantis R to the full Studio version. Use that for fast rendering and work and animations. Then use light works for interior stuff. If we get a client that is willing to pay for the time and quality of CINEMA 4D then we are going to buy one copy and i will use that since i am already good with MAYA from my college days.

[Anonymous]

Hello Gregse,
This picture was done on my old machine :pentium 4, 1.6GHz GeForce4, 512 RAM...
On a comp rendering time should be less.
But it si true that v-ray needs more time to render, but it is the price you need to pay for perfection
Just type v-ray in google