AutoCAD Architecture Visualization

[#1]

I have little experience with materials and rendering thru acad so i am wondering if it is difficult to do. To start i would like to apply a material to an external wall (say a steel panel look or simple bricks), and glass for windows. Can i apply materials directly to walls and windows or does each object have to be a 3d solid? Will the material show on a print or does it only work when you render it? Not sure where or how start to any advice would be helpful. I am running MEP2010 but it does have an architecture section which allows me to build 3d structures including walls, windows, doors and steel etc.

[#2]

Hi Lazya, you'd be better posting in the main ACA forum, this one doesn't get much attention.  What you ask is quite complex as it has a number of sections to understand.  MEP does have all of ACA.  In autocad you simply paste the material onto an object.  In ACA you assign it to a (render) material and add that to an aecMaterial definition which if the ByMaterial box is ticked in the right place in the object style will apply the material but only in certain views.  Sorry no way to make it easy but it is quite powerful once it's understood.  I'd imagine MEP operates the same way so it would be good for you to learn. 

Go thru the HELP tutorials (may have to download) and look up materials, rendering, display representations and you will be on your way.  An excellant resource is ArchiDIGM and his now free dev giude

http://www.archidigm.com/classroom/adt_4_development_guide/adt_5_dg_cover.htm

My own blogs on rendering are here with some more links

http://ausaca.blogspot.com/search/label/materials     come visit.