topic Re: just starting out - need some advise in 3ds Max Forum

just starting out - need some advise

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:31:56 GMT

My architecture firm wanting to get into ArchVis. The only problem is we still use 2D AutoCAD for all our drawings. Now I know that we have to build a 3D model to render. With the end product being rendered using UE4. So I'm trying to figure out the best way of getting from 2D to a 3D model that UE4 can render. We have 60 projects that need to be converted over so the least time consuming way the better.

After my couple days of off-and-on research I've come to a cross roads of either trying decide to use Revit or 3ds Max for the modeling software. My research has shown that there is no one path to getting a 3D model. I've seen people use either Revit or 3ds Max to get a model or use both programs before importing it into UE4. So I'm not sure what the pros/cons are of using either or both programs.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Re: just starting out - need some advise

irishman_team_kilber — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 13:01:48 GMT

i would use revit in 3ds max they have not improve the AEC feautres to my knowledge, autodesk has still the old feautures since max v7 for architectural design it's a shame they have not improve the AEC walls, doors, windows etc,

I would download both max & revit trials to see which one you like because it's you that is going to be using it at the end of the day (god i hate that saying)

if your just going to do architectural design i would not fork out so much on a piece of software, unless you're looking to do animation built into you're architectural design modeling

Best of luck to you!

Re: just starting out - need some advise

dgorsman — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:46:56 GMT

You're in a bit of a pinch, as you're coming in somewhere in the middle of the normal work process. In other words, the 3D model is created first then used to create both the 2D drawings and renderings.

Whether you choose Revit or 3DSMAX is going depend heavily on which direction your company wants to go in. If you want to stay focused on architectural design then I'd recommend Revit and use it as a replacement to your existing work process. Either way you will be needing a lot of training to get to a point where it will be commercially viable. Both programs aren't something you can just "jump in and go" as it were. Don't just get a trial, get a full product demo from an Autodesk reseller so you can see what's involved.

As an alternative I would suggest focusing on Revit implementation first (it has a pretty decent built-in rendering engine) and contract out for high-end visualization work. Once transitioned to Revit and if your company is still interested in taking the visualization work in-house, you can start adding training using the contracted work as something of a template.

Re: just starting out - need some advise

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 17:25:19 GMT

Thank you for the replies. I know I'm not in the normal position for an office to move to 3D rendering which is why I'm having such trouble trying to figure out how to get into this. I, personally, know Revit. Used it in college and at my previous jobs. The firm I work for now is a home builder outside of a very large city so I have, at current, over 60 projects that need to move from 2D to 3D. Plus all the products that will be design in the next several years. I am a fan of Revit but how the company is setup AutoCAD works much easier than Revit in the long run. Especially since the biggest draw to Revit is BIM, which my boss sees no use in, the only thing Revit has is 3D modeling. And until now that was not an issue.

With as many products as I have to turn into 3D, contracting out the work is way to expensive. Especially for what the owners want. They don't want just 3D single frame images. The video walkthroughs, 360 Hotspot panaramic views, VR and walk-able 3D models (think video games). We are hiring a UE4 position that will take care of taking the model to reality with what I just list previously but I have to get that person the models.

So with the odds of Revit being used as our CAD program in the future very slim would Revit still have an advantage over 3ds Max at that point? If I can convience my boss to make the switch over to Revit for day-to-day use then I can see Revit being the better program. But if I'm only going to be using either program to JUST create the model then does Revit lose its advantage to 3ds Max?

Re: just starting out - need some advise

dgorsman — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 22:40:15 GMT

You're working off of technical drawings, correct? I think with your existing Revit knowledge you'll find it much easier to build the models technically. If the rendering, etc. is being done in a third-party program not much point detouring through 3DSMAX. And you can use the results to goose the boss along for the benefits of 3D design as well (BIM is no longer the only benefit).

I'm not one of those, 3D/Revit everything, all the time, every time people - there's a definite advantage in certain cases for doing things 2D or even 3D in AutoCAD. But you are potentially looking at spending some serious time doing things out of sequence like this.