Render a 2D dwg elevation

[jsivulka]

Hello:

I’m an architect by trade, working as a project manager at a hospital in IL. I do side work for an architect friend of mine, drawing plans and elevations for some of his residential projects  Most are what would be considered McMansions, with detailed elevations and complicated roof lines.  Because of this, I’ve only used AutoCAD for plans and elevations with a few interior perspectives in Revit (I import the DWG file and create various views and then render).

What I would also like to do is exterior renderings but, because I’m not creating the project in Revit or as solids in AutoCAD, I only have two dimensions.

Does AutoDesk offer a product that would allow for, or does someone know one that exists, where I can take a 2D DWG file of an elevation, import it and render with texture maps? I’ve tried it in Revit but have run into issues with perspective; I imported the dwg file, created a 3D view (by rotating the 2D elevation so the camera is pointing at it) and created model faces with attached materials.   The one big problem I have is, if the roof slopes away from the view, for example, the shingles should get smaller.  But I have no way in Revit to create the material as a perspective, all shingles are the same size, from the bottom of the roof to the top. 

Does AutoDesk offer software that would allow me to apply materials to a solid surface and apply materials that can be manipulated (such as revising them to appear they're in perspective) without having the create a model of the project? 

I want to render a 2D elevation to make it appear (however slight) it's a 3D elevation.  Is Photoshop maybe my only option, or do I need to create a model in Revit?

Thank you for any info you can provide.

Joe

[L.Maas]

If you want to render it will get very complicated. To render properly there should be information what the model will look  like in 3D. The software should  have an understanding how objects are positioned compared to each other. Basically this information is not available in a 2D drawing. It will be very difficult to translate light behaviour based on a 2D Drawing. An as you already mentioned getting the perspective  as if it is 3D is not easy either.

So yeah photoshop, where you do your own interpretation of lights, shadows and perspective seem to be the only viable option.

Otherwise it will converting your 2D Drawing in a 3D Model somehow.

[chrisplyler]

Seems to me it would just be easier/faster to flesh out a model in Revit. You only need the exterior, right?

[jsivulka]

Thanks Louis and yes, I agree, the best option would be to use Photoshop.  I did look into Accurender (or whatever it's called) and the response was it would work.  I haven't tried it yet (30 day free trial) but I may go down that path as well. 

Thanks again!

Joe

[jsivulka]

I do only need the exterior and then only the front elevation.  The problem is, I'm capable with Revit for interior renderings (walls, floors, ceilings, lights) and even simple curtain wall modelling,  but I've have never attempted to do an exterior of a McMansion where there are 100 roof lines meeting 200 more.  If it were a simple gable or hip roof, no problem, but a typical elevation has multiple roofs running into one another and I have no idea how to model it.  I'm sure I could learn, but for me, time is critical and I don't know that I have weeks to practice.  If there's an easy way to cheat a roof, I'd love to hear about it!  Or, if you know of a good tutorial, I could run through that as well.

Thanks.

Joe

[L.Maas]

If it is only for rendering you could do roofs in different ways. You could possible make it from a generic model family or an in place component.

With some extrusions and sweeps you can easily make something that resembles a roof from the outside. Here and ther some void to cut out/off pieces if needed.

A mass could also be an option, especially if there are more curved type shapes.

Of course you also could do a combination, some part made of roofs and some othet parts made from a family or mass.

When you get more comfortable with Revit and have more time you could try to create 'proper' roofs.

[chrisplyler]

Meh, McMansion roofs generally are, no matter how puzzle-like, just lots of little hipped or gabled roofs joining each other.

Make a level for every eave height. Take the first eave height level and model whetever roofs belong on it, dividing them into the simplest geometric shapes. Take the next eave height level and do the same thing. Etc. Then go into 3D and Join Roof or even just Join as is appropriate.

It takes more time to figure out facias and returns and stuff honestly.

[ToanDN]

Abobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or Autodesk Sketchbook would be a better option for 2D drawing rendering. Accurender is for 3D model rendering.

[ennujozlagam]

hi, you can try the Autodesk "Recap".

[jeremiah]

I am basically doing something simliar.  I currently do architectural drawings for a builder.  I do all my drawings right now in 2d with AutoCAD Architecture 2016.  I would like to offer "life like" rederings for their sales sheets. Elevations only.  Is this possible with the program I am using? Seems for the money it would be. Or will I still need to use those other programs (photoshop, etc..) to do this?

Thanks,

J

[Anonymous]

Try M-Color...