Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Concerning Revit and other rendering programs

ajacobs

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Hi all! I wanted to float a question about 3d rendering software in connection to those of us using Revit.

 I have been using Revit for about a year, and have gotten fairly proficient at 3d modeling in here. Also, I have been working quite a bit at doing 3d renderings for clients, and now there is beginning to be a demand for that. I work in mostly residential and light commercial applications.

 Revit does a good job rendering, as the gallery here attests. But there does seem to be a qualitative leap when I look at the galleries from Viz and 3ds. Also, I have heard that it is much quicker to get a good quality rendering in one of these apps than in Revit.

I was wondering if anyone here could give me some advice about this, like the pros and cons of getting another program to render, how the import/link process works, and so forth. Also I am mainly looking at Viz, since I don't need animated sequences or anything like that.

 Thanks in advance for your help!

AJ

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framerman

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Joined: Tue, Jun 29, 2004
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The newer versions of Revit and Viz/Max work with exports of materials together to produce excellent results and it's pretty much seamless. While you have your Revit file open, you export to DWG file (overwrite it if you have an original), open up your Max/Viz (which you already have open), click File Link Manager and Reload. 

Revit unfortunately doesn't handle curved surfaces well. If you have a rounded detail, you might have some (loss for words....Mr. Spot help me!!!) flat areas.

Also didn't know if you knew this already but the Accurender we get with Revit is pathetic compared to the full version of Accurender that's available.

If you are looking for absolutely stunning results, I would consider also looking into VRay, Brazil, or Maxwell to compliment your Max/Viz. 

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ajacobs

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Thanks for the reply, and the advice. I have been playing with the 3ds download trial. While I haven't got it quite figured out just yet, I can already tell a difference in the quality and ease of doing renderings.

It seems the way to go is to model the geometry in Revit, not worrying about textures there, and then put it into Viz or 3ds and make it all pretty.  From what you have a said and I have read online, I basically have to export my 3d view from Revit to a dwg that is linked in Viz, and everytime I update the geometry in Revit I have to overwrite the linked file. Hopefully that is all relatively smooth.

I have also noticed how Revit does not deal well with round and/or conical walls and roofs, especially when applying textures. Does Viz do this any better?

 Now I am really thinking that getting Viz is worth the money, because it not only will look better but it will save me quite a bit of time dealing with textures and rendering to get it right. But then I will have to buy a new computer...

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framerman

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I'm not sure what commands they have in Viz, but in Max they have the MultiRes (among others) command that can smooth out the geometry. Don't rule out the materials in Revit, they might just be enough to get what you need. Applying materials in Viz could be time consuming tweaking it to get it just right.

if you are going to model a rounded part in Viz/Max, yeah, you will get much better results. You can make it as smooth as you want it to be. But importing it back into Revit, pretty much a no go. Too many surfaces for Revit to handle. Revit would be almost perfect to handle the model as Max/Viz does. Don't think it's possible though. 

And you are exactly right about the process of updating the modeling.

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WWHub

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Gulden63

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CADtruck3r

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Hey guys..

Thought I would chime in on the 3DS Max renderings... If you put a UVW Map Modifer on the curved surfaces before you apply materials you can make all your adjustments in the modifier... It works really well for me except when I have multi arc shapes connected at any sharp angle.. I am working to get that fixed too.. I'll get back when I find the cure...LOL

J 

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