So, you’ve just chosen an architectural visualization provider, but have no idea where to start with. In this article, AIMIR shares our hard-earned experience with you concerning the Dos and Don’ts when dealing with your architectural visualization provider, for those who are struggling with first-time cooperation, or who are thinking about using the provider to their full potential.
1. DO prepare
One of the most effective and fundamental things to get your ideal visualization is preparation. For the first time use, research the provider and check their works and word-of-mouth. And then, the most important part, get your project files organized and ready. For example, you are working with a provider to get a set of 3D renderings for your unbuilt project. It is always the crucial part of cooperation that ALL supporting materials and files of your project are provided timely and accurately. This helps greatly in the working process and avoids unnecessary back-and-forth. Here “accurately” is the key. Please try to avoid a sea of unorganized data and files and incomplete documents. You don’t want a longer delivery date just waiting there while your visualizer is fighting with your messy files.
On top of these, it will be much helpful if you can provide reference images/animations for the mood and atmosphere you like. You’ve seen some fancy images online and you want your project to be created the same type of stunning work. Welcome! Your visualizer is more than happy to see references because it will make the production much easier.
If you think the above are too much work to do, don’t worry, AIMIR has a complete checklist system from the materials you need to prepare and the effect you’d like for final results. Easy to start with.
2. DO know what you want
Before starting a new project, be sure to determine your desired result and make a pact – with yourself and others in your team – not to stray from it. This is vital because AIMIR have experience dealing with clients who seemed confident about what they want in the very first place and suddenly changed their mind out of blue in the middle of production. It muddles the workflow and makes what has been done undone. In this case, your visualizer and you can work together to fix it if the due date is not an issue. It is not reasonable to ask for final delivery within the same timeframe if the design and model are changed in the middle of production.
3. DO feedback
Feedback is an essential tool during architectural visualizing production. It refers to the mark-ups and comments on rendering drafts and feedback during or after the service. There are two key factors when talking about mark-ups and comments on drafts, timely and specific.
Be timely. There will be several rounds when mark-ups and comments are needed. Please try to keep your feedback time within 24 hours after you receive the drafts. And the most important: don’t vanish. We know it sounds funny but it did happen more than once that the clients vanished during the production, and showed up to ask for the final works when the project was about to be delivered.
Be specific. Try to avoid ambiguous comments such as “Wrong.” “I don’t like the color.” “This tree doesn’t look good.” You need to give more specific comments such as “The height is wrong, need to be 5cm higher.”, “Change this color to *color code*.”, “I don’t like the tree, change to palm tree please.”
Also, if you confront any issues or have any concerns, please voice them immediately. In fact, too many people give feedback only when things are going wrong unfortunately. However, positive feedback during or after the production will recognize their strengths and achievements and is beneficial for boosting the team. In the field, AIMIR has a Summary & Survey system. They summarize every project and send a survey to their client to get feedback on the service and product and how to work better in the future.
4. DO listen to others
Yes, you are the architect, you are the designer, but this is still the most important skill that everyone was taught and is trying to master: listening. People love the sound of their own words penetrate the psyche of others. But in some cases, the veteran 3D artists are actually doing a better job than you. It might be a good idea if you listen to them this time. Of course, this rule only applies to some specific circumstances.
5. DON’T be afraid of trying
There might be situations where your architectural visualization provider offers you an idea that they believe better or more suitable. Trust me, they are veterans and they do voice what’s vital. If they say night mood is better than daytime for this rendering, you might just let them make it happen, and then you will see what the night view looks like. You are an expert in designing, and they are experts in visualization. The whole point of this is sometimes you don’t have to stick with your plan. Let professionals do their job.
6. DON’T stay away from communication
You want your visualizer to focus their work on the goals and objectives that you have for the project. But do they know what your plan really is? Have you delivered it precisely and clearly? Communication is incredibly important to any corporation. AIMIR has to say communication can mean the difference between your project’s visualization succeeding or failing. On-time delivery requires the cooperation of both parties. You cannot just give project files to your visualizer and vanish. It is understandable that architects are busy especially during some particular seasons, but if your visualizer asks for a confirmation to proceed, it is decent to reply to your answer quickly, even in a few words.
7. DON’T be repetitive
As an old Asian saying goes: “There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes.” People have different feelings and opinions about the same thing. But when you are visualizing a project, it is helpful to have the agreed comments. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working for yourself, or you’re in a team. AIMIR has clients who gave comments on drafts and when they received the modified drafts, others in the team had come up with contradictory comments. Another example is an architect who commented differently on the same drafts. Multiple feedback only leads to repeated modifications and adjustments, which are timing-consuming. It is important to keep your visualizer’s eyes on your goal, the simple and straightforward goal, in order to work effectively with you. AIMIR has an article on how to give comments here.
8. DON’T be disorganized & poor scheduling
Have a schedule. Make the deadline crystal clear in the very first place. In most cases, the production won’t be as smooth as chocolate, things may happen, both you and your visualizer need to have an idea about the due date so that both of you are able to arrange things and prioritize them. AIMIR is trying to avoid unscheduled projects with an out-of-blue rush requirement on final delivery. It is well-known that sufficient time is crucial to high-quality drawings which take time to upgrade details. The same to architectural visualization. For a high-end rendering, it usually takes 6 hours to 24 hours for rendering and post-production. As to animation, the number may double. No one likes rush works since the quality will take a back seat due to insufficient time.
Okay, now you have the Dos and Don’ts in dealing with architectural visualization providers. Some of them are hidden rules that no one will ever tell you. For a reliable 3D architectural visualization provider, you can feel free to contact AIMIR at info@aimircg.com, and AIMIR will assist you on your journey.
It is almost inevitable to have an extra workload when dealing with a project. Things happen. At the same time, it is understandable for AIMIR to charge extra if the workload is much heavier than expected. In this round, AIMIR is extremely cautious because AIMIR doesn’t see this as a purpose but a fine line between clients (no matter regular or new), a guarantee for workflow and production quality, and a respect for all the 3D artists.
AIMIR has posted two blogs on this topic, giving a general idea from various perspectives. The first blog was posted in 2018, analyzing the general situation and listing several cases where an extra charge applies. The second one was posted this year, which is an additional explanation for the first. More professional and detailed classification is created, with quantifiable criteria for extra charges when confronted with various situations. This transparency delivers equality for every client and provides references when there is conflict.
Here, more refined and organized case studies are presented as examples for better understanding.
Scenario A: Model Correction
In all cases, the nightmare is definitely the model correction after rendering and postproduction. AIMIR wants to make it clear that it is totally acceptable for minor revisions after rendering and postproduction, and no extra charge applies. However, if a considerable scale in the model needs revision, which means a brand new image is needed for rendering and postproduction again, AIMIR has to charge extra.
In this case, AIMIR charge 30% – 60% per shot based on the workload.
Scenario B: Camera Angle Correction
Clearly, camera angles count. Please always confirm the camera angles before moving to the next stage. AIMIR is happy with any mark-ups and feedback. However, our client should understand that if the camera angle is changed after rendering and postproduction, the whole image needs re-render and re-post produce, which stands for re-do the image.
In this case, AIMIR put an additional charge of 30% – 80% on each image. In some case of replacing a brand-new image, AIMIR charge 100%.
Scenario C: Mood Correction with same model and camera angle
AIMIR’s 3D artists always hold to the clients’ confirmation of mood. Once the image is rendered with mood, changing the mood is equivalent to re-render the whole image.
In this case, a 60% additional charge applies per shot.
Scenario D: Change of Design
This is a tough one. In the past projects, AIMIR has confronted with two main situations regarding design change after rendering and postproduction.
The first situation is relatively gentle, where the client suddenly wants to change some parts of the model. Since the main model stays the same, as well as camera angle, mood, and landscape, AIMIR charge 50% – 80% per image.
The other situation is quite tricky: the landscape and vegetation are being modified. As one of the most time-consuming processes, the landscape needs plenty of work. In this situation, a new image is to be done.
In this case, AIMIR charge additional 50% – 100% per image.
Those are the four scenarios that leading to extra fees during the rendering process. For better communication and a faster project turnaround, be sure to double-check and confirm the camera angles, mood, model, and landscape. It will make both parties easier since an extra charge applies especially when modification and correction occur after rendering and postproduction. If you want to know more information about 3D rendering, please do not hesitate to contact us.
3D Rendering is the technology that transcends time and the limit of creativity, enabling us to perceive the future building. The use of 3D rendering is becoming the standard among architects and designers. Although beautiful 3D rendering wows target clients and wins their approval during the presentation, the process of making the photorealistic CGIs can be quite difficult, even for the professional. What are the common problems that hurt the quality? Below will help you spot the mistakes and present solutions for you to fix them.
The design is too simple and the files isn’t complete
3D rendering, the eye-catching way to impress your client, is the best choice to tell your own story and communicate your ideas. What you want to deliver to your potential clients can be clearly and simply depicted via lifelike images. When you try to render your design into reality, it should include more details rather than a simple room with windows, doors, and walls. It’s far away from impressing any people. With all due respect, this design is quite boring and unnatural. What’s worst, it might cause trigger concerns about your professionalism and competency. The last thing you want is to disappoint your clients and lost the projects.
When you’re designing, it’s important to input basic details, like floor plan, elevation plan, or furniture plan into your drawing, which brings more realness to space. Nothing will look good if it’s only the blank wall. On the other hand, when you move forward to the rendering design, please send the design package to your CG company, and specified what’s the key information that they should keep an eye on. Otherwise, the unclear information will double the time for communication and clarification.
Choose the right perspective
The first thing to do is to select the proper angle for your 3D rendering. As we all know that the first impression is crucial for persuading your clients to make a fast decision. The perfect angles not only help to capture the important and outstanding part of the building but also minimize the imperfection or distraction. There are some rules for picking angle. The high-rise building never goes wrong with an aerial view and the low-rise single building should avoid bird view. If you want to highlight certain area, a close-up view is recommended and a masterplan for urban city development and large surrounding context. Normally, we will recommend some angles for clients based on our past experience. After handling thousands of projects, we have a deep understanding of how to create the proper angle for your project.
Be careful about the Reflection
No matter what type of 3D rendering, exterior or interior, the reflection is significant for increasing realness. Yet it’s also the most challenging part. When it comes to hard materials like glass and steel, the reflection can be fairly unrealistic and deceiving. Too much or too little reflection will compromise the quality. The best way to solve this problem is to add imperfection like dusk to the image. It will help diffuse the lighting. It doesn’t matter if you can adjust the reflection or not. AIMIR is the expert in making beautiful 3D rendering.
Textures matters
Texture plays an important to add human touch and realness to the rendering. It’s common that some architects may ignore the importance of high-quality. However, the details matter. If you provide low-resolution or unclear texture images, the quality of the texture will be influenced. A clear texture reference greatly sets up the environment and feeling.
Light bouncing
How to create a photorealistic 3D rendering? The lighting and shadow are the key factors in making the environment realistic and convincing. The room will be dark with only a few bouncing or you can lit the mood by adding more bouncing. The adjustment of lighting and shadow contributes a lot to create realism.
These are the common 5 problems that are overlook by many architects. In this article, you can have a clear picture by knowing the problems and keep in mind when you’re rendering your project. If you’re looking for a professional CG company, don’t hesitate to reach out in the future. For more helpful advice, stay tuned!
3D architectural visualization bridges the gap between reality and imagination by providing visually appealing images. The viewer can grasp all the design essence at first glance and shy of visual representation is a big obstacle for marketing. 3D architectural visualization is getting more and more important, but the process of creating a beautiful 3D rendering is quite difficult. To make sure on-time delivery is the key factor for most CGI studios. In terms of on-time delivery, AIMIR has successfully handled a large number of urgent projects and we never fail to secured on-time deliveries. Those fixed-deadline projects are usually dedicated to certain meetings of scheme reports or introductions disclosing a future construction plan when our 3D renderings projected on the screen. It’s always an efficient way to see visual effects, especially for those who don’t have professional knowledge regarding architecture. A visual representation that would instantly inform them of the project’s viability and highlights. How to satisfy such a delivery request in a short time? This article will help you better understand AIMIR and its charm regarding that.
Briefly, the gist of meeting project deadline lies in the fact that AIMIR has a well-established delivery system, among which three major factors play the key roles:
Gantt Chart/Tracking Project Progress
Timely and Efficient Two-way Communication and Feedback
Proper Management and Coordination in the Process
Now let’s see some examples of how they work.
Early communication
Prior to any proposal or approval, we will ask clients whether there’s a specific deadline. Sometimes it’s not answered even if we bring it forward. But after reviewing the project information, we will be double-checking the deadline again so as to evaluate the possibility of 100% on-time delivery. If no guarantee can be given, clients will be informed properly or engage in further discussion on possible extended schedule or other solutions such as simplifying some complicated designs and reducing the number of images required.
Amid the production
Case 1 for urgent projects that have a fixed deadline:
AIMIR will provide a Gantt Chart for clients’ preview, where certain timing will be informed in the needs of cooperation by clients.
The project will be put on top priority.
More manpower will be arranged according to specific workloads and situation.
The technical team and project managers are required to work extra time for timely feedback, in an attempt to address issues like time difference,
Make sure that both sides are closely in touch, so that project managers can get quick clarification for any confusions, and clients are updated for the progress.
To confront any unexpected/uncontrollable issues, like major changes of design, repeated comments, bad-timed feedback which, therefore, may affect the delivery, project managers will confirm the deadline again at least 48 hours before the day arrives. Further communication will be carried out for schedule updates from the previous one or alternative plans.
Case 2, for projects with a flexible deadline
Project managers will keep clients posted, including clarification for confusing parts, and updates of project production.
To confront any unexpected/uncontrollable issues, like major changes of design, repeated comments, bad-timed feedback which therefore, may affect the delivery, project managers will confirm the deadline again at least 48 hours before the day arrives. Further communication will be carried out for schedule updates from the previous one or alternative plans.
Case 3, for projects with a fixed deadline but sufficient time for production:
Clients will be reminded of important timing in the Gnatt Chart.
Project managers will keep clients posted, including clarification for confusing parts, and updates of project production.
To confront any unexpected/uncontrollable issues, like major changes of design, repeated comments, bad-timed feedback which, therefore, may affect the delivery, project managers will confirm the deadline again at least 48 hours before the day arrives. Further communication will be carried out for schedule updates from the previous one or alternative plans.
On-time delivery has always been among our guarantees, so hopefully, this article can help you realize this important and well-defined feature of AIMIR. As a 3D rendering company, AIMIR has been providing client-driven services for clients around the world. If you are interested, contact us for any information and start a great project together!
AIMIR has done dozens of projects from a small interior house to the city masterplan, no matter what type of the project is, we are here to provide high-quality and satisfying 3D rendering service cater to meet all size of businesses in a flexible way, especially the interior 3D renderings. Equipped with the latest technologies, such as CR, this powerful software enhances the interior rendering with accurate details and color. You can refer to this blog The Future of Interior 3D Rendering – Corona Renderer and AIMIR’s Story With It to enjoy the beautiful interior still images that we’ve done by using the CR. If this is the first time you ever work with AIMIR, this article would offer you a glimpse into our promising cooperation and enables an easy and pleasant working experience.
PDF & CAD Files
While dropping us PDF files describing layout, materials, and other important design details, please remember to provide CAD files in DWG format as well. It’s quite often to encounter the situation that our client only provides the PDF file and the CAD isn’t included in the sent files. In this case, our project managers have to go for a few rounds of information asking. If you are sending through the information package at the beginning, please make sure all the relevant files have been enclosed, both PDF and CAD files, which makes the 3D rendering process more smooth and save energy as well as improve the turnaround time.
Camera setting in Model or Plan
For those projects that have a model premise provided by clients, it’s highly recommended that to provide the model with a set camera view and the relevant angles instead of a bunch of random references, which sometimes can be confusing. The reason is that some projects may contain numerous floors with similar spatial design, so it’s necessary to set the camera in the right position to avoid unwanted mistakes. Moreover, it will save our time in clarifying the information. For clients that provide CAD files, we will model according to the camera setting, which requires our clients to mark the angles exactly on the floor plan for our reference. It’s actually an easy task that comes with efficiency and accuracy.
See example as below:
Package of High-Res Texture
When it comes to interior texture, it’s common that the material board with marks or comments feedback are the thumbnail images, screenshots attached in the PDF file, which are usually of dozen KB that present rather low resolution. The scale and color can be invisible or misleading in the low-resolution images, which compromise the quality. In this case, we would ask our clients to provide the high-resolution images that’s labeled with descriptions. Not only it will facilitate the production efficiency but also improve the quality.
See example below:
Note: This is one PDF with texture descriptions in low resolution. The texture and scale are too enormously reduced for direct production
Note: This is a sorted package of texture with high resolution and clear description.
Request for the Specific Texture
High-quality 3D interior renderings are premised by high-quality textures. For clients who do not have specific requirements, we would choose the high-quality images from our library to apply to the interiors. But they are not exactly alike as the required or original textures. For those who hold specific textures demands such as ones decided by designers and owners, we could not apply with only similar images to muddle through. So the greater clients match these conditions below, the more wonderful the final images will be.
1. Do not include the texture images into the commented PDF, see above High-Res Texture for the explanation. Please offer the full image with a clear description.
2. Images with irregular textures should cover as large areas or ranges as they could, or the textures can’t reach the original similarity as much as possible, and in most cases, they look repeated or fail to meet the expectation.
3. Provide texture images with high resolution, 1000 pixels being the best.
Customized FF&E
Some of our clients may have high requirements on FF&E and need 100% customized modeling. For that, two fundamental issues should be aware of by clients.
1. Provision of high-resolution images that present clear structures and other details so that we can conduct precise modeling.
2. For 3D modeling, different dimensions of photos of the objects should be provided or the invisible sides would be designed totally under imagination and guessing, which are hard to come by and can’t be 100% accurate.
AIMIR will keep updating for more advice for clients aiming to facilitate all the rendering project but not only the interior renderings. If you’re interested in our 3D rendering service, please feel free to contact us. There will be more now topics coming soon, stay posted.
