How to make your design impressive and eye-catching? This is a long-lasting issue that many architects are striking to find an answer. Photorealistic 3D rendering helps the architect to communicate their design in a visible way and present the future property in already existing surroundings. This is a long list. But how to choose the right backdrop, especially in the aerial view, is the topic we will talk about today. Now, let me ask you a question, have you ever struggled in handling the surrounding context when you’re making an aerial view? If this problem crossed your mind, this article will have the answer to your question.
In many years of making 3D architectural visualization, AIMIR has collected many commonly asked questions in the rendering process, and write this article based on our expertise and experience. Here is the previous article that introduces the 4 ways of handling the surrounding context,4 Methods of Dealing With Context Buildings In Architectural Visualization. It will give you a basic idea of how we often dealing with the surrounding. But in order to make things more understandable, we add more details and make some improvements. Read up to find out!
How to choose?
I am sure after reading the article above, you already have a rough idea of what’s the difference of the surrounding context. Next, we’re prepared a chart with details and recommend level for each solution, which may be helpful for you to decide what’s best for your project.
Photo composition
Using existing Building from the library
Rough model
Modeling based on google Map
Recommend level
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦
not recommended
Description
It’s a highly recommended method for its amazing effect and easy-to-operate. It will require you to provide the drone high-resolution images that match the same camera angle and mood as the renderings.
Refer to the street layout and density of the surrounding in the Google map, but use the existing models from our library. We will put the similar buildings in the backdrop according to the google map.
To model the surrounding based on the google map by using the rough model, which will show the building’s rough structure like general structure, windows, doors etc…but without specific detail.
To model the surroundings exactly based on the google map, which requires your side to provide the high-resolution images of each building. It’s a complicated and time-consuming method that will lead to additional fees. Normally, we don’t suggest using this method especially in high density city center.
Workload
♦ ♦
♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Working duration
♦ ♦
♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Additional Fees
no additional fees
no additional fees
♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Similarity
100%
20%-30%（just the location and height as same as the google map)
60%-80%（just the location, height, and exterior shape as same as the google map）
100%
Effect
As you can see that the effective and efficient way is photo composition and using the existing model from the library. But if you’re looking for 100% similar to the reality surrounding, the best choice is photo composition. Not only because it reduces the workload but also presents the best visual effect among the other three options. Frankly speaking, the last one is the modeling based on the google map. It will take a long period to complete the surrounding, if you’re working on the masterplan, it might take a month to finish only the surrounding.
Case sharing
Recently, we are working on a complex project. Everything goes well except for the surrounding context of the aerial view. As usual, AIMIR has offered the best option to save our client time and energy. But our client can’t provide the surrounding composition for us due to the expensive drone service and he wants to use the exact same buildings as the reality for the marketing presentation. Finally, we came up with a makeshift to solve this problem.
For the aerial view, we are offering the conjoint ways of rough model + the existing model from our library to handle the surrounding. See the screenshot below: The distant view is using similar buildings from our library, which are placed in the right direction as same as google map yet the building’s shapes are not exactly the same as the real. The close shot is the rough model made based on the Google map. We will model the shape and layout as same as the reality. Our client is very happy about this solution and the final 3D renderings. (Because of the confidentiality of this project, we are not allowed to release the full image.)
distant view
close-up view
The way of handling the surrounding texture caused by many elements that need to be considered and well-executed while complementing it in a perfect way. If you’re interested in our 3D rendering service, warmly welcome you to contact us. We are always flexible to deal with the problem whenever it occurred in the rendering and meet the different demands of our clients.
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.
There is a frequently held misconception — outstanding expertise is enough for an architect. Actually, expertise and communicating skills are equally important. If an architect is not capable of making his design ideas readily understandable by investors and builders, the building will only remain on the blueprint. Therefore, it is crucial to present the inaccessible construction plan in a way that requires the least comprehension. For that, 3D architectural visualization might be the best method.
Impressing clients by 3D architectural visualization
For every business, customer positioning is always the primary task. The architectural industry is no exception. The clients of the field are generally wealthy elites to the architecture. Therefore, in order to sell your project, you must draw on the strength of 3D architecture visualization for the following reasons.
First of all, presenting a lifelike 3D architectural visualization makes the architects’ team look professional, which helps to leave a good impression on clients. Secondly, talking too much about the expertise will merely bore your clients. Except for 3D rendering gives full play to the circumstances, lighting, landscape, and atmosphere, bringing life to the cold project and catching the eyes of the target clients in one shot. Finally, Architectural visualization, therefore, not only establishes a professional profile but also matters in expanding the market.
Guiding builders by 3D architectural visualization
Throughout the whole architectural process, a project has to undergo at least three phases: marketing, design, and construction. After the financing from the client and the drawing of blueprints, the next issue concerning the architect is how to realize the fantasy as accurate as the blueprint presents. It seems that the building issues are out of the architects’ business. However, builders are not architects. Although builders are familiar with all the construction details, it is hard for them to conceive a concrete image and big picture at a higher level. For instance, construction documents are used to tell builders how to put a building together, yet they don’t always do good for conveying the big picture that carries out design ideas through every last detail.
Therefore, now it is the time for 3D architectural visualization to kick in. It helps to draw a vivid and detailed picture of what the building is supposed to look like when finished. The image is necessary for builders to understand their job and guide their future work.
Plus, all the impressive visualizations are dwarfed by the marketing and promotional power of built work. The built work could be the best advertisement, assuming the blueprint is flawless and builders can not only strictly follow its instruction but also realize the image presented in the visualization.
3D Architectural visualization, though it sounds insignificant, is actually an integral part of the architectural industry. It is a bridge linking investors, architects, and the builders, enabling smooth communication between them. On the client’s side, the lifelike visualization fascinates the potential clients to invest in this project. As for the builder, it draws a big picture for the constructors to follow so that the building project can be implemented as is wished by architects. In this way, a virtuous circle is created. The favor of clients brings sufficient funds, which in turn leads to a high-quality building, which then wins a good reputation, which finally attracts more clients. And architectural visualization is the one that facilitates the circle. If you are looking for architectural visualization, welcome you to contact AIMIR.
Nowadays, it is not difficult to make a lifelike 3D visualization for architectural projects by equipping with powerful software. However, the lower threshold brings more rivals, who heats up the race of the visualization industry. Many designers are striving for the perfect 3D visualization, but a fabulous one never grows on trees. There are several essentials that designers must keep in mind in order to achieve the perfect quality.
Details make all the difference
The emphasis of 3D architectural visualization is to make it as real as possible. Therefore, the elements relevant to the project are supposed to be added while visualizing the 3D rendering, which can increase the realness and be more convincing.
For a better understanding of the importance of surroundings, we can take nature elements as an example. Many people will say that nature is not as important as the main building in architectural projects. However, this opinion underestimates the great positive effect that nature brings to the atmosphere. For instance, the project looks more modern when featuring cloudy weather and manicured trees and lawns. The sunny weather and blooming flowers, however, bring out the passion and romantic atmosphere. In this way, the interaction of buildings and surroundings makes the visualization more convincing.
In addition to the exterior, the interior details such as furniture, home appliances, windows, bricks are also necessary when maximizing the reality. Beyond all that, any other details which help to show the beauty of the project should be considered by designers. As one proverb goes, details make all the difference.
Never forget shadow, lighting and visual angle
If we assume that details shape the physical body of the 3D architectural visualization, we can say that the shadows, light and visual angel bring it to life.
First of all, we talk about the shadow and lighting. The lack of shadow and lighting makes the project look artificial and plastic. When you render the shadow and lighting, you need to consider the angles and sun direction, which ensure that there is more depth as well as a perspective for the viewer to view the building clearly. Besides, the essential part is highlighted. Nevertheless, the amount of lighting requires careful consideration. When the light is not enough, it is difficult to see the central building clearly. Whereas, too much light leads to the loss of details. Quality lighting is necessary and essential for rendering a stunning 3D rendering. Therefore, handling the light and shadow is the point for designers to keep in mind.
Another way to increase the realness is to add special visual angles. A camera-based overview is a case in point. But why the camera-based overview matters? Because it starts from the perspective of people and conforms to people’s habit of observing things, which includes the angle of the camera and height adjustments, the 3D rendering will become more immersive and realistic. Hence, from now on, try to think like a photographer.
Ensoul the architectural visualization
An excellent 3D architecture visualization company always has its own style and personality. As we had mentioned before, the progress of visualizing technology brings the increasing industry homogenization. Only the one who features a unique style can stand out and catch the eyes of buyers. A famous visualization company is especially good at bringing out the beauty of the project. The application of countless 3D model combinations allows viewers to have a look through various angles. It will focus on the change of the weather to present the extreme effect. It can even mislead people that this is a dynamic picture. Consequently, ensouling 3D visualization is also what we need to highlight.
The process of making 3D visualization for architecture is to give life and soul to a deadly design. Your technical skills can help you create 3D rendering but never forget that the right mindset bring the design into reality. Hope these 3 essentials help designers pursue the more beautiful 3D visualizations and renderings. If you are looking for architectural visualization, welcome to contact AIMIR.
There is no doubt that 3D architectural visualization is an effective marketing strategy for architects to procure new business opportunities. More and more designers are intended to use 3D rendering services for their business development. But there is a question emerged, why my building looks tilted in the rendering? Today, we prepared a blog to elaborate on this common situation in the design industry.
Have you ever notice that when you walking among the buildings, the tall buildings appear to slant or distorted. Of course, the buildings are not literally twisted or falling, it is only looked distorted within a range of perception. Distortion can be solved by algorithms, but the deformation cannot be observed by the human eye is because our brains often make up for it.
The basic theory of making a 3D rendering is as same as taking photos. In reality, when taking a photo of buildings, especially the skyscraper, many buildings appear to be tilted. Why? It’s because of the effect of stereoscopic perspective. For example, raise your hand and move it toward your eyes, you will notice that our hand has blocked our vision completely. Generally speaking, it is the rule of the nearer the bigger, the further the smaller. Influenced by the stereoscopic perspective, it is commonplace to see tilted buildings in the photograph or in the 3D rendering. Now, we compare some photos with the 3D renderings made by AIMIR to get a more clear understanding of this question.
Here is an aerial shot provided by our client for making the surrounding
Human eye shot
Aerial view rendering
Human eye rendering
human eye rendering
It is because when we are taking the photo standing on the ground and tilting the camera upwards, the lens is closer to the bottom of the building and far away from its top, which makes the bottom looks huge and impressing than they really are whereas the tops feel more like dots since they are far away from us and look even smaller and further away. Thus, from a human’s perspective, a building from bottom to top is getting narrower and the outline of a building seems like slanting. If using the wide-angle lens to take a photo or using ultra-wide-angle, no matter what kind of building, they cannot escape from appearing distorted in the photo. The building looks like falling is because of the distortion. Distortion, edge flaring, ghost shadows are common phenomena while using the ultra-wide-angle lenses, which can’t be easily solved by algorithms. Therefore, ultra-wide-angle lenses are best for shooting landscapes but not for buildings.
wide-angle 3D rendering
wide-angle rendering
Are the slanting buildings in pictures inherently bad? The answer is: it depends. The slanting buildings prove to what we see from the human eye level, which has a more compelling visual effect and is in line with reality. We will make specific analysis according to different projects and the needs of our clients. AIMIR has worked with many clients for the past decade. There are some clients who asked for correction yet others are intended to show the actual effect of the tilted building according to the stereoscopic perspective. Regardless of what effect our clients want to achieve, they all can be easily autocorrected by 3D rendering software.
In a word, if you have any questions about leaning and verticality, please discuss with our project manager in the modeling stage, we will strive to reach your expectation. Please feel free to contact AIMIR if you have any questions about 3D architectural visualization. We are rather happy to help you with further details.
