8 Basics of Successful Architectural 3D Visualization

Visualization has long ago become a kind of art in itself, 3D artists being more famous than their clients. However, with the modern software (like 3ds max, Photoshop, After Effects, Corona Renderer, etc.) doing some real heavy-lifting, renderings can be so realistic that they're hard to tell from a photo.

Nevertheless.. in some instances, architects still need to refine the images for final presentations themselves.

A survey by Architizer, the well-known portal helping architects search for, evaluate and share building products across teams, studied several works by visualization masters and derived the following eight rules that could take your works to a new level.

Make Images Deeper

One of the most effective tricks that will make your model look like a photo is the right camera settings in a scene. Not only does it make visualization more expressive, but it also prompts the viewer where their attention should go, thus focusing on the main advantages or critical elements of the work.

The position of objects in the scene, figures of people, their poses and the direction of gaze, blurred or sharp silhouettes, shadows, light, etc., are just some parts of a composition. Make sure to use them consciously.

Allow for Imperfections

You will not see any ideal surfaces or edges in nature. The 'natural' perfection is in chaotic deflects, scratches and roughness. And even though this may seem too unimportant a nuance to waste time on, a human eye is susceptible to this kind of detail and will notice something is 'wrong.'

The clue? 'Spoil' and distort your models deliberately to make them look better. For example, fabrics in an interior always have some folds distributed unevenly and maybe slightly deformed edges.

Turn Off the Lights

Well, not entirely. But remember that twilight pictures are always atmospheric. Soft lights coming from the inside make the surroundings look cozy and romantic.

Remember to set the source of light and save original settings for every element. Think of the details, such as underwater lighting. They can make your scene look even more attractive.

(Dramatic) Textures Can Ruin Everything

Low-quality textures and materials can ruin even outstanding architecture. So always pay attention to the key elements that are seen immediately. It is especially true for glass surfaces: they demand some delicate approach to refining thickness and transparency.

Show Some Character

In the fictional world of 3D architectural visualization, the weather is always sunny and bright, and everyone is smiling happily. Still, don't neglect a little bit of storm. Rough weather will only enhance the atmosphere. Add some characters and create more believable pictures!Let It Age

Let It Age

Another effective trick that'll breathe a little more life into your renders is to use aged textures. It only takes about a year after the object has been built that snow, rain, and the burning sun will significantly adjust its appearance. It does not mean that the building will look ugly. Vice versa, these sorts of details can add more realism to the visualizations and make them look more credible.

Mess It Up

The truth is that interiors are accurate only when they're in glossy magazines. These situations ruin the first day when the object begins to live real life in real life. However, we can and must use them while working with the interior 3D visualization. So drop a few bales of magazines, miss something down on the floor, and set your outside furniture in front of the building in a free arrangement. It will take about half an hour, but your object will immediately come to life after that.

Nature will help

Some people neglect quality surroundings, considering it is enough to have just one good foreshortening to represent a project successfully. As a result, they can get the opposite situation in the end. Not expressing some trees in the background or several similar bushes in front of the door can transfer its not understandable mood to the object itself. Professionals advise paying attention to the environment, where the thing is, as much time as it takes to make the architecture. Otherwise, the whole process of your hard-working might be in vain.

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