Lumion Support Center

Support for unlicensed users => Post here if you can't find your License Key => Topic started by: Artur Brzegowy on February 16, 2012, 12:41:47 pm

Title: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Artur Brzegowy on February 16, 2012, 12:41:47 pm
Please, let us know what is your favorite modeling software. And vote for it in poll above.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member3901 on February 16, 2012, 12:51:26 pm
SketchUp
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member10354 on February 16, 2012, 01:17:25 pm
AutoCAD
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member2628 on February 16, 2012, 01:28:37 pm
Sketchup for sure!

And bonzaï is not listed...
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member877 on February 16, 2012, 01:29:30 pm
autocad & 3dsmax
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member14804 on February 16, 2012, 01:56:18 pm
Sketchup and Revit
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member2853 on February 16, 2012, 03:37:38 pm
hello
Archicad
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member4558 on February 16, 2012, 03:40:46 pm
REVIT ARCHITECTURE !!!!
The best !!!
But now LUMION is also THE BEST !!!
 ;)
(http://)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member918 on February 16, 2012, 08:51:53 pm
For Architects, Revit is best because it is a BIM authoring tool. The documents, schedules,
Mech./Elect./Plumb. Engineering, Structural Eng. is all done in Revit.

So using SU creates a "dual modeling effort" which is best avoided--thus our choice for Revit.

Sometimes SU is chosen because "it's faster"--but that is a loaded question. "Faster" to do WHAT? Produce a throw-away surface model that has no intelligence/BIM ability? Yes.
Is SU the best overall tool for Architects? No.

Another advantage of Revit is it has Mental Ray built-in, and export via FBX to Max is a very good workflow for raytracing renders and animations.

Now that Lumion has provided a Revit plug-in, the "viz" solution is clear. Revit + Lumion = Awesome!

cheers  ;)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: BMcIsaac on February 16, 2012, 11:21:29 pm
I appreciate your enthusiasm and yes as a BIM based tool great workflow.....but...here is my protest from the "surface modeler" (although you know we have solid models now and a ruby army for integration and BIM)

Quote
"it's faster"--but that is a loaded question.

You can't compare...lock me in a room with your best. I'll give you a full order of magnitude head start and be finnished and dusted off same time as you. I don't normally need BIM I'm  more an illustrator....... But I know speed is pointless in the context of BIM.

BIM requires data whether in SU or Revit. It is still hard work that gets you accurate results. When I do need dynamic and parametric info I can use Sketchup quickly and accurately.

My customers are always satisfied in either case but Revit and SU are companions not competitors.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member26280 on February 17, 2012, 01:44:18 am
Revit Architecture
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1739 on February 17, 2012, 02:19:46 am
Since we can only choose one I picked Rhino cuz it hasn't gotten any love yet.

Modo or FormZ anyone?
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1514 on February 17, 2012, 08:09:46 am
It is perpetual and vain argue. Selection depends of tasks and fields of works.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member21593 on February 17, 2012, 09:44:24 am
A mix of programs provides a unified model. We have recently test how we can put together a comprehensive model for visualization in Lumion using Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler, Autodesk Revit Architecture and SketchUp. So far this looks very good to make quick visualizations. I am also a big driver of that Revit can also be used for landscape architecture and urban design. See link - http://revitlandscape.blogspot.com/ (http://revitlandscape.blogspot.com/)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member3582 on February 17, 2012, 10:17:41 am
sketchup
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member909 on February 17, 2012, 11:17:26 am
Softimage  8)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member2853 on February 17, 2012, 11:51:13 am
I'm curious to know how many architect answered to this question ...
I'm perplex when i see a majority of SU and 3ds   :-D
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member27036 on February 17, 2012, 11:52:02 am
More power to sketchup + Lumion!!
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1414 on February 17, 2012, 02:37:27 pm
Sketchup.
Not only used as presentation tool but also as a design tool. This in combination with a pile of blank A4 sheets and a sharp pencil }) Yes the old analog way!
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1236 on February 17, 2012, 02:46:31 pm
Autocad & a bit of 3Ds Max.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member918 on February 17, 2012, 03:16:09 pm
I appreciate your enthusiasm and yes as a BIM based tool great workflow.....but...here is my protest from the "surface modeler" (although you know we have solid models now and a ruby army for integration and BIM)

You can't compare...lock me in a room with your best. I'll give you a full order of magnitude head start and be finnished and dusted off same time as you. I don't normally need BIM I'm  more an illustrator....... But I know speed is pointless in the context of BIM.

BIM requires data whether in SU or Revit. It is still hard work that gets you accurate results. When I do need dynamic and parametric info I can use Sketchup quickly and accurately.

My customers are always satisfied in either case but Revit and SU are companions not competitors.



Yes--agreed; a bit of apples and oranges comparison. If your only task is to quickly generate a 3D model and bring it into Lumion, then SU may be a good choice. My point is, if your task is also the do ARCHITECTURE and BUILD PROJECTS, then Revit wins hands down--sorry, "Ruby Solids" in SU don't stand a chance vs a real BIM tool like Revit. I commend SU's efforts, but they are not going to compete with Autodesk in BIM. Try linking a MS Databse to your "ruby solids" model and push/pull data back and forth. LOL.

And--Just for fun, I'd be willing to take the modeling challenge against any SU modeler. Try modeling anything "organic" in SU, see this link, as only one example: buildz: Elephants and Donuts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DwOe_1XnJE#ws)
Then panelize the curtainwall system and report the Information to a database.

But at the end of the day--this is a "viz" forum, and most users here are not true Architects--they are more CG artists and soley focused on purely "viz" workflow. Architects are doing WAY more than just "viz", so our choice of tools is different. Revit does an AMAZING job at giving the best of both worlds here. And it's becoming more and more mainstream every day. Glad Lumion has provided the plug-in, so us "Archies" can join in the RT game-engine fun, while maintaining an efficient BIM workflow to get real projects built and satisfy Owners.

cheers  ;)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: BMcIsaac on February 17, 2012, 04:08:01 pm
As a blue collar artist, visualizer trying to get a good image out, I feel a little diminished at the moment. We deal with such simple things as you pointed out cb.
I know that renderings are just trivial...they don't effect your BIM at all...just pretty pictures you know. I mean we don't even need to understand what your drawings are.....we just attach polygons to polygons.

If you want to refresh your knowledge of SU you might search for studios using it in their workflow. ....Some are producing their own ruby applications specific to that vertical industry.
At the street level...there are many sculpting tools that have had time to evolve as well...check smustard they package (and will build) commercial rubies....and there is a long list.

I don't want you to use SU if you don't want to....SU doesn't want you to use it either...lol

Cheers! I'm going back to work on my model renderings...I'll leave the numbers in your capable hands thank you.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: BMcIsaac on February 17, 2012, 04:29:33 pm
..one last thought before this goes  too off topic.

I am lucky enough to work with a couple of busy developers. We produce 4 to 6 designs of a property sometimes within weeks and we approach multiple buyers.....Sorry but that is not a job for Revit. Once the job is sold it goes to engineering and you guys get to put Revit to work.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member918 on February 17, 2012, 05:39:45 pm
Modelhead,

This is exactly ON topic: "Which modeling software do you use?"

Quite the contrary. We start in Revit at Conceptual Design Stages. We can produce 4-6 Design Options in a single day. With all the BIM advantages.
We do the SAME exact thing as SU; only it's far better because you have BIM, not a throw-away model, and then have to MODEL IT AGAIN in Revit. Not a good workflow. We tie the rendering to the "real model". My point is that as Architects we are responsible for the quick concept design, the "viz" and the BIM--and getting the building built. So give us a break. We have a lot on our plate. And we are learning your job, thanks to new tools such as Lumion. Try doing the reverse--LOL. It has taken us almost 30 years to get to this point. Lots of hard work;
and now we are reaping the benefits.

Advantages of Revit and it's Conceptual Massing:
Quick, intuitive modeling of complex geometry.
Fast; VERY robust set of modeling tools.
Automated Schedules of Areas; Mass Floors, Curtain Walls/Panels, Roofs, Walls, etc.
( try doing a complex Area Calc in SU ).
Adaptive Components ( no such thing in SU )
Parametric modeling; parameters driving Form; check out Project Vasari!
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F8ACB9BED56DE576 (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F8ACB9BED56DE576)

Vasari and Dynamo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk9soDO_Qfg#ws)


Energy Analysis exports to gbxml to the "cloud" in Green Building Studio; for LEED, etc.
Coordination of MEP and Structural Models
4D and 5D BIM; export Revit into Navisworks, etc.(which also does rendering and 4D animation)

The list goes on and on. In the AEC world,there is much more to it than just "viz"; We are searching for a unified approach to link the "viz" with BIM; having separate Architecture and Viz "silos" is counterproductive. It's precisely why we are having this "friendly exchange". Lumion is purpose built for Architects, derived from a "gaming engine". Two different "worlds" (pun intended). Welcome aboard.  ::)

Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1739 on February 17, 2012, 05:55:23 pm
Nice.
Also there is the health, safety and welfare of the public aspect - code..blah blah blah.

If an Architects final product has a 'bug' in it.  They get sued. 
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member918 on February 17, 2012, 05:59:50 pm
Nice.
Also there is the health, safety and welfare of the public aspect - code..blah blah blah.

If an Architects final product has a 'bug' in it.  They get sued.  

Yep. Ever put your wet seal on any plans? It's not just "eye-candy".  8)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1505 on February 17, 2012, 08:26:51 pm
Definitely an unanswerable debate. I'm sure most of us use many different programs for different applications for many different situations. I know a lot of companies are not taking the Revit pill yet and many have very legitimate reasons. It is a costly and cumbersome transfer from a companies bread and butter software to Revit. In many cases it is not needed or practical yet. Inevitable, maybe Soon, but not yet.

Sketchup has its place in our workflow because it is quick, efficient, intuitive and very inexpensive. Those qualities can not be overlooked. We are able to get a team of people working in SU on many options and large projects together very quickly and with little training if need be. The price? mostly FREE. that has been a very powerful motivator to run down a simple model road with no concern about construction drawings because we are in schematic phase. nothing is really wasted, lost or thrown away. its just developed, explored and turned into whatever type of presentation needed to please the client or sell the project. period.

I don't think that anybody here would argue that they are trying to produce a set of construction documents with SU. It is designed to produce simple or complex models depending on the user and the need and it does that very efficiently.

There will be a more clear convergence in the future for sure, but as long as many "little" people can provide for themselves using inexpensive solutions, i believe there will be a very reliable market for the likes of sketchup and lumion. i for one enjoy any healthy competition with autodesk. ANY and ALL. It is ridiculous for many people to be expected to pay for bloated packages time and time again when the goal is to sell a project, produce it in a responsible, professional manner, and get paid for that service.

The firms i have worked for have been very successful and manged to stay in business using Autocad for CD's and other modeling programs for schematic, design development and presentation models. Heck, we've even been able to make money on projects and impress our clients!!!  ;)

I also exist and flourish driving a ford focus in light of the fact that the rolles royce exists and is much, much better. these CAD and 3d arguments just never seem to lose their luster! :-D

Bob
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1739 on February 17, 2012, 08:38:06 pm
Nice Bob.  Very true too.

Used all the software and I would have to say that Hexagon 2 is the best for everything.   ;)  :-D

Honestly, BIM has nothing on the power of Hexagon 2.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member918 on February 17, 2012, 08:45:37 pm
Definitely an unanswerable debate. I'm sure most of us use many different programs for different applications for many different situations. I know a lot of companies are not taking the Revit pill yet and many have very legitimate reasons. It is a costly and cumbersome transfer from a companies bread and butter software to Revit. In many cases it is not needed or practical yet. Inevitable, maybe Soon, but not yet.

Sketchup has its place in our workflow because it is quick, efficient, intuitive and very inexpensive. Those qualities can not be overlooked. We are able to get a team of people working in SU on many options and large projects together very quickly and with little training if need be. The price? mostly FREE. that has been a very powerful motivator to run down a simple model road with no concern about construction drawings because we are in schematic phase. nothing is really wasted, lost or thrown away. its just developed, explored and turned into whatever type of presentation needed to please the client or sell the project. period.

I don't think that anybody here would argue that they are trying to produce a set of construction documents with SU. It is designed to produce simple or complex models depending on the user and the need and it does that very efficiently.

There will be a more clear convergence in the future for sure, but as long as many "little" people can provide for themselves using inexpensive solutions, i believe there will be a very reliable market for the likes of sketchup and lumion. i for one enjoy any healthy competition with autodesk. ANY and ALL. It is ridiculous for many people to be expected to pay for bloated packages time and time again when the goal is to sell a project, produce it in a responsible, professional manner, and get paid for that service.

The firms i have worked for have been very successful and manged to stay in business using Autocad for CD's and other modeling programs for schematic, design development and presentation models. Heck, we've even been able to make money on projects and impress our clients!!!  ;)

I also exist and flourish driving a ford focus in light of the fact that the rolles royce exists and is much, much better. these CAD and 3d arguments just never seem to lose their luster! :-D

Bob

Fair enough. I agree, it's a very difficult conversation--but I like to address these things and have healthy discussions! I suppose I'm trying to answer The original question, "Which modeling software do you use" from an Architetural firm/business perspective. You can "get by" for a while, with the "old school" tools and methods mentioned above, but what will you do when the clients begin REQUIRING BIM??? ( Like the GSA already does in the US, as do many of the 50 states, and the UK is now beginning to require it as well on all public work.) There is a REASON why this is happening. Owners want BIM because it produces a better, more integrated design and building process, less RFIs and a better outcome ( profit/success). Until you start digging in and embracing BIM--you will not "see the light" and continue to hold on to current tools, methods and workflows. It's a "people" problem, more than a technology problem. And from a strictly "viz" way of looking at it, we want to have the MODEL produce all the work--renderings, animations, colored plans, elevations, sections, etc. throughout the entire process and even into FM. That is the trend in the AEC industry. We are way ahead at this point--but I predict, in 5 years or less these "debates" will be a thing of the past. Thus my emphasis on Revit as the modeling software of choice for Architects. If you can streamline the workflow into 1 or 2 software packages, and not "model twice", or make a SU model, then do all the plans in 2d--etc.--you are miles ahead, and more profitable. It's a business decision. And FWIW--you should give Revit a try, before scoffing at it. Take a look at the videos I posted. Hard to deny that is some powerful stuff......Enough said--just trying to help the "purist viz" crowd understand the AEC workflow, and how Lumion can play a vital part of it with Revit.  ;)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1739 on February 17, 2012, 08:54:22 pm
Revit provides an opportunity to put the power back in the Architects court as well.
NEEDED!

Below was a BIM project that came in under budget and on time (it was rumored).  
Heard it worked out very well for all involved in it.  Course it is old news.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member1940 on February 17, 2012, 10:29:30 pm
3D Max & Acad,
regards
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member11673 on February 19, 2012, 05:11:12 am
Sketchup. May be not the best - but certainly the cheapest and least complicated.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member17665 on February 19, 2012, 08:38:23 am
Sketchup
Trying Maya.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member15857 on February 19, 2012, 04:31:37 pm
Archicad 15 90%
Cinema 4D 10%
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member21342 on February 19, 2012, 04:39:17 pm
I used The sims 3 for testing the rooms sizes, together with Interior and the visualization of the "humans" walking around and using the room.

Worth notice is that The sims 3 is still jusst a game, and there is limitations on how high and how big building area you can build on.. and that you cant do organic models etc. But for my project where I had 60 people sharing alot of rooms in this "social apartment house" then it was really good to see fast renderings with furnitures and humans in the social spaces, and jusst get a fast visualisation if the room should be bigger or smaller.. and how the furnitures would be placed and the humans move in the room.

This will not delete the need for the "heavyer" softwares... but the sims 3 and in the future the sims 4 may play a big role in the first devoloping stages of the architect projects.

Jusst dont get stuck playing the game instead of doing your work ;).
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member21342 on February 19, 2012, 04:51:05 pm
And... about the sims 3 and Sketchup.

If the building is quite square.. for maximum 6 ppl and not more than 3 or max 4 floors... I would use the sims 3 for the fast model (depends on how good the render musst be and if there are any strange forms in the house) .. but for a normal Familyhouse I think that The sims 3 could! absolutly be used instead of Sketchup... Even letting the "client" design theyre homes themself and then after that give them to an Experienced Architect.

Im jusst saying that dont judge out The sims 3 jusst becouse its labeled as a game. With the use of some cheats and mixing in the sims 3 in the right projects at the right time, the I have a feeling it can be stronger than any other solution out there, making the project move faster forward and with better result.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member26445 on February 19, 2012, 05:13:17 pm
sketchup
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member14374 on February 19, 2012, 09:30:24 pm
sketchup too
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member2990 on February 19, 2012, 10:05:31 pm
Revit for anything BIM related, and FormZ when we need total freedom plus precise & clean geometry, such as in set- or exhibition design. Currently trying to have those two talk a bit better to each other.
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member3846 on February 20, 2012, 01:18:23 am
Blender  ;)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member3846 on February 20, 2012, 01:20:59 am
Sketchup. May be not the best - but certainly the cheapest and least complicated.
blender is cheaper  ;)
Title: Re: Which modeling tool do you use?
Post by: Member24439 on February 20, 2012, 10:00:00 am
Sketchup