Thank you for taking the time to create these behind-the-scenes presentations! It's hard to find these professional applied-use perspectives. I am learning Rhino, Blender and UE5 or D5 render for arch viz as my pipelines. I feel that this is going to be the best workflow choice but had to start experimenting and watching millions of videos to figure this out. I looked at Blender initially thinking it is (will be) the future, but I just didn't find the "accuracy" I needed/wanted in creating the initial structures. I was also having a very frustrating time learning and trying to figure out how to make my modeling accurate and then downloading or buying add-ons that seemed like they'd be "The Answer." I bought Construction Lines for instance, just to model a specific dining table. But it just wasn't functioning properly and certainly not like the demo. I tried disabling other add-ons to see if they were causing interference... I don't know if it's a Blender 4 version problem, or Mac problem versus Windows... I was exhausting myself assessing and getting nowhere at the same time. And it was at that point I gave up and quit trying to start the facade in Blender. I was worried that as open-source, and with these add-ons, maybe this just isn't integrated as tightly as say, Rhino. And I just don't have more time to figure it out. In Blender, even with the add-ons (Homebuilder and ArchiPack) I would say that for now, I think it's better I take the CAD drawings / PDFs and model the facade in Rhino. Homebuilder and ArchiPack in Blender however, I feel will make for a much quicker, more-efficient process for adding cabinetry, doors and windows to that model, that are easier to swap the "looks" if necessary. Throw in a couch... I don't want to take the time to model those items in Rhino, just model an accurate facade with cutouts in Rhino and then place those elements in Blender via all the model libraries available. (At least this is what I'm hoping at my level of experience! LOL) Homebuilder is working on a library connected to real-world order-able manufacturer assets. It will be interesting to see where that goes. But then that's where/why I'd want to start with an accurate facade in Rhino! Right now I'm experimenting and trying to learn what procedures I should do in Rhino, which in Blender, and which to leave for UE, D5 or Cycles etc. People say Rhino is "easy to learn." For me, I don't think I'd describe it as easy. I am still having a difficult time mastering the tools just in scaling, inference etc. Maybe it's my ingrained Adobe Illustrator background interfering with the concepts. I can see Rhino is a deeply capable program and I feel more comfortable with it in the time I've spent than I did in Blender. Right now, I just see Rhino and Blender each having different strengths with neither being a full solution for what I want to do. In my research, I saw some impressive render images and animation including things like lit fireplaces and TVs that play video, from a Windows-based program ArchLineXP. This seems to do it all from soup to nuts. It even did automatic 3D from 2D floorplan generation utilizing AI integration. For me, isn't a perfect solution since it's only for Windows. But what it does look like is a fast intermediary solution to knock out arch viz projects in a shorter amount of time. Everyone talks about time. I don't know that I'd call it as "affordable" as they state. The Rhino/Blender option is affordable. Then there's the issue of whether you need to work in/be integrated with the typical pipelines of other professionals... And also your ultimate project presentation/usability goals (like first person VR/AR with an interface and materials changeability in the environment or real-time render update). That seems to be where UE5 strength comes into play. The options to consider have been overwhelming frankly!! But videos like yours help me gain perspective and opportunity to get a look under the hood and hear about your thinking process that I otherwise wouldn't have. All of these scenarios are composting in the hopper of my mind.
That's fabulous, I feel your struggle hahaha It depends where you are in your journey too of course, personally, I spend in the office most of my time between Revit/Rhino (working at WilkinsonEyre at the moment) and Blender. Rhino through all workstages, from competitions to some 2d detail work (often as good as just using AutoCad), both in solo and professional context, Revit just for Stage 3 + (RIBA) till construction, just in professional context. And Blender on more abstract and 'non-architectural' competitions, almost only on solo projects. If I had to recommend, purely for arch viz, I would go for Enscape (super user friendly), Unreal (for high quality assets and if interested game design) or Vray/Twin motion (for pure arch viz). I always go for Blender, simply because: 1) it's free 2) getting better every year 3) I want better animation tools Every tool if mastered can look superb, some with more learning curves (Blender is a big one tbh hahaha), so I would only recommend you have, if intending to use more than one, one that is relevant to your future work (industry standard) and if another one that is focused on what you exactly want to get out of it. If any specific questions happy to help! Thanks again for you comment
Nice tutorial 👍🏼
Thank you for taking the time to create these behind-the-scenes presentations! It's hard to find these professional applied-use perspectives.
I am learning Rhino, Blender and UE5 or D5 render for arch viz as my pipelines. I feel that this is going to be the best workflow choice but had to start experimenting and watching millions of videos to figure this out. I looked at Blender initially thinking it is (will be) the future, but I just didn't find the "accuracy" I needed/wanted in creating the initial structures. I was also having a very frustrating time learning and trying to figure out how to make my modeling accurate and then downloading or buying add-ons that seemed like they'd be "The Answer." I bought Construction Lines for instance, just to model a specific dining table. But it just wasn't functioning properly and certainly not like the demo. I tried disabling other add-ons to see if they were causing interference... I don't know if it's a Blender 4 version problem, or Mac problem versus Windows... I was exhausting myself assessing and getting nowhere at the same time. And it was at that point I gave up and quit trying to start the facade in Blender. I was worried that as open-source, and with these add-ons, maybe this just isn't integrated as tightly as say, Rhino. And I just don't have more time to figure it out. In Blender, even with the add-ons (Homebuilder and ArchiPack) I would say that for now, I think it's better I take the CAD drawings / PDFs and model the facade in Rhino.
Homebuilder and ArchiPack in Blender however, I feel will make for a much quicker, more-efficient process for adding cabinetry, doors and windows to that model, that are easier to swap the "looks" if necessary. Throw in a couch... I don't want to take the time to model those items in Rhino, just model an accurate facade with cutouts in Rhino and then place those elements in Blender via all the model libraries available. (At least this is what I'm hoping at my level of experience! LOL) Homebuilder is working on a library connected to real-world order-able manufacturer assets. It will be interesting to see where that goes. But then that's where/why I'd want to start with an accurate facade in Rhino! Right now I'm experimenting and trying to learn what procedures I should do in Rhino, which in Blender, and which to leave for UE, D5 or Cycles etc.
People say Rhino is "easy to learn." For me, I don't think I'd describe it as easy. I am still having a difficult time mastering the tools just in scaling, inference etc. Maybe it's my ingrained Adobe Illustrator background interfering with the concepts. I can see Rhino is a deeply capable program and I feel more comfortable with it in the time I've spent than I did in Blender. Right now, I just see Rhino and Blender each having different strengths with neither being a full solution for what I want to do.
In my research, I saw some impressive render images and animation including things like lit fireplaces and TVs that play video, from a Windows-based program ArchLineXP. This seems to do it all from soup to nuts. It even did automatic 3D from 2D floorplan generation utilizing AI integration. For me, isn't a perfect solution since it's only for Windows. But what it does look like is a fast intermediary solution to knock out arch viz projects in a shorter amount of time. Everyone talks about time. I don't know that I'd call it as "affordable" as they state. The Rhino/Blender option is affordable. Then there's the issue of whether you need to work in/be integrated with the typical pipelines of other professionals... And also your ultimate project presentation/usability goals (like first person VR/AR with an interface and materials changeability in the environment or real-time render update). That seems to be where UE5 strength comes into play.
The options to consider have been overwhelming frankly!! But videos like yours help me gain perspective and opportunity to get a look under the hood and hear about your thinking process that I otherwise wouldn't have. All of these scenarios are composting in the hopper of my mind.
That's fabulous, I feel your struggle hahaha
It depends where you are in your journey too of course, personally, I spend in the office most of my time between Revit/Rhino (working at WilkinsonEyre at the moment) and Blender.
Rhino through all workstages, from competitions to some 2d detail work (often as good as just using AutoCad), both in solo and professional context, Revit just for Stage 3 + (RIBA) till construction, just in professional context. And Blender on more abstract and 'non-architectural' competitions, almost only on solo projects.
If I had to recommend, purely for arch viz, I would go for Enscape (super user friendly), Unreal (for high quality assets and if interested game design) or Vray/Twin motion (for pure arch viz).
I always go for Blender, simply because:
1) it's free
2) getting better every year
3) I want better animation tools
Every tool if mastered can look superb, some with more learning curves (Blender is a big one tbh hahaha), so I would only recommend you have, if intending to use more than one, one that is relevant to your future work (industry standard) and if another one that is focused on what you exactly want to get out of it.
If any specific questions happy to help!
Thanks again for you comment