Artefact 3 - Training staff with Google sketchup7

The purpose of this artefact was to see if it was possible to train staff to gain a certain level of understanding of a free 3D software package such as Google sketchup 7 so that they can keep up with the growing demands of architects having a good working knowledge of a 3D software. The subject that was chosen was a student from the interior architect course within multimedia. With no experience with any 3D software she was asked to create a house with the use of Google sketchup 7 and also texture the building. To help the student to navigate around the interface of Google sketchup I too had to learn the software briefly to help with any problems or inquires and also used a few links for online tutorials through Youtube. The student was able to create a house and texture it, when asked how did she get on with creating the house, she explained that at first it was hard for her to understand the interface and to remember what icon does what action. However after searching through some of the basic tutorials online she was able to navigate around the interface with confidence. What I noticed when viewing the file was that the model seemed fairly basic and did not seem to be in proportion, so for the next artefact I will be aiming to create a scene with a few models to be in proportion with the rest of the scene in Google sketchup. This will also look at how an individual with working knowledge of different 3D software works with a new software package.

Artefact 4 - Learning another 3D software

This artefact is to test how an individual with a sound understanding of one 3D software package goes about creating a scene with a different software package A kitchen had previously been designed by myself on 3D studio max, what I wanted to do was to see how easy it would be for me to re-create the same models to the right measurements in Google sketchup7. When creating the models it was fairly straight forward as the interface seemed self explanatory and the tools that they had was also very beneficial such things as measuring out my models and being able to re-size them. However the final outcome the models did not seem to be as well presented as what I had originally created on 3D studio max. Showing both kitchen designs to my client he thought that the design made on Google sketchup7 was a good idea for the presenting stages of my ideas before the final design which would be created on 3D studio max. The benefits that I found from using sketchup are that it is a free software so anyone can use it and there is no rendering time so it is a feasible for architectural firms to begin using software packages such as sketchup when presenting their ideas. The next artefact will be looking into transition by following an interior architect student and look at the stages of development of their ideas from the stages of blueprint to the final model, using both 3D studio max and Google sketchup to help in the presenting stages and final design stages.

Here are the some Screenshots of what i created with the use of a new software package

Artefact 5- Transistion in the workforce

Transition in the work force -This artefact was to explore the pre-production stages when working the architectural work force. I had a client who asked me to design a 3D model for them for one of their projects in 3D studio max and they wished to have a test model to be supplied with it as well for their presentation. I was later advised that they had personally created their own test model with the use of Google Sketchup as they have recently been advised by the company. Designing the product on 3D studio max easy and when I had presented the final model the client was happy and when I was presented with their Google Sketchup model it looked basic. Overall the client was able to present four different types of design styles by using blue print design, a test model design with the use of Google Sketchup, a rendered model using 3D studio max and their cardboard model which was their final design. From this artefact I was able to grasp an understanding of how the production stages of how an architectural firm would run, and noticed that though companies will hire out freelancers or 3D design firms to create their final designs for promotional offers they would rather have one of their own agents to create the test model on a simple 3D software like Google Sketchup to save on such things as costs. For my final artefact I will be interviewing two individuals to gain a deeper understanding of the architectural industry and why companies choose to use 3D models to present and promote their designs before being built. One participant will be from a 3D design company and another will be a lecturer of architectural interior design who teaches students the use of 3D software.

here is the final video for my client project

and here is a test model design which i presented to the client using google sketchup

Client project

so heres a few images and videos for the client project that i have recently completed. I'm happy with the results and so was the client, however there are some minor errors that had occured inregards to positioning which could have been amended if i had created a few test renders earlier on in the project.

SPP- 8 images

so here are the 8 images that i will be submitting for my SPP i find that these are the best pieces of work that i have to offer. Most of them are fairly recent work as i think that this year has been my best and so it should be seeing that its our last year so i got to give it all i got. Now for the write up.

here are a few more screen shots for the kitchen, i'm near to completing the kitchen just need to sort out a few lighting issues and i should be ready to start rendering.

client- a few renders

Here are a few of the renders that i have been meaning to put up, the client that i am working for is Howdens Joinery who have recently taken over MFI and deals with kitchens and bathrooms and as part of my final year project i am creating a walkthrough for their website and promotional DVD's

A few are for the 1st design for the bathroom and the others are part of the kitchen with a model of the hob a layout of the kitcehn and just a look at the kitchen cabinets.

For my second artefact i have tested lighting within 3D studio max and it's effects and how it affects its rendering times when used within a scene. I have rendered out four 6 second scenes of the same shot 2 with lighting involved and 2 without and also different resolution outputs to test if the quailty is that much more noticable and if it is more time consuming to render it out. Through these experiments i am hoping to find out whether it is worth using these effects and resolutions for the architectural industry as time means money and theses uses could cost more to create.

I created an office scene that took over 2hrs to model and just moved the camrea from one side of the room to the other.

Here is the 1st scene, this is without any lighting and is a resolution of 768x576.

This scene took 2hours and 33mins to render

Here is the 2nd scene, this is with lighting and same resolution of 768x576 with these scene we can see more depth into the scene with the shadows on the wall and shadings on the table.

This scene took 2hours and 35mins to render

Here is the 3rd scene this is a resolution of 1280x720. This may look similar in quailty to that of the 1st scene but when played on full screen there is a noticable difference in which it is alot more clearer and smoother as it plays.

This scene took 4hours and 46mins

Here is the final scene with lighting and at the resolution of 1280x720 yet again you will not be able to notice much difference until you view it at a maximized window but the quailty is yet again more clearer and smoother when it plays.

This scene took 5hours 11mins to render.

I looked into the resolution that trinetram are using, they are a expert and experienced 3D Designers, capable to visualize and convert designs into Photo Realistic Rendering, Architectural 3D Design. Not one of their images that i viewed were exceeded 800x600.

From what i have gather though the quailty of the rendered scene is more favourable due to clear and smooth video it takes almost double the amount of time to get this effect. which makes me wonder is it really worth it?

Fidelity within visualisation

One of my artefacts is based around the subject of fidelity within 3D visualisation within architecture and how the audience can tell what is real and what is not and why should we settle for something fake when we can actually have the real thing. As i have said in my RPP essay. "With the use of 3D architecture we are able to create buildings from a small house to a city scale. The use of 3D architecture is not trying to make you believe it is real, but what can be created, how a building will effect its environment before it is even built, help the industry as a whole with the changes of customers tastes and keep up with modern history."

My first artefact is to show a few images and conduct a research questionnaire asking the public if they can tell what is real and what is created with the use of 3D visualisation. I belive that this will be beneficial to my research to show the benefits that 3D design has within the architectural industry