3D Photo Realistic Programmes

[breege85]

Hi,

I was wondering does anyone know of the best 3D programme available at the moment for photo-realistic images for architect's? Is anyone aware of courses available and if these can be funded if you are working a 3-day week?

Thanks

Breege

[onq]

Breege, the FAS office has a noticeof a course for Revit Architecture run out of the Dundrum Office Park Dublin 14 for Revit Architecture and costing €500 or so.
It may not be what you're after exactly, but Revit and Archicad seem to be flavour of the month at the moment for office workers.
Over subscribed at the moment, but get your name on the list - attendances required two afternoons a week.
If you're on Jobseeker's you can get the course fees waived I think.

ONQ.

[Bren88]

ONQ, Revit is a BIM program. Not a rendering program. (neither is archicad)
It does deal with buildings in 3 dimensions, but this is construction and assembly, not representation.


OP, for good photo realistic renders. You need two programs a modeling program and a render engine. You could use a revit model as a basis, but this would be a foolish way to go. Time consuming, expensive and above all not specific to the job.
Learn a program like 3DMax. This is one of the more common and versatile modeling programs. It has its own built in render engine, which will be fine for starting. But very soon you will want to get yourself a dedicated engine. Rhino is very good.

[Blisterman]

Personally I learned 3Ds max from book, The 3DS max bible I think it was called, and also through online tutorials.

I wouldn't spend hundreds on a course, if you're already on a tight budget.

[breege85]

Thanks for your comments and advice.

3D max seems to be a popular programme so I might give that a try. Can you download 3D max from Limewire or a similar downloading engine? I must do a google search and seem what I can come up with.

Thanks again.

[onq]

Bren88 I am an expert on neither program so I'm happy to stand corrected.

The firm also appear to offer a course on 3DS Max

http://www.paradigm.ie/

Of course if you're in the cheap you could download

Google's Sketchup - sketchup.google.com

or

Blender - http://www.blender.org

or DAZ - http://www.daz3d.com/studio/

Here is a more complete list of free 3D software

http://www.software4free.org/3d.html

Gaining experience with the concepts and how to approach 3D rendering may be of use for your own office on a budget or for personal use.

However, employers are likely to want you to employ more mainstream packages and BIM - Bleedin Idiotquantitysurveyors Moveover - based software seems to be flavour of the month.

ONQ