Should I buy 3DS?
6 messages in this thread
I am starting research on 3DS for my company. If we import Autocad drawings
into 3DS, we'll need to draft in 3D using a product like Softdesk's Auto
Architect, correct? What would the learning curve be on 3DS for an
experienced Autocad drafter? i.e. How soon could this individual produce
renderings suitable for presentation to a client?
How is the purchase of the high-pwered hardware and the purchase of this
software justified to management?
Hopefully, many more on this forum will respond to your question, since they're
the ones using 3D Studio and (presumably) justifying the results to their
bosses. I'm not familiar with Auto Architect; why don't you create your 3D
architectural designs directly in AutoCAD? Converting these to 3D Studio is
relatively straightforward. As to a learning curve for an experienced AutoCAD
drafter, I'd give it a few days before you start seeing initial results; two to
three weeks to see some still rendered images with materials, lights, etc., and
so on. (There are probably others online here who can offer more accurate time
estimates from personal experience.) As for the "high-powered hardware," I'm
not sure which hardware you mean. The computers themselves are cheap today. If
you're referring to video equipment, I'd recommend going out to a service
bureau to render your walkthroughs.
Finally, walkthroughs. This and rendered stills is the way you justify it to
management. Visuals help to sell a client. Better visuals sell better. Also,
once you've got a model in 3D Studio with assigned materials, it's relatively
easy to alter, say, the materials and show a client different color schemes,
for example.
Anyway, I'm not a salesman or a dealer, and I'm definitely _not_ an objective
source. Anyone else out there want to add to this?
– Jack
Curtis,
Auto-Architect certainly makes drafting 3D AutoCAD drawings much easier than
trying to construct them with bare ACAD. For realistic 3D models suitable for
rendering, there's nothing better in third-party applications than A-A,
although there are many other ACAD architectural products around that you could
look into: Ketiv, Architectural Power Tools, etc. ASG Architectural has been
Softdesk's primary competitor in this area and is still a viable alternative,
but was recently merged into the Softdesk fold, and will be part of a combined
product line in the future.
Michael [Softdesk Registered Consultant]
Curtis,
You ask many questions (in an Indian tone <grin>) and I'll try to
address some of them.
1) Maybe someone might have saved a recent message I posted regarding
Architecture and animations (I don't think I did). If so, it was
quite long and detailed on an effective method to incoporate
animations into the business plan/servce offerings of an architecture
firm. You may find it interesting reading.
2) You are correct regarding AutoArchitect and other add-ons (like
Architectual Power Tools is another one). Some have been
specifically designed to make designing and detailing in 3D much
easier. I would get verification from the mfgr if they are 3DS aware
and if their 3D geometry is 3DS compatible.
3) There is a new product which ships with every 3DS (for a while)
called Visual Link. This product allows you to set-up your animation
from within ACAD12. This would be very handy, since by pruchasing as
many copies of Visual Link as you have ACAD stations, the basic
animation can be defined at the CAD station, thus not "bogging-down"
your 3DS station. Also, this program _generates_ a 3DS file directly
and therefore there is no "conversion" of "importing" issue…. very
nice!
4) In reference to how long to become productive, that will be highly
dependent on the operator. As a "for instance", we just broght on a
Perdue Univ. student for the summer (Junior). He had basic ACAD in
school. He sat down with the tutorial (4-days) and with a little
guidance from us, he is off and running doing some really great stuff
(1.5 weeks later). His enthusiasm has a lot to do with his progress,
but it is hard not to get enthusiastic about this program. You'll
find your person working late … just because they are having so
much fun. Makes for happy employees.
5) Make sure your 3DS dealer is on the ball. Technical support is
very important with this program … even more so that with ACAD. IT
IS WELL
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WORTH PAYING A LITTLE MORE FOR 3DS for a competent dealer. If your dealer
offers a 1 yr tech support contract … take it. Also, you may want to bring
your dealer in on the 1st couple animations as a consultant. If they are up on
the software, they can provide suggestions in modeling approach, storyboarding,
material and lighting selection which will not only save you time (=$) but also
make the final product more effective.
Again, I had an entire business discussion written on why it is SO IMPORTANT
for architects to use 3DS. If someone saved it, would you please E-mail it to
Curtis. Basically, this is the direction things are going. You WILL
eventually be forced by your competition to have this capability. By acting
now, you will be a leader in your market and by effectively integrating 3DS
into your service offerings (and there are right ways and wrong ways to do
that) you will make more money, have fewer competitors (=+$) AND have a happier
client.
Ang, President Dynamic Technologies, Inc.
I would also add that I have found Autodesk's Advanced Modeling
Extentions (AME) invaluable in helping create 3D entities in ACAD for
transport into 3DS (although you may find you need to do AME things
at 1/4 scale and scale them up in 3DS due to a bug in AME involving
things at architectural scale).
Dave