Bachelor of Science (Honor) in Architecture
Computer Applications (ARC 2723/CSC60503)
This module is about generating Computer 3-Dimensional drawings. Students were given lectures and tutorials to experiment with the software. The aim of this module is to develop student skills in 3D max and to introduce the modelling application of Rhinoceros. Students must upload their working progress on their Working In Progress (WIP) regularly which serves as a communication and mutual learning platform.
Project 1: Modelling of an Architectural Design
Students are to select ONE building from available resources and do research in order to gather necessary information such as plan, elevations, sections and perspective drawings. A complete model of the selected architectural design were to create using 3DS Max or Rhinoceros or a combination of both. The Work in Progress (WIP) print screens and test renderings must be uploaded to the above online platform REGULARLY to show progressive evidence of the working process. It will serve as a communication and mutual learning platform.
For me, I have chosen the building Koya No Sumika by mA-Architects as my building to create and render. Koya No Sumika is a building added to the west side of a family house, this extension provides a separate living and dining space for a couple and is connected to the main building by a glass and timber passageway.
I manage to use Rhinoceros first to create the massing, later transfer the file into 3DS Max and render. Below are the screen shots of my work in progress and also my final product of Koya No Sumika building.
Orthographic such as plan, section and elevation of Koya No Sumika building was prepared in Autocad beforehand.
Work in Progress (WIP)
Project 1 - modelling in Rhinoceros
Later the walls and floors are traced and extruded from the plan. Throught this process, I have learned the way to use "ExtrudeCrv" and also "Cap".
Doors are later traced and extruded from the plan.
Details such as the guide rail and the panel at the center of the door are added with the help of "Bolean".
Triangle roof truss is produce and later copy to each respective places.
Upper floor is later added. "buleon" is used to cut out the space for the staircase and also to cut out the void.
Wall above is then added using "lines", "extrudeCrv" and also buleon.
Lastly, the roof is covered and the building is almost done.
A massing of the house beside is later added on. Details such as the floor tiles outside and the passage from the Koya no Sumika building to the main building is also added.
Colour is later rendered on to the building.
The file is later brought in to 3Ds Max to capture the 5 (800*600 px JPEG) perspective.
A contour is added to the site using "TurboSmooth" and "Terrain".
Sunlight is also added to the site in order to increase the brightnest of the building.
Project 2a - Exterior Rendering
The second project involves the production of photorealistic still rendering of the selected architecture design with materials, appropriate camera views and post-production enhancement on the visual outcome. The visualisation work would be assessed on the types and ways materials are used, types of lights and effects used to set up the scene, setup of appropriate camera views for rendering and skills of using post-production tools to enhance the visual outcome.
Through this project, I have learned how to import my drawing files from Rhinoceros to 3D Max and I managed to handle the 3D scene using layers. I used appropriate materials, lighting, camera views and site context to to produce a photorealistic rendering. In the end, I used Photoscape and Adobe Photoshop to enhance the visualization effect of my rendering. Also, I uploaded my working process weekly on my WIP.
Project 2: Still Rendering with Materials, Lights, Camera Views with Site Context
Work in Progress (WIP)
Project 2a - Exterior Rendering in 3DsMax & Photoshop
First, material editor tool is opened. A blank default is chosen to place material in. Material can be get from internet and is taken into 3Dsmax by bitmapping.
Bamboo material is added into the blank space.
In order to add realisticity to the material, another procedure is needed- bump.
The material's photo is added to photoshop.
Noise is added to make the material look more real.
The amount of noise needed can be adjust.
Material is later changed to black and white.
Levels is enhance by making the darker part darker and lighter part lighter.
Bump is added using bitmap under the map button below the bamboo wood material.
After adding the bump picture, the material will look more realistic, as seen from the photo.
Amount of bump can be adjust too.
Finally, the material is done and is pulled in to the object.
Sometimes the way the materials are position are not the way we want.
UVW map will be use to solve this issue.
UVW map button can be find at the modifier list.
After selecting UVW I changed the parameters in order to achieve the effect I want.
After adding materials to the building, landscape are added to the site in order to enhance the view of the building.
The effect shown from parameters might not be enough, therefore I have changed the length and width of the materials.
Daylight is added into the screen in order to allow light to be shine on to the building.
Mr. Sun, and manual setting are set. In order to adjust the position of the sun.
Camera is placed into the site. Plan view, front facade, left facade and perspective view are open in 4 different screen in order to choose the correct angle that I want to choose to show my building's perspective.
Before rendering, the environment behind is chosen at the rendering button.
The materal is selected using bitmap and the exposure preset is changed to physically based light, outdoor daylight, clear sky.
Rendering is done after setting up everything.
Photos can be enhance later in photoshop.
Post rendering is done to the photo. Human figure and landscape are added in.
Shadows, saturation, and others are also implemented to enhance the whole image.
Photo pulled into photoshop.
The background is removed in order to add in the background that I want to achieve.
Project 2b - Interior Rendering
Work in Progress (WIP)
Project 2b- Interior Rendering in 3DsMax & Photoshop
Downloaded furnitures are then placed into the interior in order to enhance the space in the building.
Furniture such as table, pillows, plants and others are found from the online website 3D Archieve.
Decorative element are also added into the space.
Materials are later added on to the objects, using material editor, bitmap and bump to beautify the objects.
Artificial lighting is later added on and the materials are placed to the lamp.
Camera is later added in, using the four different screen to choose the best angle to show.
Finally rendering can be done after placing the objects, adding in materials and choosing correct angle.
This project involves production of a maximum 90 seconds animation of the completed 3D scene using 3DS Max’s animation commands and tools. It also involves simple video editing work such as stitching video clips, background music & special effects editing, through the use of Windows Movie Maker, iMovie, Adobe Premiere and After Affects.
Through this project, I have learned how to set up camera paths for animation rendering. In order to produce an animation full of imagination, inventiveness and storey telling abilities I have make use of what I have learned in class, including auto key, path constraint, particle system and also the settings used for video editing.
Project 3: A maximum 90 seconds Animation of the Completed 3D Scene
After setting up, I clicked in auto key in order to decide at which second where I want my camera to be at.
At first, I set up my camera. Adding in camera into my scene, drew a line as my pathway where I wanted my camera to move to. Then I selected path constraint from motion> assign controller then I selected the camera to follow the path I drew.
After everything is setted up, I play it to see if it's what I want.
The photo beside is how I wanted to do my axonometric. I made a circle around the building. While moving, I let the building rise from the ground following the time frame I set in auto key.
When everything is confirmed, then I started to render. Some settings are made in Render setup and Rendered Frame Window.
Render Set up> active time segment, output size> HDTV video, Render output> FIles> AVi
After the confirmation, I editted the environment settings and test rendered to ensure there are no mistake.
After editing the time and everything, music is added in. And I have chosen Feeling Piano by Hayao Miyazaki as I think that Koya no Sumika, a house for couple should be compromise with something soft and feeling.
I have used Window Live Movie Maker as my editing software.
At first, I placed all the rendered animation into the file. Then I start to edit it by trimming it and controlling the time in order to make sure it comes out perfect.
This is the final compilation of the animation, do enjoy :)