Architectural
Renderings and Animation
by
Joseph E Trainor, DoHere Digital Technology Inc (www.DHrendering.com)
In
the Canadian province where our architectural visualization firm is
located, Ontario, land prices are soaring, land availability is
diminishing and the provincial government has brought in legislation
designed to preserve farmland and aquifers while boosting residential
intensification along main transportation arteries. In light of these
trends, many builders here are making the transition from developing
single-family homes on large plots of land to a mix of product
including detached homes, townhomes and condominiums. This means that
some builders who previously utilized hand-drawn renderings are now
seeking computerized, digital illustrations. Developers in the new
environment need a visualization package that can help them get
approvals during early stages and then move units fast at firm
prices. By choosing a top-shelf rendering company, your project will
be showcased to the public in its best possible light, and will be
perceived as a solid investment.
Keep
in mind there can be a range of options available, from freelancers
all the way up to advertising agencies. One way to assess the quality
of a company is to look at any windows / glass in their work. If it's
all gray, the images evoke a prison feel. If there's a systematic
pattern of lighting in the windows, it can look stiff and contrived.
Higher end visualizers will have glass surfaces reflecting the world
around the property, and the degree of transparent / translucent /
opaque light flows depend on the time of day chosen.
Low
Rise - With custom houses and duplexes, a perspective shot at
dusk may be enough to get the job done. These show the home at a time
someone would be arriving after work, with light emanating from
within, looking all warm and inviting. For a new subdivision, each
model usually gets a rendering for both A and B elevations. If a
feature shot is desired, it can be either an aerial, or if it is a
gated or branded community, then a shot of the stone wall and sign
with flowers and landscaping.
Townhomes
– Generally require one block perspective for each style offered,
plus either an aerial overall view, or a “view from street” shot.
A streetscape view can show community and family life, whereas an
aerial shot shows the development in setting.
Mid-rise
/ High-rise Condos - Moving into condo development presents a set
of new challenges. A typical condo package will be three exterior
views (one aerial, two eye-level), two to five features / amenity
shots (eg Lobby, Fitness, Party, Pool, Terrace), plus three to four
suite interiors (Living, Kitchen / Dining, Master Bedroom, Bathroom).
The price per rendering can depend on size, elevations and detailing,
and a package of ten to twelve visualizations for a small to mid-size
new condominium development will usually suffice, with an
architectural animation added for larger condo towers / multi-tower
projects.
Luxury
Condominiums – At the higher end of the market, there is a
greater emphasis on amenities and an exclusive lifestyle. The
rendering package may not be much larger than for a regular
condominium, however, to really showcase the property, indoor and
outdoor animation may be required. These may be a “fly-around”
exterior video and a “walk-thru / walk-through” interior animation, or one
longer architectural video highlighting the building's quality
features, inside and out.
High quality architectural animations are
most efficiently produced by the same company that is doing the
interior and exterior renderings, as each of these can be spectacular
key frames in the video, leading to much higher production values
than your typical condo animation.
http://dhrendering.com/Animation_Victoria_Condos.asp
Process
– At DoHere Digital Technology (www.DHrendering.com) we utilize
3 stages to produce high quality hyper-realistic (eg better than
photo) imagery, whether animation or stills. For renderings, our
client marks an approximate camera angle onto a Site Plan with a V
(the point is camera location, the “V” is what the camera sees)
and provides CAD files (we prefer AutoCAD 3D, 2010 or earlier).
During Stage One, we produce several views of the model from close to
the camera angle suggested. Our client chooses one of the views and
then marks up the model image with changes, if any. Stage Two
involves materials and finishes and basic lighting and landscaping.
Stage Three is artwork and ambience, including people, cars, birds,
clouds, lighting and shading. By working together with us during this
3-stage process, our clients provide input throughout and then
receive the images they need for their businesses to succeed.
With
architectural animations, we start with a Storyboard / Camera Path,
then move to Key Test Frames, then to full production.
The
way to producing stunning visuals starts with preparedness. First,
have the design completed before you hire a company to visualize it.
Changing the designs during production of a visual will increase
timelines and costs. Second, feel free to ask questions and consult
with your visualization partner, as the “back and forth” helps
the renderers fully understand the project and the purpose of the
imagery.
A
strong visualization company can help you pre-sell your units to
discerning buyers, and bring your projects to life! Please call today!
DoHere
Digital Technology can be reached via www.DHrendering.com
or 1.866.967.0868 x 369 / 1.905.513.1111 x 369
