I’ve always admired architectural sketching and renderings done by hand in watercolor and assorted media, especially those by Frank Lloyd Wright – but I never had the ability or patience to master it. However In the early 1990’s I discovered the best next thing – photorealistic 3D computer imaging. I first came across it at a scientific convention – afterwards I asked the presenter how the images were made – he told me on a Silicon Graphics machine.

I followed up and discovered I had access to it in grad school. The learning curve was formidable but the results were beyond what the Mac and PC could do at the time. However in the past few years computing power has advanced to such a degree that even inexpensive laptops are capable of producing photorealistic results.

There are many CAD and rendering programs on the market and most architectural and Interior design students learn whatever is offered in their school. Some standard academic programs taught are: AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Archi-Cad, Rhino, Lumion, V-ray, and Enscape. (Revit is geared more to architecture than interior design). Industry standards are similar although SketchUp is quickly replacing some of the programs. The most exciting work for most students are the courses in photorealistic imaging.

Communicating Your Ideas
The most important factor in pitching your design is the sketch/drawing – it’s the lingua franca of our world. But from the standpoint of a sole proprietor or a small architectural design firm is photorealistic imaging the best course of action when selling your ideas to a new client?

There are several disadvantages to offering high end renderings to a potential client: 1) Creating a Photorealistic rendering can easily take 40 hours, and often more, 2) a client with a modest budget may be reluctant to pay for it, 3) nowadays clients want to contribute more in the design process, instead of having a wholly completed design presented to them, 4) Photorealistic renderings have a less emotional and a more mechanical feeling, 5) doing a high quality rendering may not get you the job after all?

The Goal Is To Shorten The Work Load
Due to to the time constraints of daily life, especially while doing multiple projects, I have been trying to distill my presentations with a less time consuming approach. That consists of drawing a floor plan and a 3D model for the client meeting, the same drawings are also used in obtaining estimates from contractors and vendors.

My Personal Desktop Toolbox
AutoCad, Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator, Powerpoint
My two most essential go to programs are AutoCad and SketchUp. The advantage with AutoCad is that it’s ubiquitous, its been around since the 1980s and most design firms use it, in addition there is a huge library of resources available for it online. My methodology is prepare a set of detailed plans in AutoCad and augment them with SketchUp, a 3D modeling program that offers more advantages than many programs aforementioned – it’s easier to use and functions like sculpture, i.e. an additive and subtractive process. SketchUp offers you the options of presenting a set of simple line drawings or you can add some basic finishes that don’t require much time.

SketchUp can easily import files from major programs including Revit, ArchiCad, AutoCad, Rhino, Vectorworks, 3Ds Max and many more, it also has hundreds of plug-ins available. In addition there is a library called 3D warehouse where you can download hundreds of samples of furniture, appliances and finished models; which can easily be adapted for your needs. SketchUp also has easy to use filters, colors, styles, shadows, and line work. The most dynamic feature of SketchUp is that you can literally rotate the view to any point of 180 degrees instantly and change the camera angle.

If my clients request photorealistic rendered files (and animation) for followup meetings (using Lumion, V-Ray or Enscape ) I prefer to send the work overseas to avoid the time consuming stress. Besides using AutoCad and SketchUp I also use Photoshop and Illustrator for touch-ups and PowerPoint for simple presentations.

Note: On Learning New Programs
Besides the software I mentioned, there are dozens of third party programs available, however I have always advised my students to learn the standard ones used in major design firms. Contrary to the opinions of design courses taught in college, you don’t have to master every facet of a certain program, I just use about a dozen or so commands in each of my programs.

Using The iPad To Bring Back The Human Touch
More recently some architects and interior designers have been augmenting their desktop work with the iPad. SketchUp offers their complete 3D modeling program for the iPad using a stylus. The benefit is that you can easily edit your drawings in real time as you are presenting it to your client.

Additionally there are two iPad apps that allow you to trace over your 3D modeled drawings that present a sketch-like feel, they are Procreate and Morpholio Trace.

The Artfull Sketch-Like Render Course
Architects and interior designers don’t need to create photorealistic 3D imagery to stay competitive in the industry. More recently there is an innovative online program that brings back the human touch of hand drawn renderings which first inspired me to become an architect.

This program combines 3D modeling programs you are currently using, plus SketchUp , and Photoshop, and turns them into finished high end and polished drawings that have the characteristics and feel of watercolor renderings and can be done in a fraction of the time it takes to produce photorealistic imagery.

Links
*For Overseas Rendering Work
Contact

*Procreate and Morphilio Trace Apps
Using iPad for Architecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tznoXzLBF0

iPad Morpholio Trace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP-X_sYAvNk

* The best size for an iPad for design work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF3fLtQWpM4&t=469s

*The Artfull Sketch-Like Render Course
On FaceBook Search: Sketchlike Render Mastery for Architects
https://www.conceptdesignarchitect.com/bookme