Project Documentation for 3D Visualizations
A question I frequently hear when I’m first contacted about a new project is, “What do you need from us to make 3D views of our product?” My first reply is usually (jokingly), “A sketch on bar napkin.”
While this joke is shared by many design industries, it sometimes isn’t very far from the truth. It depends on where you are in the development process, but it is never too early to begin expressing your ideas with the added benefits of 3D visualizations.
In this article, I’ll discuss the range of information that can be used in the 3D visualization process…and hand sketches are on the list.
-Tom Macie, Owner and Principal Modeler
A hand-drawn sketch used as a template in CAD software to make 3D shapes for a development concept.
Documentation for 3D Visualizations, What Can Work and How is it Used?
This article focuses on the range of project documentation that can be used for the creation of digital three-dimensional (3D) renderings or visualizations that are used to communicate concepts about industrial, commercial, or architectural projects.
The spectrum of usable information is unique for every client and depending on the phase of design development, it can change as the project progresses. Regardless of the nature of the documentation, a good 3D visualization service should maintain a balance of tools and skill-sets to accommodate nearly all situations to help their clients develop and illustrate their ideas.
The scope of information that can be used in developing visualization projects falls into four categories:
• Hand-Drawn Sketches and Drafting
• Photographs
• CAD Files in .pdf, 2D and 3D
• Finish and Fixture Schedules
Hand-Drawn Sketches and Drafting
This information is typically used to develop initial concepts that will help determine many aspects of the project during design development time-line. It is seen at very early stages of design development processes, permitting and zoning requests, or to secure project backing. While hand-drawn work alone may sometimes be acceptable as exhibits for these purposes, photorealistic 3D visualizations are becoming more commonplace. They are very effective for communicating visual concepts while adding a sense of credibility to the thinking behind the overall project. Generally speaking, 3D visualizations created at this point are most likely to change down the road and are often used to present an overall concept rather than specific details. These 3D visualizations can range from simple massing models, where the composition of shapes is the focus, to fully complete photorealistic scenes with a good amount of detail.
A portion of a planned development created from hand-drawn sketches.
A good 3D visualization service should be able to advise the client at the onset of any project the most effective way to create visualizations that have an appropriate level of detail for its intended use and provide for efficient revisions and updates to the scenes as necessary.
The provided sketch was used to determine information necessary for the completed rendering.
The digitizing of hand-drawn information is achieved either through scanning or photography along with various image manipulation techniques that prepare the images for use in CAD or 3D modeling software. In our workflow, we prefer to place images in 3D CAD software and work directly on top of the images to develop shapes for the project. The ability to make photorealistic 3D visualizations with limited information is not within the ability of all 3D services, therefore they will not accept this kind of information.
Hand-drawn sketches are scanned and scaled to be used as a template for the creation of a 3D wireframe.
Note: Performing these functions at the early stages of a project does not constitute serving in any official architectural or industrial design capacity. Rather, it allows the client to visually express visual concepts for launching an idea. Some of our clients found that they were better equipped to communicate with professionals with 3D visualizations serving to flesh-out their initial concepts while demonstrating their ideas.
Photographs
Photographic information can be used with a wide variety of applications for visualization purposes from two-dimensional site illustrations to background in 3D scenes, “mapped” surfaces on structures, and the development of finishes for use with 3D modeling software.
Satellite or aerial images may be used to gather information about the extent of a building site or they can be used in conjunction with 3D-modeled components. Some municipalities maintain this information on-line that is available for free download. Commercial websites such as Google Earth or Microsoft Research Maps allow the use of limited sizes of aerial photographs that are usable for on-screen presentations, but carry licensing fees for images with pixel dimensions suitable for large-format output.
A satellite photo combined with a CAD plan used for 3D model development and for presentations.
Photographic backgrounds in 3D model scenes provide for very realistic renderings. This is commonplace in our workflow and we carefully match the desired lighting of the subject when selecting backgrounds. This is also the case with a view as seen from an interior room or the reflected subject in the windows of an exterior view.
A theatre-styled cyclorama with an applied photograph is used to provide a background for this scene.
“Mapping” is a technique where a series of photographs is digitally blended to represent entire facades of a building or several structures simultaneously for streetscapes. This can significantly reduce the effort necessary to create some 3D scenes and provides for very efficient digital file handling. For this to be successful, careful attention must be paid to match the location photography with the environmental settings in the 3D modeling software. There are some limitations to using completely mapped surfaces, as any perspective in the photographs used as maps will limit the capability of altering the observation point (or virtual camera location) in the 3D modeler.
Mapped surfaces were used to model the restaurants in this scene and combined with a 3D components to make the entry feature.
Photographic samples of finishes or on-line samples from manufacturers are routinely used to create surface textures applied to shapes in a scene. While this has made access to samples quicker and easier, in most cases the photo will not be useable without some editing to enhance resolution and/or prevent noticeable repetitions of the finish. Since 3D modeling software uses “tiling” to reuse a repeating pattern to cover a surface with a texture, (like wallpaper), the areas where the repetition of the map intersects may have to be blended in a way that repeats the pattern in a seamless fashion.
CAD Files in .pdf, 2D, and 3D
Computer Aided Drafting (or Computer Aided Design) software is ubiquitous across many industries, and there are many programs and plug-in products to help perform specific functions for a variety of design functions. Many of these products have their own digital file format that sometimes must be converted when engaging a service provider for 3D visualizations. This is a two-step process with the client first exporting in a readable format and the 3D visualization service then interpreting this information properly. Occasionally, some experimentation may be necessary to find the appropriate combination of export/import settings. When converting CAD files to a new format, certain organizational elements of the original file may be compromised. It is also possible to relay too much information to the 3D visualization service, thereby adding to the time required to extract only the necessary information.
Providing too much information can complicate the 3D visualization process.
PDF or Portable Document Format files contain all the two dimensional information contained within a drawing. This format retains many of the file’s attributes such as fonts and line weights, thus producing the same appearance on any computer used to view it. Some recently developed CAD applications can now import PDF files that allow for “snapping” to objects, meaning tools in the CAD software will automatically align to certain linear aspects of the drawing. Snapping allows for greater accuracy and speed in the 3D development process.
Two-dimensional CAD files are useful to 3D visualization as they are more accurate than hand-drawn plans and even some PDF’s depending on the resolution of the file. The advantage to obtaining the original CAD file, or a properly converted file export, is that certain organizational information, such as layers and classes, will be retained in the file allowing for faster use of the data during the 3D functions of the project.
A 2D CAD file is used as a base layer to make 3D shapes for interior scenes.
Newer programs known as BIM (Building Information Modeling) additionally maintain real-time databases of information about the project and create 3D models of the subject. All of this information is also “relational”, meaning a change in one part of the project file automatically updates the others.
The 3D model component data made by BIM software may be used internally or can be exported for use with other 3D CAD or modeling programs. This is beneficial in situations when an outside visualization service is engaged to manage the development of the 3D component of the project. This can be a cost-effective option, as a good full-time service will have a workflow in place to efficiently develop finished 3D scenes, and organize them in manner that allows for the updates that are inevitable in any project.
Some of our clients prefer to outsource the development of 3D views despite the fact that they have this capability in-house, preferring instead to focus their efforts on the design of the project rather than continuously investing in training and hardware/software support for photorealistic capabilities.
Finish and Fixture Schedules
These are lists or tables that contain a variety of information about surface treatments (such as paint, veneer, tile, carpet) and installed fixtures (lighting and plumbing fixtures, smoke detection) that will be used to complete any project. This table may contain the name of the manufacturer, style, color, size, wattage/voltage, and quantity.
If this information is available and complete, a 3D visualization service should be able to bring your project to a first- draft stage of completion with a minimum of contact, thus saving time for the client and the service and ultimately providing for a more accurate product.
Below is a recommend list of information that can be useful for any 3D visualization project.
For Exterior Views:
• Architectural notes, symbols and abbreviations
• Finish specification sheet
• Site plan indicating structures, parking areas, sidewalks, lighting, street markings
• Topographic information if necessary for requested views.
• Landscape plan with plant material references
• Floor plans of all floors
• Exterior elevation detail sheets
• Building sections
For Interior Views, add the following for included floors.
• Enlarged plans for requested views
• Interior elevations
• Wall finish plan
• Floor Finish plan
• Millwork sections
• Interior Details
• Reflected-ceiling plan with legends
• Door Schedule
• Window Schedule
• MEP sheets with electrical and plumbing fixture schedules (with cut sheets if possible)
• FF&E with schedules (with cut sheets or external contact information)
Tom Macie is the owner of and principal modeler for preVision Company, formerly a Professor of Theatre Design and Production at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and holds MFA and BA degrees in Theatre Design and Production.
In: 3D Visualization Studies, Behind the 3D Scenes, Learning About 3D
