Best real-time rendering workflow for interior designers using AutoCAD-SketchUp
Before finalizing the blueprint, interior designers usually need rounds of discussion with their clients.
Does the color match have other options?
Is the design comfortable to live in?
Is the planning of space practical?
...
A blueprint usually will have optimization before it can meet both the designer's and the client's expections.
During the communication, a 3d visual presentation will speed up the whole process. In this way, clients can see the changes, instead of imagining them according to the houseplan.
This is where D5 Render, a real-time rendering program, comes in handy. It helps interior designers using AutoCAD to display every version of the design in a short time.
Instant Visualization
After completing the initial CAD plans, import them into SketchUp to build the 3d model. At this stage, the live-sync plugin D5 Converter-SketchUp will play a big role in visualizing the model in real time.
When the converter is enabled, you can have a precise preview of how the house will look after rendering. The possibility of modeling and rendering at the same time helps you check and immediately modify potential problems. Any change made to the model or material can be synced into D5 very quickly.
Free Animation
Thanks to D5 Render which can quickly output animations for free, interior designers, like Andrew, can offer demo videos for the client to take an immersive walk around the house. Compared with drawings or images, animation is a better way to show the change in details. It can better deliver the design idea and vibe to clients.
In this video, for example, Andrew wanted to show the plate tray which is made of interweaved bamboo fibers. So, he set a shift of camera focus with different DOF in the first and last shots to blur the background and highlight the plate.
How to use real-time rendering in AutoCAD-SU-D5 workflow
Finish the house plan in AutoCAD which should include floor plan, floor finish and reflected ceiling plan.
Import the CAD drawings to SketchUp and explode all the drawings. Then you can start to model.
Launch D5 Render in SketchUp by the plugin D5 Converter. You can sync models, materials and lights into D5 Render. Then edit the scene in D5 to achieve the atmosphere you need.
1. Exterior light adjustment
- Skylight: select a cloudy HDRI so the scene will have a gray tone. Adjust the altitude and azimuth of HDRI sun. Then give it a warmer tone so the scene won't look too cold.
- Artificial light: Place a few rectangular lights outside the windows. Adjust their size and position to light up the whole space.
2. Interior light adjustment
- Area light: Same as what you did to exterior lighting, put some rec lights near the window first. This ensures the room can be properly lit up.
- Ambient light: Add more artificial lights around the house. For example, some strip lights in the cabinet and a rectangular light in the stairwell. Give them a warm yellow tone so the house will have a relaxing vibe.
3. Texture adjustment
Texture editing is an easy and real-time process in D5 Render. For irregular objects, you can turn on Triplanar, making the material cover evenly on their surface. Switch on Round Corner, so the edge will look softer.
Objects often have dirt on their surface. A tip to quickly achieve this effect is to insert a map of dirt into the column of Roughness.
4. Add furniture and decorations
As D5 Asset Library has over 8,000 high-quality models, you get plenty of interior decor to choose from. Sofa, lamps, books, tables.... The library covers almost all you need.
5. Animation output
Animation is an optimal choice to demonstrate the atmosphere of the scene, and it's made super easy with D5. Just add the camera shots you need to the timeline.
To better display the object, it's recommended to use a small Field of View.
