Let’s talk about the correlation between the time spent by a 3D artist working on an architectural 3D rendering project and the quality of the final results. The thing is, it’s absolutely possible to deliver decent CGI even with a tight deadline. However, top-level quality can only be achieved through thoughtful, meticulous work. There’s no cheating here, no skipping steps. Because, after all, there’re both physical and technical limitations to consider.
But what is meant by “top-level quality” in the first place? Well, we’re talking about those mesmerizing images, where every little detail is a masterpiece in itself. Furthermore, such 3D renders allow for impeccable communication of the atmosphere of places that they depict. And that is extremely important for project presentations, where architects and designers must convince their clients to approve the concepts.
That being said, our 3D architectural visualization specialists at ArchiCGI always do their best to produce high-quality CG images, even when there isn’t much time. But now, let’s take a look at all the amazing things they can do when they just have a little longer till the deadline.
#1. With More Time, 3D Artists Can Make Materials Look More Accurate
In architectural 3D rendering, the perception of visuals heavily depends on the way materials and textures are depicted. In the context of CGI, materials are sets of properties assigned to 3D models to make them look like actual wood, metal, fabric, glass, etc. There’re numerous settings to be adjusted, such as reflections, glossiness, self-illumination, refractions, and so on.
Then, there’re textures, which are basically high-resolution images that CGI specialists apply to 3D models to give them their final look. Oftentimes, textures show actual wallpapers, tiles, carpets, furniture upholstery, etc. from particular brands. To get the material properties to perfectly complement the textures, 3D artists need time to try out different settings and tweaks. This way, they can get the most accurate look for materials that will be used in the project, showing all their features and qualities.
#2. Avoiding Urgencies Allows More Time to Perfect the Lighting
Setting the lighting is an essential step in bringing together a complete, balanced CG picture. Whether we talk about exterior or interior architectural 3D rendering, there can be natural light, artificial illumination, or a combination of both. A CGI specialist needs to set the number of light sources, adjust their size, the intensity of illumination, and the temperature of light.
All of that already takes quite some time. Furthermore, it’s not possible to see what options look best without rendering, which is making 2D images that show the 3D scene from different angles. So, 3D artists render several versions of pictures until they find the perfect lighting combo that shows the architectural design in all its glory. Then, they might do some final tweaks and start the rendering process again. Overall, giving the specialists more time to experiment with the lighting allows them to layer the light sources and adjust their properties, making the final renders more balanced and appealing.
#3. No Rush Means No System Errors in 3D Renders
System errors sometimes happen in the process of 3D rendering, which is done by a computer and is purely automatic. There can be some unexpected noise, intersection of objects, overly bright light spots, and so on. There’s almost no chance to predict what errors might occur in a particular case, or whether they’ll occur at all.
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This means that every now and then CGI experts have to find out what caused the errors and fix them by changing various settings within the software. And then, of course, they need to render the images again. Therefore, it takes some extra time that one needs to consider to ensure that the final results of architectural 3D rendering turn out just perfect.
#4. A Reasonable Timeframe Is Essential for Creating the Right Atmosphere
The creative part of 3D architectural visualization is equally important as the technical one. It involves the creation of a particular atmosphere that best suits the concept. To do that, 3D artists begin by studying the brief and references provided by the architect. The latter usually indicates the desired mood for the renders.
Then, architectural 3D rendering specialists determine what kind of background, lighting, 3D models of decor, and other secondary objects will help to shape the right atmosphere. Developing a rich, authentic real-life context is a delicate process, the outcome of which strongly impacts the quality of the final pictures. The more time the artists have, the more elaborate and sophisticated scenes they can produce.
#5. More Hours at Work Result In Greater Amount of Detail in 3D Models
Architectural 3D rendering requires prior 3D modeling, where virtual objects are created and arranged in a scene. Unlike rendering, modeling is a fully manual process. The time it takes to make a 3D model greatly depends on its complexity and the amount of detail in it. So, having more hours at their disposal, CGI professionals can perfect the shapes and add even the tiniest details down to every last doorknob.
At the same time, 3D artists can also use pre-made models where possible to speed up the process of building 3D scenes. Those can be cars, people, pets, trees, street lights, and so on for exterior scenes. For interiors, there can be clothes, dishes, toys, decor items, etc. Here, having more time allows specialists to select the most suitable items in terms of style and relevance. As a result, those carefully chosen secondary objects make places in the images look very natural, just as they would look in actual use.
#6. A Longer Turnaround Time Leads to a Better Composition
Last but not least, we have the image composition. Good composition is meant to direct the viewer’s eyes to the main object in a picture, highlighting its primary qualities and benefits. For instance, the height of a skyscraper or the exquisite architecture of a beach villa. To perfect this aspect of architectural visualization, CGI professionals look for the best camera angles and the most optimal ways to arrange items in a scene. To evaluate their decisions, they render 2D images after every change and make improvements until they’re completely satisfied with the results. And if the artists have enough time, they might even come up with some unexpected angles that will make any project presentation outstanding.
Those were the 6 ways in which the project deadline influences the quality of architectural 3D rendering. One can certainly see that there’re some rather significant benefits of allowing more time for the creation of CGI. This way, an architect gets more accuracy in objects and materials, a perfectly tuned atmosphere, more elaborate scenes, and the most flattering composition. Just what is needed to get that next contract!
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Ana Wayne
Content Writer, Copywriter
Ana is a content writer for ArchiCGI. She has a passion for design and architecture - and for talking about it. Outside of work, she is a fan of sci-fi movies and a street food connoisseur.