More and more clients are coming to expect high quality graphics to represent their multi-million-dollar projects. Luckily the team at Enscape  is hard at work, making this task unbelievably easy. From realistic textures, to entourage  & clutter, and even allowing you to wrap your project in the real world. That’s right, even though Enscape comes with great backgrounds, it is possible to create custom skyboxes for your projects.

It used to be that a custom 3D background was only possible using an HDRI file, and this is still true for many other rendering programs. And, while Enscape still supports that format, it can also use a simple JPG/PNG photosphere image (with some format limitations).

This article will walk you through the steps of creating an amazingly realistic custom background for your project using Enscape. Keep in mind that the same process applies to Revit, Rhino, SketchUp and ArchiCAD.

Pictured below is one of the sample sites I chose for this article, which is a city-owned park juxtaposed to the harbor of the world’s most inland port in Duluth, Minnesota (USA), where I live.

Pictured next is the Richo Theta S mounted on a tripod in the center of the site. This is a rather tall tripod; about seven feet (2133 mm) tall. The catch here is that nearly all views from within your building will have the same exterior view (i.e. from the 2^nd floor and the 20^th floor). For a taller building, you would have to get the photosphere from a drone. Then, the skybox can be changed depending on the current location in the building.

Here is an example of the image being prepared in GoPro’s Fusion Studio, and then rendered to a rectangular, flat-Earth-map, type image.

We will use the GoPro Fusion camera results for this first example. The following image is from the same tripod location shown previously. Both cameras allow the image to be taken remotely via an app on your mobile device. However, for both cameras, it is not possible to get far enough away, at this site, to avoid being pictured in the image.

Thus, a helpful tip is to quickly move to another location, relative to the un-moved tripod, and take another picture. I say “quickly” so the clouds or any people who might be in the background do not move too much.

Now that we have two images, lets take them into Photoshop. We will place each image on its own layer, as shown here.

Notice the top layer is turned off here.

On the top layer, simply use the eraser tool to remove the photographer (i.e. me). I like to have the eraser set to have soft edges to help blend any difference between the two images.

The result looks like this, but we still have the tripod and its shadow shown in the frame. So, I select this area using the Photoshop’s Laso tool and then press the Delete key. Per the dialog shown below, I use the Content-Aware feature to automatically fill in the deleted area to match its surroundings.

And here is our final, Enscape-ready image!

The results are amazing! Hover over the image to see the effect from changing the time of day within Enscape. Notice the sun shows up through the skybox.

I always say that reflections on a material are useless unless they are reflecting something, and preferably something real.

The Depth of Field also works well with a custom skybox. Hover your cursor over this image to see it change.

Here is another example from a different location in the proposed design.

Again, notice the reflections of the real-world environment on multiple surfaces: floor, table and image on wall. So cool! It is hard to achieve this effectively in post processing.

If the time of day is set to early morning or late evening, the skybox brightness setting can be reduced to make it look more accurate. Otherwise it would always be the same brightness and detract from the believability of the image.

Also in the Enscape Setting dialog is the Use Brightest Point as Sun Direction option. This will automatically reposition the sun, so it casts shadows that match the photo! Speaking of lighting, it is also interesting to note that skyboxes are emitting a little bit of light, but cannot offer IBL (image based lighting) as with HDR datasets.

Here are a few more examples, all from images I took in a single Saturday morning trip!

Yes, those are really mid-April ice chunks in Lake Superior! The lake never really fully freezes over in winter, but when it is -30F some areas do freeze and it then takes a while for them to melt; the year-round average water temperature is 39 F (4 C) degrees!

More reflections…

For more on this topic, and where to get free skybox files, be sure to check out this Enscape Help page: Skybox as a Background

It is easy to see how much more realistic your renderings can be in still images, real-time and VR. Give it a try and share your results!

Please get in touch via twitter @enscape3d and @DanStine_MN .

Using high quality entourage  and other miscellaneous 3D clutter in an Autodesk Revit project can really bring a scene to life. This brief article will feature and highlight some of the new content in Enscape’s Asset Library – content included free. There are a few subtle enhancements, over traditional entourage, which will be sure to impress the ArchVis enthusiasts following this blog.

In the image below, you can see an assortment of desk clutter and entourage used to bring out the potential liveliness of a modern workspace. A scene void of these elements may lead the novice viewer to erroneously perceive the scale of the workspace and how it might function in the intended way.

Take a moment to compare the previous image with the one below. Notice the subtle differences in the way light, shade and shadow interact with the truly 3D models, i.e. the people, plant, framed pictures and even coffee cup and brushed metal carafe.

Amazingly, some of the content has emissive materials embedded in them. In next image, observe how the computer screen lights up the surface of the desk and the front of the person sitting at the desk when the time of day  is set to nighttime. FYI: light sources  are always on, which is not usually obvious due to Enscape’s automatic exposure.

Thirsty? Let’s take a closer look at that coffee cup on the work surface. It has a “fresh” beverage in it! So, unlike the television shows where they are always carrying coffee cups that are clearly empty, our real-time reading experience can be a little livelier.

Notice the difference in highlights and subdued reflections in the metal carafe when comparing the next two images. To improve performance, the curved edges are not perfectly smooth, which is not usually visible from a distance.

As we continue to investigate the Enscape assets on the desk, we look to the right and see some desk clutter and a potted plant (by the way, every desk should have a plant!). Again, there are reflections and highlights in the white ceramic pot. Also review the ruled paper in the notebook and the quality pens in the wire mesh pen holder.

Lastly, look at the task chair and shelved books in the background. These are also provided with Enscape.

Notice how the light changes the highlights on the red leather seat and backrest. Even the chrome looks a little different due to how the light falls upon the legs and armrests.

One last tip for using this content in an active Revit production project (i.e. during CDs): place all of the content in a secondary design option. For more on that, read my previous Enscape blog post: Best Practices for Revit’s Design Options. 

For all of this content, except the people, it would be possible to create standard Revit content that could look just as nice, using high quality material definitions. However, those families would take a lot more resources in Revit; panning and orbiting in 3D views would be much slower, for example. The Enscape content, on the other hand, is represented by a simple placeholder in Revit and replaced with these amazing, high-quality, components in Enscape’s real-time rendering environment. Use this high-quality content to bring your own designs to life;  it is included with Enscape at no additional cost. Your clients are sure to be impressed with the sense of realism they will experience when seeing their future building in Enscape, combined with this amazing entourage.

Share your images using these new assets! Please get in touch via twitter @enscape3d  and @DanStine_MN .

One of the great things about Enscape is its consistency across the primary design platforms it supports: Rhino, Revit, SketchUp and ArchiCAD. With the recent release of Enscape 2.5, customers now have a Material Editor inside Rhino 6. It is very much like the Enscape material editor already in SketchUp. This article will highlight the extended visualization opportunities now afforded Rhino users, thanks to this new Enscape feature.

To show off the new material editor in Rhino, I downloaded a free model from Turbosquid called Lighthouse on the artificial rock  by user Shakudo . Be sure to click the link and take a look at the other models by this user; some are free and the rest are reasonably priced when you consider the time it would take to model each item. I only added the water (a large 3D box) and the Enscape assets, so you too can download this model and try these new features yourself if you wish!

Notice, in the image above that the Enscape material Type (not the Rhino material Type) has been set to Water. This setting changes the options shown to those related to water; Water Color, Wind Settings, and Wave Settings.

Using a solid color and a plaster bump map, the walls have a realistic texture. Notice the bump map can be scaled as needed.

Using a solid color and a wood bump map, representing painted wood is easy!

The ability to easily create videos following a complex path is not new. However, seeing a video with the new enhanced materials is. Here are two examples below. For more information on creating videos, see this post: Best Practices for Video Creation in Enscape .

To show off the Enscape clearcoat material in Rhino, I downloaded another free model from cgtrader called Dodge Challenger 1970 3D Model Files  by user Danny Sanchez .

Here are several views of the car painted black… they speak for themselves!

What to try different colors? No problem…

Because it is so easy to compose new views in Enscape, here are several more images. Some have slight material and environmental adjustment. By the way, I like to adjust the view angle down to 28-35mm for a more realistic look when exporting still images. Too much fun!

For additional information related to this new feature, take a look at this SketchUp article I wrote on the same topic: SketchUp Material Editor; Enhanced Materials in SketchUp . It is interesting that there are several material enhancements now possible in Rhino and SketchUp, that are not possible in Revit, the original platform supported by Enscape.

Enscape is becoming the one-stop-shop for all your visualization needs. This will help staff be more efficient as they only have to learn a single tool for the firm and the entire life of a project: especially those staff who are not visualization specialists. Please share your Rhino examples using the new material editor!

Please get in touch via twitter @enscape3d and @DanStine_MN .

I’ve been in the architecture business for close to thirty years and therefore understand many of the pains related to efficiency and accuracy in our industry. Developing presentation graphics has always lived on the edge of overkill in terms of cost and effort. But this has been tolerated, as the opportunity to impress the client and outshine the competition has its rewards. Now we can be competitive, more efficient and even more accurate using Enscape, which results in a tangible business advantage.

Let’s explore ways to cut time and save money.

In the recent past, we had to export our projects to a secondary software, which often required a separate effort to apply materials and entourage. And in some cases, when the design changed, all those steps had to be repeated. And then there was the mindboggling array of settings like ‘caustics’ and ‘photons’, and telling the software whether you are inside or outside of the building. Another problematic scenario involved sending the visualization work out to a freelancer, which introduced time delays in the feedback loop.

Times have changed and designers no longer need to wait for hours, or even days, to develop a single still image or animation. Rendering at the speed of now: with contemporary GPU technology it is possible to render in real-time, while designing at the same time.

The architectural studio culture has been notoriously characterized by long and late working hours to produce the best design solution in the allotted time. For instance, I worked on a music hall in conjunction with a world-famous architect who had a chef on staff as a perk for the long hours required of the design teams. Thus, any tool which has the potential of saving time in the process of designing a building is highly sought after.

The ability to iterate and validate design ideas has never been faster or more efficient than with Enscape. But don’t take it from the company selling the software, or me—an outspoken proponent of Enscape. Rather, hear what other customers are saying about the value they are experiencing with Enscape:

In their ‘Conversation Series’ videos, David Birtwistle, Associate Director at Bates Smart, says his firm went from spending 30 – 40% thinking about renderings to just 5% with Enscape. James Stevenson, Computational Design Graduate, adds that he is “blown away” by the Enscape settings and how quickly he can change them and see iterative results in real-time. I can confirm that myself. The live-link between the BIM/CAD and Enscape has boosted my efficiency incredibly.

Payette , a Boston-based design firm, sums up that Real-Time Rendering has quickly become an invaluable asset to their design team. Hyeyun Jung, Designer at Payette, who also received her Master of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, stated The design team used Enscape to evaluate the design of a multistory curtain wall system and its integration with adjacent benches and geometrically expressive ceilings. “There were several design iterations in terms of geometry, patterns and coloring, and it was really efficient to share screenshots through emails and get feedback from everyone in the team,” states Jung. This is another sentiment I can attest to, and a great example of developing more accurate models and documentation through the ease and fluidity of Enscape.

It’s no secret that there’s plenty of rendering softwares out there. However, built-in rendering takes too long to process or is poor in quality or is not even possible. Specialist software comes with amazing large-scale sets of functions but is so complicated that you need training or experts to use its potential to the fullest.

Of course, it’s fun to create animations, with moving cars and people, but it takes significant effort and time. Plus, the entourage is always the same people, which you can easily spot in your competitor’s work; does the obviously unnatural movement of people and cars add real value for the client? In most cases, I don’t think it does. Therefore, I prefer software that is specially designed to make it as easy as possible for architects to use in daily life. And not just rendering software, by the way: massing, energy modeling, and lighting design are just some other examples.

In the specialist workflow, there is often a large amount of time spent in post-production after the rendering or video is created, using Adobe Photoshop and/or Premiere Pro. These tools also required specialized skills and take time just to learn the many settings and techniques. With Enscape and quality assets placed in the design model the post production can be skipped completely in most cases. And when any video stitching and transitions slides are required, check out the easy to learn and use Camtasia by TechSmith.

We increase our efficiency by getting proficient with software: knowing the clicks, picks and ideal settings. It absolutely helps to have a plan for when to use which phase of a project and, keeping to this standard, knowing there are always exceptions to the rule. Like any other office standard, this allows different staff to quickly jump on a project to meet a deadline or fill in while I am at the ‘escape room’ game with my family!

I’ve been researching the AEC software workflow that I am using and observing in the industry. There are many “cornerstone” applications that are widely used in the industry, because they also offer a significant business value. What’s more: staff are more confident investing their personal and professional time learning these tools are they know these skills are valuable within the industry. Learn more about the broader topic in this article I wrote

For most project phases I go with the standard combination of Revit and Enscape. For specific evaluations, I add specialized software. Question to the readers: What is your standard software workflow? Share your answer via Twitter and include @Enscape3d, @DanStine_MN and #SoftwareWorkflow.

In a recent interview titled Black mirrors: part two , Justin Wright of Assembly Architects Limited  in Queenstown, New Zealand talks about the value he sees delivering virtual reality (VR) experiences from Revit models for internal design and client presentations. In terms of using VR to convey the adequacy of a space for size and quality, Justin says he is “astounded by how much better it is for communicating with the client.” Not only that, but where his firm thought it might cost the client more to engage VR on a project, by using Enscape and Revit they have “had three or four experiences where it has proven to be the opposite.” What he is getting at is that beyond the value of a more efficient internal design process, they are also avoiding extra work and project bloating due to the improved way in which they are able to communicate the design intent to the client—saving everyone time and money.

In closing, Justin reminisces on a time when a client could finally understand and appreciate the designed space whilst on-site, even after looking at traditional presentation graphics and 2D construction drawings for months. He contrasts this with their current workflow, somewhat nostalgically, and says that “now they really understand it a long time before it is built.” As with most things in life, communication is key and here Justin reveals yet another way many design firms are benefiting from using Enscape across their practice.

It is easy to draw one’s own conclusion regarding the value Real-Time Rendering offers today’s forward-thinking design firms. The ability to visualize iterative designs photorealistically in real-time, communicate design intent more efficiently, as well as offering internal and external VR experiences: this all saves production time and possibly even project time/costs. Don’t waste your time on processing with traditional rendering and too much software for specialists.

I have seen significant time and costs saved by focusing on efficiency. I have gained much more time for design and the family. I wouldn’t want to miss a minute of it! In fact, I am seriously leaving with the family now for The Escape Game at the Mall of America!

To the readers: Calculate yourself how much time and cost you can save with these tips. Reach out via twitter to share your thoughts and numbers!

An important part of any building is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems. It can often be difficult to fully convey to clients the complexity and the design intent of these systems, because they are buried in walls, above ceilings and hidden away in the basement. This article will highlight some ways these systems can be better communicated in Revit and with Enscape.

1. Special Views in Revit
2. Understanding MEP Material Assignment
3. Exploring the MEP model in real-time
4. Sharing panorama views
5. Bringing MEP to life with Virtual Reality

For this article I am using the new Revit 2019 German sample project referred to as the Golden Nugget. This file has a sufficiently detailed MEP model which will allow the reader to try the features and workflows presented in the same, safe, Revit project. To access this file, from within Revit, simply go to File (tab) à Open (flyout) à Sample Files and then select: BIM_Projekt_Golden_Nugget-Gebaeudetechnik.rvt. The file is located here: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 2019\Samples.

Of course, in this sample file the user-entered text is all in German, which I personally cannot speak, but that is no problem for what we will be using it for; if you have any questions just copy/paste any text into Google translate.

To facilitate the review of different aspects of the MEP model in Escape, it is helpful to create specific views in Revit: for example, an ‘MEP Only’ view with architecture and structural turned off. Alternatively, try creating a ‘MEP plus Structure’ view to coordinate connections, not necessarily clashes. For more on setting up views, and the Revit project in general, check out this previous post I wrote: Best Practices for Revit Project Setup .

Because this sample project has a detailed MEP-related Revit Design Option in the mechanical room for different air conditioning strategies, we should also create special 3D coordination views for each design option. For more information on using design options in Revit with Enscape see this article I wrote: Best Practices for Revit’s Design Options .

In the following two images the two designs can be clearly seen. In the secondary option, the air handling unit is much taller, so the bottom is lower than the floor. This option would require the architectural model to use design options as well, but they are not present in this sample project.

Employing special views can save a lot of time and make client-facing presentations much smoother!

The way materials are assigned to many of Revit’s MEP elements is unique. Let’s explore this now…

This is what the lower level technology room model looks like, without changing anything: some materials from the linked architectural model and a material for the pipe insulation. But everything else, as we will see in a moment, does not have any material defined. Thankfully, Enscape applies a nice white material when one is not specified – not the drably gray Revit uses.

For MEP system families, such as pipes, ducts, cable tray, etc., the material is defined by Category or MEP System Type as shown in the following image.

With just one change, the view already looks significantly better! Some things are now copper that should not be, but we will get to that. The second image shows what happens if we try to set one of the pipe system types to a galvanized metal pipe material; everything associated with that system gets that material, including loadable families and the pipe insulation. There is no way to change this, which is less than ideal, to be sure!

As mentioned, loadable families can have unique materials defined, which is common in Revit. But, again, if a material is ever assigned to a pipe system type, these materials will be overridden.

In the next image, more material definition has been added. Notice that the tank, water heater and boiler all have specific materials assigned. The Sewage pipe system type is nearly all the same PVC material, so it was given a specific material; notice the pipes in the far left of the image.

The third, and final way we can control materials here is to use the Paint tool. In the middle of the image, near the door, I painted a red color on the vertical pipe; I had to pick twice for a single pipe, as the paint tool see two sides to the cylindrical element. The Paint tool should be used sparingly, as it would be a lot of work to maintain throughout a complex project like this – and it is not very BIM-like.

A nice option in a smaller room like this, especially for static rendered images, is the Two Point Architectural setting in Enscape. This will make all the vertical pipes appear vertical all the time. The wide-angle lens effect in small spaces can make some vertical elements appear to be sloped/slanted and be distracting for the client. The previous and next images can be compared to see the difference.

Keep in mind that the materiality of elements in any linked models cannot be modified within your model. You must change the material in the link. If the link is not to your model, you would have to request the material be changed by the model author.

These techniques will help the MEP designers and engineers to create compelling real-time presentations in Enscape. The dedicated architectural visualization specialist will also benefit as they may not be familiar with these idiosyncrasies for Revit MEP elements.

Now for the fun part:  with the views created and materials applied it is now possible to deliver stunning real-time walkthroughs with clients and stakeholders. Not only that, but this can be done daily, or continually by each designer, to easily look for design and coordination issues.

For example, in the image below we see the pipe routing is nearly perfect. But there is one conflict with the duct. Of course, clash detection workflows can find this, but in my experience not everyone does that.

Here is a nice view showing all the systems and structure. There may be a coordination issue with the tub and pipes for the towel warming rack on the left. Even a project manager who is not familiar with Revit could easily use Enscape to explore a model and take screenshots (my favorite tool is Techsmith’s SnagIt ) and delegate required changes.

No problems here, it just looks well organized, and the client will love the feeling that their project will soon be a reality.

Here is another view showing a well-coordinated area. Remember, all materials for elements in a link come from the link. You may need the architect to send you their custom textures (jpg, png files) and set a render appearance search path pointing to them in Revit’s Options dialog. If the background, with a sky, is too distracting you might consider using Enscape’s White Background option.

Enscape can produce well light interiors even when no lighting is included via its Auto Exposure technology. For more on this read my previous article: Best Practices for Lighting and Exposure . However, this can wash out the effects of certain lights like spot lights. Using Enscape’s Artificial Light Brightness setting, it is possible to bring that definition out when needed. The different can be seen in the following two images; notice the hot spots on the work surface. This adjustment also brings to our attention the light fixture misplaced a small distance above the floor, near the door on the right.

I am a big fan of displacement ventilation , and the firm I work for uses this HVAC strategy on most projects. In this project, Enscape can help inform the client about the potentially precarious placement of the half-round diffusers, given that they are essentially freestanding. With this view, or in a real-time walkthrough, there can be no question about the design intent. But by just looking at 2D drawings, and then seeing it for the first time after installation, the client might not have realized how these would appear astatically.

Another option for informing the client and stakeholders is to provide 360-degree panorama views and a Google Cardboard viewer. First, we start by creating views as shown here. In the case of the two design options in the mechanical room, we can create to views for comparison.

Here is a static rendered view of this saved camera view. This is a 4k image that took about 15 seconds to process and save to file. Notice another misplaced light fixture near the floor!

Here is a link to the Enscape generated, and hosted panorama view: https://panorama.enscape3d.com/view/ys7rppmx . This link can be viewed on a computer or mobile device. On a cellphone, when the Google Cardboard icon is selected, the single view separates into two as shown in the image below. The device can then be placed in a Google Cardboard viewer which allows a person to look around, in all directions, while standing in a single location.

The Google Cardboard viewers can be custom branded and purchased in bulk, which will allow you to freely give them to clients. Then, you can simply email clients links to new and updated views as needed.

Here is one more example from the technology room: a saved Revit camera view and then a static rendered image. Notice one more conflict with a light fixture and a pipe in the rendered view.

Here is a link to the panorama view in the technology room: https://panorama.enscape3d.com/view/lz5mnlnk . Creating and sharing panorama views is easy and clients love it. It allows them to be the presenter and share this with their staff, investors and other stakeholders.

Finally, consider using virtual reality to bring your project to life. This is helpful for internal design reviews as well as client, stakeholder and even public presentations. To learn more about this, read my previous article: Best Practices using Virtual Reality for Project Presentations with Enscape .

Using the tips and techniques presented here, clients will be able to get a clearer picture of your proposed MEP design. And it will help you produce a more accurate design model, as many of the images presented had some coordination issues. Even though the sample model is excellent overall, it still has many issues easily found during a walkthrough of the building using Enscape. Many of these conflicts are not clashes, but misplaced model elements, access issues or code-related compliance issues.

MEP designers and engineers using Enscape are breaking new ground in their discipline and gaining an edge over their competition. If that is not yet your firm, download the free trial and check it out today!

Please get in touch via twitter @enscape3d and @DanStine_MN.

As the year comes to a close, let’s look ahead and speculate which technology trends will shape the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry in 2019. What we will see are some existing products which have been generating momentum coming to fruition, as well as exciting new developments sure to make designing and constructing buildings more efficient, safe and fun! So, sit back and let’s look into the near future together.

1. Generative Design
2. Virtual Reality
3. Augmented Reality
4. BIM and Internet of Things
5. Laser Scanning and Drones
6. Robotic Exosuits

So many things are emerging at the moment around generative design that should have a significant influence on the AEC industry in 2019. With commercial tools such as TestFit already on the scene and BILT 2019 adding a stream of sessions dedicated to Computational and Generative Design , things are going to get interesting real quick for the typical design firm!

For a succinct definition of generative design read Anthony Hauck’s LinkedIn article What is Generative Design? Anthony, who is also leading the new stream of GD sessions at BILT, is the president of Hypar , a web-based computation design platform. Here are how they describe this offering:

“The Hypar platform helps capture, explore, extend, and apply AEC expertise to accelerate the delivery of a better built environment.”

Here is an example of the UI and results within Hypar.

Autodesk just released the next evolution of their generative design offering, called Project Refinery . Interestingly, this is a group Hauck used to oversee at Autodesk. These tools and workflows still require a relatively high level of expertise to implement, but the opportunity for the generalist architect/engineer/designer has the potential to explode in 2019.

For the AEC industry, 2019 will be the year of “no excuses” for those who are interested in VR, as costs continue to decline, and wires get cut. Using the reasonably priced Enscape software, a Vive/Oculus/Microsoft MR device and a computer capable of running Revit, the virtual AEC world can be yours.

Earlier this year we saw the next gen Vive Pro ($799USD) and Vive Wireless Adapter ($299USD) hit the streets. In addition to the original Oculus ($400USD) and the Oculus Go ($179USD), we are promised the “No PC, No wires, No limits”
Oculus Quest in 2019. Given the lower hardware costs and streamlined setup, we will even start to see VR headsets loaned or gifted to clients, particularly on larger projects. Watch for wireless VR to become a standard in AEC as the client experience is significantly better.

Seeing the value in Virtual Reality, the computer giant Dell created a marketing video highlighting an AEC firm’s use of VR in the AEC space; full disclosure, the video features myself and LHB, the firm I work for!

For more on using Enscape to deliver high quality virtual reality experiences check out these articles about project presentations, VR with Rhino and how VR can help architects make better design decisions.

The sibling of VR is also poised to see expanded growth in 2019 as more AR devices are available along with the rumored release of the next generation Microsoft Hololens . As someone who has used the original Hololens on real projects with real clients, I can attest to the potential value this technology can have for AEC in 2019. Clients love the experience, which involves them walking around an existing space, untethered, looking at holograms of proposed content properly positioned and in the correct perspective.

For a case study project, I worked on, check this post (Microsoft HoloLens in Architecture; Case Study with Vertical Endeavors Rock Climbing ) on my blog, BIM Chapters.

With a growing interest in combining Building Information Modeling (BIM) with the Internet of things (IoT,) 2019 is ripe for implementation and new services offered by design firms. With voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, as well as access to sensors and automation tools such as Dynamo, we are sure to see some interesting developments in this area.

On this topic, you can read about the forward-thinking architecture and research firm KieranTimberlake ’s use of over 400 sensors in their own office in Philadelphia in this AIA COTE Top Ten Plus article: Ortlieb’s Bottling House . I see some real possibilities in marrying the knowledge gained from this research and their new web-based post occupancy evaluation (POE) tool called ROAST . Comparing measured data such as temperature, sound level, etc. with individual comfort reports would be highly valuable.

Back in 2016, Kean Walmsley from Autodesk Research, wrote this interesting presentation on the topic: Connecting Autodesk to the Internet of Things (PDF). Brian Haines, FM:Systems, also wrote this insightful article: Does BIM have a role in the Internet of Things? , and if you have a little more time and interest be sure to check out this ScienceDirect white paper: A framework for integrating BIM and IoT through open standards .

With costs continuing to drop for laser scanners and drones, 2019 will thrive in rich real-world data. More and more, we are hearing of smaller firms owning their own scanners and drones. The Leica BLK 360 has been very popular, as have been a number of drones. Even if owning is not in the cards for 2019, there are opportunities to rent the equipment or hire the service.

Combining scanned data in Revit/AutoCAD to accurately model new equipment, pipes/ducts or layout new spaces is huge in a time where we are keen on preserving existing building stock to be more sustainable. Not only that, but now these highly accurate models can take advantage of AR, just discussed above, to better inform clients of the validity and completeness of one’s design.

In addition to the hardware becoming more prevalent, keep an eye open for supporting software to become invaluable. For many, this is already the case, using tools such as ClearEdge to model from scan data, and to compare newly constructed elements with the design BIM to ensure accuracy and design intent.

Due to its potential to reduce injury and loss of life from construction related activities, I want to name the forthcoming robotic exosuits as another trend for 2019. This, along with the already available wearable technology to monitor workers vitals and location with RFID and devices like Fitbit, the near future looks bright!

Exactly what is a robotic exosuit? Here is a quote from Jean Thilmany via Trimble’s blog Constructible:

“The exosuits are metal frameworks fitted with motorized muscles to multiply the wearer’s strength. Also called exoskeletons, the robotic suits’ metal framework somewhat mirrors the wearer’s internal skeletal structure.

The suit makes lifted objects feel much lighter, and sometimes even weightless, reducing injuries and improving compliance.” Source: Exoskeletons for Construction Workers Are Marching On-Site, 15 February 2018 .

Here is an exciting video that hints at the potential of this product being developed. To learn more about this actual product in development, check out this video:

The future of AEC looks promising in terms of technology and its ability to improve design, enhance presentations and protect construction workers in the field. And while Enscape does not have direct features or workflows for all of the topics covered, nor should they, we know they are certainly aware of them.

We all have an important role in leveraging this technology to the greatest extent possible to ensure a safer and more sustainable future!

Beside my six trends of 2019 – which additional trends to you have in mind? Please get in touch via twitter @enscape3d and @DanStine_MN.

In a world where autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI,) Internet of Things (IoT,) virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are becoming commonplace terms across the globe, the average client in the AEC space will surely begin to except more realistic presentations and experiences during the design process. This post will discuss ways to give your project a reality boost using Enscape. Many people are already taking advantage of these ideas, albeit separately perhaps. Consider combining several of these features to create a more lively and immersive experience not soon to be forgotten.

We will look at accurate daylighting, project surroundings, entourage, proxies, bump maps and even sound… all culminating in a memorable presentation experience.

With the emphasis on high performance or sustainable design these days, the role daylight plays in the built environment cannot be overstated. We can certainly gain some insight during the early design process by using Enscape. Therefore, it behooves us to take the time and select our Location on earth and specify True North.

There is nothing worse than seeing a simple, flat, horizon line in a rendering. This has been a typical occurrence in many computer-generated architectural renderings for years. It manifests itself in both interior and exterior renderings. This can even be seen on reflective surfaces, such as glass or marble. Thus, adding a background manually in Photoshop will fix one problem, but the reflections will still be broken, as it were.

Try using horizon presets, as shown below. Of course, your client will notice the background is not the property they may have just paid a lot of money for, but it will certainly feel livelier. Taking a 360° panorama from the construction site itself will give the customer a total boost in reality.

However, you might want to consider using a custom skybox downloaded from OpenFootage.Net , and adding it using the Enscape function “Skybox as a background ”. OpenFootage has several low-resolution options like this one, which are free, as well as high-resolution downloads for a fee. Why is this better than adding a similar image later in Photoshop? Two reasons: First of all, as the design continues to evolve, the image will always be there. Secondly the same background will be visible from multiple rooms, and at different angles.

Whether you are using Revit 2019’s new advanced materials, or the similar results one can achieve with Enscape’s material editor, it is always a good idea to develop and use high quality textures. The results can be super dramatic in the final rendering. The two examples shown below highlight the rich and lively effect high quality textures can have.

If you have Autodesk Revit installed, you can access a wealth of textures installed on your computer’s local drive. There are many more options here than formal materials within the software. It is also helpful to know that there are three quality levels; low, medium and high. Be sure to use the high-quality textures located in this folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\Textures\3\Mats. Also in this folder you will find files to support the new advanced materials, such as ‘norm,’ ‘refl,’ ‘rough.’

Also check out websites that offer free high-quality textures such as https://www.sketchuptextureclub.com and https://megascans.se .

When developing materials, remember to apply bump maps when appropriate. Doing so has such an incredible impact on the quality of the material and overall image. For example, look at the subtle shadow lines added at each brick in the image below. Or, how about the fabric that looks so comfortable on the sofa and ottoman, plus the impressive woodgrain with highlights in the flooring?

I think designers often think their static renderings will not resemble certain materials closely enough, so they do not apply a bump map. But times are changing! With real-time rendering, we can end up all over the model while presenting on-screen or in VR. Plus, there is not really any loss in performance or time increase like there is with traditional rendering tools.

The importance of using bump maps cannot be over emphasized. It really is the difference between someone thinking “I understand that to be brick” in an okay rendering, to “wow, is this a photograph” in a properly developed model.

It should be no surprise that architecture looks better with people and clutter in it – that is what buildings are for, right? The two images below speak for themselves: acceptable versus reality boosted!

Using RPC content can transform an image from great to amazing. There are some libraries with free and paid content that help you to add people to your architectural project . With some effort you can achieve even more of a reality boost by using custom RPC content .

When thinking about reality, we understand nothing is perfect. So, it can be a benefit to your composition to rotate a chair, add a can of soda, place a magazine or a pack of 3M Post-It notes (by the way, did you know that 3M stands for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing?). But don’t just place them in their original orthogonal state; that is mainly for walls. Once you place your entourage or plantings, rotate them slightly in random increments. And, for plantings, also change the scale slightly for each instance.

To help with performance in your model, use proxies. These complex elements appear as simplified objects e.g. in SketchUp and then are replaced with much more complex geometry and materials in Enscape. In the two images below, the SketchUp model has another entire SketchUp model placed as a proxy. When Enscape is opened, the referenced SketchUp model is used. The bookcase with clutter, by itself, is a 16MB file with 106k edges, 43k faces and 52 materials. As you can imagine, the simple wireframe box will make your main SketchUp model perform a LOT better.

Finding the perfect perspective is somewhat of an art. Many architectural illustrators I have worked with over the years have a few simple rules which I have found very helpful in composing images digitally. First, compose the view from a human vantage point. Second, avoid aligning or overlapping geometry which creates the potential for confusion. Next, frame an exterior view with adjacent vegetation if possible, such as a tree branch in the foreground. Finally, avoid foreshortening a plane, like an adjacent wall, too much as this can misrepresent the proportions of a space – simple shift the vantage point to the left of or right to see a little more.

If nothing else, just taking a moment to step back and reflect on the composition of the view can reveal issues which can be easily addressed by nudging entourage or adjusting the camera position. And with all of this in mind, one of the things I love most about Enscape is its ability to make subtle adjustments in real-time, so you can quickly find that perfect perspective.

With a well-developed model, it is now possible to add one more layer of refinement: depth of view and field of view. These two features create results that mimic a physical camera, which can leave many wondering if the image is real or CGI. The field of view defines how much of a scene is visible in the given view. A wider field of view helps to make up for a lack of peripheral vision in a flat image, but the wider you go the more distorted the image gets; think fish-eye distortion. The depth of view, in super simple terms, is what causes the background and/or foreground to be blurry. Seeing as it is not practical to represent all clutter or blemishes in a real-world setting, using depth of view to slightly blur targeted portions of your scene can really help with the overall sense of realism exuded by an image.

Perhaps the most underutilized feature in virtual reality is the ability to add sound. This is yet another way in which we can bring a real-time visualization to life. Use one of the Sound Source commands, depending on how you want the “Speaker” to be hosted in Revit.

You will be prompted to select an MP3 file. Enscape brings you to a folder with a few samples; C:\Program Files\Enscape\ExampleSounds. Of course, there are unlimited options accessible via a web search. You can even make your own if needed. Like custom textures, be sure to place sound source files (MP3s) in a shared location so everyone on the project has access to them!

Once you click to place your sound source, you will have a symbol visible within Revit as shown here. In addition to the file location listed in Properties, notice there are also parameters to control the volume and distance (radius) the sound can be heard from within Enscape. Keep in mind, Revit elements such as walls and doors do not block or reduce sound, so set the values accordingly.

Do not be satisfied with average results. Take advantage of these nine steps to create more realistic renders. With these in hand, you will create excitement in even the most mild-mannered project stakeholder!

Use these techniques on your next project to impress everyone involved, including your competition! Consider it a compliment when someone asks “What software are you using?”

In the high-tech world we live in, architects and designers should not miss out on opportunities to develop better work, faster. Enscape presents such an opportunity, which is evident by the large number of people in our industry who are talking about this cutting-edge real-time visualization software. If you have not tried it yet, you owe it to yourself to download the trial and open a few of your models in Revit, SketchUp, Rhino or ArchiCAD to see them come to life right before your eyes.

Buildings are getting more complex as we continue to implement new materials, methods and technologies. Of course, this means our construction documentation and BIMs are getting more complex as well. To help keep things in order during the design process, many firms will use a clash detection tool such as Autodesk Navisworks or Bentley Navigator. However, those tools, as great as they are, do not find all problems with a proposed design.

This post will look at ways we can use Enscape to review a project before it goes out for bids (aka tender), or at any project milestone, to find problems. This saves time and money during construction for both the client and the design team.

This “real-time” review may be accomplished by a single person at their computer, or with a group in a conference room, even via a web-based meeting. Another option is to review the project in VR. Each of these options offer several opportunities to discover problems with the design, which can be easy to overlook from within the primary design software or via printed drawings and static renderings.

• Doors
• Restrooms
• Non-Clash Issues
• Lighting
• MEP and Structural
• Conclusion

A while back I was showing a project manager his project in VR and at one point he said, “Why don’t the top of those doors align?” Doors that are placed in plan-view and on adjacent walls can sometimes get out of sync when it comes to height and materiality.

Using Enscape, we can visualize a project more naturally in real-time and discover potential design issues while moving around the virtual project. Notice in the next image that the door on the left is taller and has a different frame than the door on the right. Plus, the overhead (OH) garage door in the center appears to be too low. While reviewing the issue, it is also evident that the duct in the upper left could easily be moved closer to the wall to allow the OH door to be taller.

There are many failed restroom designs, in terms of sightlines; don’t let your project be one of them. This first image is from my Interior Design Using Autodesk Revit 2019.Here we see how the space can be designed to passively avoid uncomfortable sightlines, even at the expense of a plumbing fixture (i.e. fewer total fixtures).

Navigating a project in Enscape we may find a similar situation. In this next image we see the project’s typical all-glass door had been copied around in Revit. In this case, we are just looking into the handwashing station and the toilets are separate compartments with full walls and doors (a common European design). Thus, this may just be a quick discussion with the design team or client to see if anyone is concerned about this. Given this space is adjacent to a lobby, it may be decided to use frosted glass as shown in the second image.

A worse case would be the glass door opens into a unisex restroom for one person, where the toilet is fully visible. I have seen some great examples on Twitter of people using Enscape to discover this very issue. In this case, frosted glass may not be the answer (unless nearly opaque). Thus, a solid door panel may be more appropriate as shown here.

There are many design issues that cannot be discovered with clash detection software because items in question do not touch anything, or, as in this first example below, they simply do not exist. Notice here that the ceiling is missing. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy to delete an element unintentionally. Navigating the model with Enscape can quickly reveal these omissions.

It could also be that the structure, ducts and pipes are meant to be exposed. In this case, the light fixture type and supports should be reviewed. It would not hurt to make sure the drawings and specifications call for all of this to be painted (if that is desired).

The corridor looks better with the ceiling restored. Ceilings like this are designed to be highly reflective so light bounces around more, and this ACT system improves the acoustic performance of a space.

Here is an example of power and data outlets on the wall not aligned with the copier. Perhaps the architects moved the copier as the design evolved or they were placed before the copier family existed in the model. In any case, if this is not resolved there will end up being a design compromise; the copier has to move, or the cords/cables will be visible.

In this next example, it jumps out to me, as it does in real life, that the tops of the hollow metal door frames do not align. I know why; the door into the stairwell is in a fire rated concrete block wall and the other two doors are in a metal stud framed walls. In the USA, most commercial doors are 7’-0” tall. A masonry opening is 7’-4” so the door frame head is usually 4” to make up the different. But, doors in metal stud walls typically only have a 2” head, which matches the jambs.

However, with todays improved production methods, it is easy to order 7’-2” tall doors, which used to be cost prohibitive, and make all the frame heads 2”. The problem is solved, as shown in the second image.

Like the copier example above, we want to visually verify that adequate power/data devices are provided where needed. In this case, we can temporarily delete the refrigerator and vending machine in Revit to get a look at the wall behind in Enscape.

With those items out of the way, we can see the required outlets. I personally do this often when reviewing a project. If the electrical team is modeling things properly, the devices should appear where you would expect them once the project is built. This includes at reception desks, above countertops and in microwave cabinets.

Another way to visually review the model is to use Enscape’s Light View mode, which renders a pseudocolor image of the illumination intensity, to look for potential glare or hot-spot issues. Notice how this feature was used to visualize the benefit of employing exterior sun shades in the below design.

Besides informing design, presenting accurate information to a client or public should be a standard-of-care all design professionals strive for (even if not called for in an LOD document). Not doing so can be misleading if not qualified and even lead to litigation. Read about best practices for Revit project setup here .

Another way to visually review the model is by hiding all the architectural elements to expose the MEP and structural portion of the design. While the next image shows things that can easily be discovered using clash detection, looking at the problem areas in Enscape can aid in developing a solution to the conflict. Being able to quickly see the problem from all angles is very helpful.

The second image is not highlighting any problems, but rather pointing out another way in which the model can be presented to the client to help them understand that the project is fully coordinated and ready to be approved and built!

I end many of these posts by pointing out that it is easy to see how Enscape can assist, not only in the visualization efforts of a project, but also in the design and validation process. I use this technique often myself. While working, I will use SnagIt, by TechSmith, to quickly screen-capture areas in need of attention and use its tools to mark up the image (like the MEP view above with red arrows). The great thing about SnagIt is it keeps the entire history of all your screen captures, so you can keep moving and save or print the images later.

And, finally, for a little out-of-the-box thinking on tracking comments in this context, check out Phil Read’s LinkedIn article Context, Comments and QR Codes .

How have you ‘reality checked’ your project lately?

Wood is an amazing and versatile natural material we all love, in its natural setting, as carved figures and furniture or as finishes within buildings. This material has many characteristics such as species, finish and modern applications like plywood and glulam beams and columns. In this article I will share some tips on ways to represent wood optimally in Enscape.

This article will focus on developing wood materials in Revit, but many of the concepts also apply to SketchUp. For more on wood in SketchUp, be sure to check out this YouTube video by Architecture Inspirations called REALISTIC Wood Materials Tips and Tricks | Enscape for SketchUp . He does a great job of covering many important concepts in just six minutes! And many of his tips also apply to Revit indirectly.

1. Revit’s Wood Material
2. Revit Advanced Materials
3. Plywood Materials
4. Distressed Wood
5. Autodesk Provided Wood Texture And Bump Files
6. Generic Revit Materials
7. Painted Wood
8. Conclusion

First, we will look at some of the materials that come with Revit, how they are setup and how they look in Enscape. Then we will look at how to adjust these materials and, finally, create new ones.

Revit has a physically based material type for wood. Enscape understands this material type, which results in high quality images. This first image is based on the Wood Flooring material that comes with Revit. Looking at the material settings, you should note three helpful settings; Stain, Finish and Relief Pattern. These three settings can drastically change how the wood looks.

As you would guess, the Finish controls the roughness, or gloss, of the surface. But, compared to the advanced materials covered later, this is an all or nothing setting.

The Relief Pattern setting is able to simulate the three-dimensional nature of the material, like the joints between the boards and the recess along the gain. Similar to the Enscape material editor in SketchUp, this material type can base the wood grain on the albedo using the Based on Wood Grain option.

When Stain is checked, the Stain Color becomes available. Adjusting this value affects the overall color of the wood as shown below.

Now let’s look at Revit’s new advanced materials for representing wood. With this opaque shader type, you can achieve the best results, which is closest to Enscape’s own material settings found in SketchUp. A few examples, rendered in Enscape, are shown here.

One of the best ways to test a material is in context, as shown in the next two images. Here we have daylight, artificial light, various shades and shadows as well as reflections. Just testing a material in an empty model does not reveal the true character of the material. Notice the difference between the finished bamboo flooring and the unfinished plywood. Also, a larger area like this will quickly reveal any unwanted repeating patterns, which results from the seamless texture sample area being too small.

In addition to the plywood panel shown above, Revit 2019 also provides two materials which represent the laminated layers at the edge of a panel. In the example below, I painted the edge material to make the plywood panel look more realistic.

Now let’s look at customizing a Revit material to get specific results. In this case, we want to represent an old wood floor with several scratch marks. Let’s say the client likes the aesthetic and desires to simply clean and seal it. The first step is finding a texture that matches the wood species. This Revit walnut material is pretty close. The default settings produce a matte finish, so adjusting the Roughness value gives us the clear coat finish we want.

Next we need to modify the bump map to add the scratches. I opened the bump map used in the original walnut advanced material, made a copy and then added two new Photoshop layers. On one, I added the scratch marks and on the other, the joints between the boards. Here is the final bump file and the results in Enscape… amazing!

Now let’s look at the result in context. The next two images embody the idea that this floor as been in service for many years, and in this sustainably remodeled project, it will have many more!

When looking for wood textures, you can start with the ones installed on your computer. The following image shows the search results for “wood” in this folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\Textures\3\Mats. You may find textures here not associated with Revit materials, or are used in some other context, such as fencing or soffits, but could still fit your needs.

Notice in the detailed list above, I added the Dimensions column to the view. This helps to identify the higher quality images, likely associated with the new Revit 2019 advanced materials. When switching to the previews, the same sorting is still applied. Notice how the high-quality material are not square? You need to keep this in mind with setting the texture size in Revit.

Of course, there are many placing to find high quality textures. Some are discussed in the YouTube video linked above and some in the “Free Resources ” Enscape blog post.

In addition to the advanced and wood-based materials (i.e. shaders) we can also use the Generic material type. In the example below, the exterior wood shake siding, I use a Revit provided material and then fade the image so the custom color bleeds through; similar results can be achieved using the Tint option here as well. The result simulates a green colored stain where the color variation of the wood is telegraphed through the finish.

In this final example, we will look at representing painted wood. This is done using an advanced material with no main image, just a color. Then, a woodgrain bump file is used for both the roughness and bump. The results can be seen in the following image. There are many cases where this level of detail cannot be appreciated, but when it can be seen, it makes for a very compelling visualization!

With these tips in mind, creating the right wood material for a real-world design project becomes a simple task. These assets can then be saved in a custom Revit material library and used on other projects. And, if saved on a shared network, everyone on the team – or in the office – can benefit.

If you keep an eye out for it, you’ll notice that wood materials pop up all over your project. So it’s even more important that you make sure each material looks its best. In the end, you want to give your client the most realistic experience of their project, before the construction has even started. By paying special attention to your materials, you’ll be sure to blow them away. For more tips on how to make your materials even more accurate, check out my previous post about getting your albedo just right .

Give wood the love it deserves… make a quality material and render it in Enscape!

Representing grass has always been a challenge in architectural graphics, especially for the average designer who does not specialize in developing computer generated graphics (CGI). The best we could do in the past was to apply a bump map and maximize the setting, so the ground did not look completely flat. Then, Enscape totally changed the game in early 2017 by automatically adding three-dimensional grass within their real-time photorealistic rendering engine. And now, it just got better, as we have been given control over the height and height variation of the blades of grass! This is sure to be a new fan favorite for anyone designing building façades, parks, roadways or bridges!

Any material in Revit, SketchUp, Rhino or ArchiCAD with the word “grass” in its name will render as a thick three-dimensional-looking grass in Enscape by default. Even in the small comparison images below, it is easy to see what a big different this makes. This article will cover the ins and outs of the grass feature in Enscape, including some incredible new developments! The focus of this article will be on Revit and SketchUp.

1. Grass in Revit
2. Grass in Sketchup
3. Examples
4. Conclusion

Here are a few images I have created which greatly benefit from realistic and natural looking grass. All three images where rendered with Enscape and have had no post-production edits.

Using Autodesk Revit, we can achieve amazing results in Enscape using various materials to define grass. Let’s look at how this works and what the options are.

Grass Height

The magic happens when Grass Rendering is ticked within the Enscape settings dialog and one or more Revit materials have the keywords “grass”, “short grass”, “tall grass” or “wild grass”. Here is an example of each grass style compared side-by-side.

Here is what happens based on keywords used:

• Grass: Medium grass
• Short Grass: Shorter grass
• Tall Grass: Taller grass
• Wild Grass: Taller grass with varying blade heights

Grass Color

Because Enscape samples the color or texture assigned to the material, we can achieve interesting results. I have been using this texture for a while as it has subtle variations in color, which translates nicely to Enscape’s 3D grass. It was acquired from a larger high-resolution aerial image. I set the texture size to 120’ square; the patterns are not obvious due to the scale.

Here are the results in Enscape… notice the color is not consistent, an effect that often occurs due to droughts. So, the result is more natural if this is the look you are going for.

Grass Types

Now let’s look at how we can create specific grass types. You will be happy to know it is easy. First, notice a few grass types shown in the image: Centipede, Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia. I found this image by searching the internet for “grass types”. I then cropped the image down to just the desired grass type (no text or lines) and saved a separate image. Applying that new image, with a texture size of about 8-12” wide and 4-5” tall produced the results shown below. Of course, finding larger tileable samples would produce better results and look correct in Revit if ‘realistic view’ were ever used.

When working in SketchUp we have all of the options just covered for Revit and a few more! In fact, because of the Enscape-centric material editor and ability to place custom proxy object some designers will export their Revit models to SketchUp to finish the rendering task there. For my SketchUp examples I downloaded the model Walled Garden with Rock Waterfall created by JBJDesigns .

Notice in the Enscape Materials dialog the Type is set to Grass and we have two sliders; one for Height and another for Height Variation. You can quickly set you material type to grass via the dropdown menu. The grass settings are only visible if the type is set to grass. Use the Height slider to adjust how long your grass is. The Height Variation slider adds variation to the height and size of the grass blades. The higher the amount of height variation, the wilder your grass will look. If you would prefer a more uniform appearance, set the slider to a low value.

When setting the material via keyword, the type is automatically set to grass because the SketchUp material name has the word ”grass” in it. But, we can also manually change the name if needed. In this model, there were a few materials with the words “vegetation” and “grass” in the same name. Those materials default to Vegetation so I must either change the name or manually change the type… I did the latter.

Sports Examples

If you design sports stadiums or athletics fields for educational institutions, you will be happy to know Enscape can produce extraordinary results for this application! I did a quick search, again on 3D Warehouse, and found a high quality model of the Gillette-Stadium created by Cleveland Rocks to explore this use case.

In this SketchUp model each grass color is a different material. All I did for each of these materials was make sure the type was set to grass and adjust the height and variation sliders to zero. And that was it! Just five minutes into opening this model and I was able to navigate a photorealistic model in real-time, even adjusting the time of day.

Here is a close-up shot of the logo defined by several different grass colors.

Thinking Outside the Box

In this last example I selected a carpet texture for the albedo, and the result is not too bad in Enscape! There are likely many ways in which this versatile material can be used. However, keep in mind it cannot currently be used on vertical surfaces.

It’s truly exciting to see such dramatic results for grass in a real-time rendering engine, which also has a live link to our favorite 3D modeling environments. And if you think the grass is amazing in these still images, wait until you see it in virtual reality using the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or Windows Mixed Reality devices. It is breathtaking, and very memorable for clients and stakeholders.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out the Enscape Visualization Gallery to see what other customers are doing. If you have yet to give Enscape a try, download the free trial today and check it out with Revit, SketchUp, Rhino and/or ArchiCAD. If you are a student, be sure to take advantage of the free student version

Finding the right perspective is an art, not a science, and we can all get better at it by understanding a few basic principles. For some this may be a refresher. But, given Enscape’s great support for students by offering their software for free, it seems fitting to offer this “fundamentals” article as a way of helping aspiring designers get the best possible results when creating still images. And, since I don’t work for Enscape, I do not feel bad about mentioning not all software is free to students

This article will look at the various view types and composition considerations, as well as problems to watch out for. The following image represents a well-composed image where the edges are framed, the many vertical elements are not aligned or overlapping, a subtle ‘depth of field’ is applied, and the viewpoint is at eye-level.

Because finding the right perspective is more of an art, some of what I am about to profess may not be the right answer for everyone. Even if you don’t agree with some of the aspects covered, the hope is that everyone reading this will find some value and firm up their personal understanding of what constitutes a great rendered image.

There are three perspective types: 1-point, 2-point and 3-point as shown below. Enscape can create each of these view types. Additionally, your 3D modeling programs (Revit, SketchUp, Rhino and ArchiCAD) can display axonometric views.

In the next two images, you will notice a subtle difference between 2-point and 3-point perspective views. The point here is that, for 2-point perspective, the vertical lines are perfectly vertical. At the end of this article, you will see how the 2-point option is extremely helpful in the courthouse example.

Note that the horizon line is intentionally exposed in these images, and several like them in this article, to emphasis several fundamental concepts related to our topic at hand.

The vantage point from which a model is viewed is important to consider. Most people view architecture from the ground, standing on their feet, so that is the vantage point I prefer. In Enscape I will “fly” through the model looking for a good view, and then press the Spacebar to quickly set the vertical position at eye level; the exact height can be changed in Enscape Settings via the Spectator Height slider.

Aerial images also have their place, but it is important to keep in mind the extra work they often require. For example, compare the next two images, notice how much extra backdrop must be created, even with Enscape’s built-in environments. By contrast, there is a much smaller area to fill in for eye level views. From an eye level view, a large area of the backdrop is filled with sky, which Enscape handles well. Plus, just a few well-placed trees are sometimes all that is required to hide the horizon.

Another thing to note about the vantage point of a view, when set at eye-level, is that all the people in the view often have their head aligned with the horizon line. This is a very helpful detail when hand sketching but can also help to spot an Enscape-view positioned in a way someone would not normally look at a space. Knowing this helps with the realism of a final still image.

For eye-level renderings, meaning the angle of the view is as if a person were standing on the ground, the heads of most people will be at the horizon line no matter where they are in the scene, as depicted in the sketch below. As you can see, some people are very close while others appear far in the distance, but most of them have their heads aligned with the horizon. The exceptions are when a person is sitting, on a different level, bending over or just shorter than the person they are standing next to.

Here is the same concept visualized in Enscape. We have three people, all at a different distance from the viewer, but each of their heads are aligned with the horizon line.

Understanding real-world camera settings is very helpful in developing the right perspective in Enscape, as many of its settings are based on how a real camera works. For example, the default field of view (FOV) in Enscape is very wide and helpful for navigating a model on a computer screen. But for still images, a professional architectural photographer would not normally use that wide of a lens as they tend to distort the image, making a scene look less realistic. A common camera lens used for architectural photography is 24mm (Tilt-Shift) which is a 67 degree FOV in Enscape. The Enscape default is 14.5mm which is a 90 degree FOV. Check out this post for more on this topic: Lenses for Architectural Photography

Not only do people help to bring your sketches to life they also give the viewer a sense of scale. Continuing to look at the mechanics of a perspective, notice how we can use people in the scene as a sort of measuring stick, literally or subconsciously.

Here is the same concept visualized in Enscape. We can see how the woman’s body height can help us gage how tall the structure she is standing next to actually is. We can even project her height vertically and in perspective to, for example, place a 10’-0” (304cm) vertical line in the scene; each yellow line is the same height.

The composition of a view is a key ingredient in developing the right perspective. In the next image you can see some problems; our vantage point has us visually grazing the side of the main building and the outdoor fireplace covers a major edge of the main structural, leaving an odd portion of the roof exposed. Compare this with the next image, where the left side of the view is framed be the main structure, the fireplace does not cover any major elements and the top edge of the view is also framed by an umbrella. Even a small portion of a chair in the foreground helps to frame the view. I touched on this specific example in my ArchDaily article: 9 Ways to Make Your Renderings More Realistic

Now that we have talked about some fundamentals, let’s look at some applications. For most, we will have a poor, good, better and best example to compare.

Poor example:
If you only had one image to provide, this would be considered a “poor” example, as this is not how a person would normally view this project and the backdrop needs a lot more work.

Good example:
Now we are on the ground, making the vantage point better than in the previous image. However, there are still things we can do to make it better.

Better example:
In this case we have taken some artistic liberties and repositioned a tree, which does exist, so we have the sense of a branch framing the view in the upper left. This is a favorite technique in architectural visualization to ground the building and break up the vast amount of sky.

Best example:
This last example incorporates all the previous features as well as a custom Depth of Field to draw the viewers focus to the important part of the image – the building; not the person in the foreground or the city beyond. This is also great when your specific project does not have a custom skybox for the site. Blurring out one of the built-in Enscape options can help avoid questions and confusion by the client.

Now, let’s move inside this same project and look at an example in the open kitchen.

Poor example:
Here, the field of view is too wide and there are no people to help define the scale of the space. The scale may be difficult to understand as it is so open; there are no visible doors or objects in the foreground. Let’s look at how we can make this perspective a little better.

Good example:
First, we change the Field of View and vantage point. Now we have an object in the foreground, the dining room table, which helps frame the view and convey scale.

Better example:
Adding a few people helps bring the space to life and further implies scale. By the way, these high-quality examples in this article are from ArcvhVision’s RPC collection (AXYZ models).

Best example:
Adjusting the Depth of Field draws attention to the kitchen while still making the foreground elements visible but not the focus.

In this next example you will notice that two vertical edges are aligned. This makes it more difficult to quickly understand where the brick wall in the foreground stops and the pool house wall starts in the background. The view is also looking downward slightly, which makes the wall on the right looks like it may be sloping or not vertical. The second image corrects both subtle issues by moving the vantage point slightly and leveling the view.

There are always exceptions to the rule, as you will see with this last example. Sometimes we need to present a space with unusual proportions, like this courthouse foyer which is 22’-0” (6.7m) tall, but only has a floor area of 28’-0”x22’-0” (8.5mx6.7m). Not only that, but the floor and ceiling have important design features: a State seal and dome respectively. The first two images below use the techniques previously discussed but do not adequately represent the essence of the space. Let’s look at what we can do to properly capture the space, to make sure the clients and public understand the design intent.

To really capture this space, we need to use Enscape’s Architectural Two Point Perspective option. Additionally, we need to position ourselves about half way up in the space, not at eye-level as I often prefer. I backed up until I just passed through the wall, having gone too far, and then moved forward a little, which puts me as far back as possible. Notice each side is nicely framed by the ionic columns in the foreground. I was also able to use these side columns to level out the view, capturing a little of the seal on the floor and the dome above. The  field of view is set to 115 degrees. We must be careful, when adjusting the field of view, to not let the view or entourage get too distorted.

As you read this article, you may have thought to yourself that much of this is common sense. And you would be correct. But, as with most things it is good to have fundamental principles refreshed, so that they are better understood. In so doing, we will be able to more quickly develop our views and convey the design intent to those viewing our presentation graphics, especially seeing as it now takes more time to compose a view than to render it thanks to Enscape. In this regard, we should slow down and ‘smell the roses’ to create the best possible graphics!

So, the next time you are establishing a view in Enscape, remember these key points: view type, scale, field of view, depth of view, vantage point, alignment and overlap. And, once you find that perfect view, don’t forget to save it back to Revit or SketchUp so you can render it again in the future.

Glass is an amazing material which provides a barrier from the elements while allowing a visual connection to the beauty around us; it provides light and even desired warmth in the cold season. Glass, referred to as glazing in the context of architecture, is also aesthetically pleasing in many ways, including its reflective qualities.

Traditionally, glass was challenging to represent properly in architectural visualizations. Either the color or reflections where off, or the software and settings one had to know where too complicated for the average designer. Not that they had not done it before, or where not able to learn it, but the benefit to cost of time and budget just didn’t make sense on most projects.

Thankfully, Enscape is not your father’s rendering software. This contemporary real-time and physically based rendering software is always just a click away from within your Revit, SketchUp, Rhino or ArchiCAD software. The user settings are simple: more like the controls on a camera than a spaceship. With a few simple “reflection” adjustments within the menu we can have nearly perfect glazing.

This article will cover the application of glazing within a Revit model. With the evolution of Revit materials, there are three primary ways to define glass: Generic, Glazing and now Advanced Materials in Revit 2019.

Understanding the differences between these options and how they look in Enscape is key to getting the realistic or aesthetic results you are looking for. The images above and below highlight the amazing results we can get from Enscape with just minimal effort. Not only that, but this effort is all encapsulated within the primary Revit model, not exported and refined in another format or copy of the model.

It is also helpful to know that Enscape has a material definition for glazing, i.e. classic PBR: roughness, specular (F0), metallicness, etc., and they try to map the CAD’s material system onto these. However, by contrast, in Enscape’s own material editor in SketchUp, you get the maximum control over all parameters.

As just mentioned, SketchUp has the most options for glass when it comes to Enscape because the native materials are more limiting, supporting only a texture and transparency value, and thus there is a custom Enscape Material Editor. This editor, of course, corresponds directly to the rendering engine. Sort of like Apple making an OS for its own hardware, which removes the “middle-man” and lots of guesswork and unknowns.

When dealing with glass in SketchUp the Transparency Color and Reflection Roughness are key. The smoother the material (Roughness -> 0%), the more it will reflect its environment, whereas a rougher surface will diffuse incoming light. Here is an example in SketchUp showing three different glazing conditions and their respective settings.

Notice the railing’s glass panels have a pattern. This is defined by the Texture parameter, which allows you to control the transparency using a 2D image: a map. It refers to the opacity value, so a black area (which equals zero) on the image used will result in a perfectly transparent portion of the surface, while a white area will appear perfectly opaque. Grey areas will appear partially transparent, such as glass. If you load a colored image, Enscape will automatically convert it to black and white, so you don’t have to worry about that. The image can be inverted and resized as shown here.

The Refractive Index slider determines by which factor light is being bent when traveling through a transparent surface. You know this effect from looking at a glass of water or very thick glass. Air has a refractive index of 1.0, so light rays travel through it in a straight line. Water has an index of 1.33, while the index of window glass is 1.52. Diamonds, for a further example, have an index of 2.42: they bend light quite heavily. For architectural glazing, this value can be very low or zero for efficiency. Here we see the effect when adjusting the Refractive Index on the glass panels in the railing.

As you can see, with just a few augments to the SketchUp materials in the Enscape Material Editor, some stunning results can be achieved. If you want to read more about working with materials in SketchUp, you can read this post I previously wrote: SketchUp Material Editor and Enhanced Materials in SketchUp

Using Autodesk Revit, we can also achieve amazing results in Enscape. However, Revit has multiple material shaders to reach similar results, with slight differences between them.

A Revit-provided template has the “Glass” material set to the Glazing shader option as shown in the settings below. But the Reflectance value is set quite low so the initial impact in Enscape can be disappointing at first. The range of reflectance can be seen in this comparative image, with a 100 setting on the left, 50 in the center and 0 on the right. The default in Revit is 15, which is closer to the example on the right which almost looks like there is no glass in the curtain wall system.

Revit’s advanced materials, introduced in Revit 2019, have different settings for the physically based glazing shader. It should be pointed out that this “glazing” material is different than the new advanced “glass” material. Unlike glass, light is not refracted for efficiency in glazing (as discussed in the previous SketchUp section). The result in Enscape is a surface which is always evident from any vantage point, and the reflective quality is good.

It is interesting that the new advanced material has a Visual Transmittance (T-Vis or VLT) value. Anyone specifying glazing or involved in daylight analysis or calculations will be familiar with this real-world physical property.

Revit and Insight also use this information for energy analysis. However, I am not sure if this value, in the new advanced materials, is used for that just yet. The default value shown in this example, of about 20%, is far from a normal value. In the chart below we see the range is from about 60 – 90%. I am not sure if this value effects visualization as I have not done any testing in this area yet.

Visual Transmittance values for Revit’s glazing options in energy settings (table from Autodesk Help)

Here is an example of “plain” Glass, using the advanced materials, not the new glazing option. In this case, with the darker color selected, it looks pretty good and could be used to represent a spandrel panel – i.e. non-transparent glass panels, usually used between the ceiling and the floor above on all-glass curtain wall systems like the one in this example.

The next few images show various results possible within Revit, including a patterned bump map, transmissive color adjustments, as well as tint colors. The captions offer more details for each image.

There is still much more that could be said about glass in buildings, or even in objects. But the information covered in this article should provide enough detail to achieve the beautiful results shown and additional variations by adjusting the related settings. Keep in mind, with Enscape open on a second monitor, many of these settings are visualized in real-time, making the process incredibly easy.

As glass is just an important part of architecture, it is truly exciting to see such dramatic results in a real-time rendering engine which also has a live link to our favorite 3D modeling environments.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out the Enscape Visualization Gallery to see what other customers are doing. If you have yet to give Enscape a try, download the free trial today and check it out with Revit, SketchUp, Rhino and/or ArchiCAD. If you are a student, be sure to take advantage of a free student license.

4. Quick feature overview:

Field of view defines what is visible at a particular position and orientation in space. Chose the angle of the area captured through the camera to influence the atmosphere of your scene.

Set the time of day by choosing the desired hour of day in the editor; the lighting will be changed accordingly. Enhance your project by fine-tuning where the daylight falls in every scene.

Depth of field determines the focal point in your video. You can either use the center of the screen as an automatic focus or set a target distance. Use this feature to increase emphasis on a specific part of the scene. Have a look at more of Enscape’s features right here .