Enscape Exports Archives - Enscape https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/category/enscape_exports/ Instant realtime Rendering plugin for Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, and ArchiCAD Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:26:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.7 https://wordpress-community-media-prod.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/community/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/06142357/enscape-chaos-favicon-32x32.ico Enscape Exports Archives - Enscape https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/category/enscape_exports/ 32 32 How to Add Panoramas to Your Workflow https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/how-to-add-panoramas-to-your-workflow/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/how-to-add-panoramas-to-your-workflow/#respond Thu, 07 Mar 2019 07:52:22 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=42189 When you think about it, panoramas are some of the most multifaceted tools when it comes to presenting your project to clients. It's easy to underestimate how many ways they can be applied and how effortless it is to integrate them into every step of your workflow.

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How to Add Panoramas to Your Workflow

When you think about it, panoramas are some of the most multifaceted tools when it comes to presenting your project to clients. It’s easy to underestimate how many ways they can be applied and how effortless it is to integrate them into every step of your workflow. They’re a great addition to still renderings, giving your clients the ability to literally take a look around. For a tutorial on how to create Enscape panoramas, take a look at our Knowledgebase article.

Everything associated with the panorama is simple: they are easy to send, access, and view. Panoramas can often be a happy medium between still renderings and a full 3D walkthrough. Viewing them doesn’t require high powered hardware; you can have a VR experience using a smartphone. It’s effortless to upload them to the cloud and share them via weblink or QR code. Integrating panoramas into your building plans, presentations, or promotional material couldn’t be easier. For this post, we gathered examples of how creative Enscape users get with their panoramas. Check the exciting use cases to get inspired on how to add panoramas to your next project.

The Planning Process

Many Enscape users add panoramas to every step of their workflow, starting during the planning phase. Before you even begin construction on a project, you can show your client exactly what the end result will look like. It just takes a few clicks to export a panorama that you can send to a client in seconds. Export any view in Enscape as a panorama: forum user Paul Russam (David Maxwell Architects) detailed his workflow for exporting all of his panoramas from one project in a recent forum post.

First he starts Enscape and surveys his model for the best views of the project. He saves these views and names them “Pano-01, Pano-02, Pano-03 etc” for easy reference. Paul then renders his panoramas in two steps: first the outdoor scenes, then the indoor scenes. This process allows him to tailor his exposure settings for the first the outdoor scenes, then the indoor views, for the best result.

Get an overview of your created panoramas in the Manage Panoramas window

Get an overview of your created panoramas in the Manage Panoramas window

Example of a stereo panorama created in seconds

Example of a stereo panorama created in seconds

Using a workflow like Paul’s will leave you with a collection of panoramas which are a great way to present your project to the client. Oftentimes you’ll be faced with the common problem: how to present your project to the client dynamically without extensive and high-powered hardware? When you meet with a client, you don’t always have the option of bringing the hardware necessary to show a live 3D walkthrough or use VR. But in these cases, you don’t have to compromise. Panoramas can elevate the presentation to a memorable experience for both you and the client, anytime, anywhere.

Use your cursor to pan around the image

Use your cursor to pan around the image

The great advantage of panoramas is that they provide you with the opportunity of a VR-like experience using minimal hardware. Travel light by saving panoramas on a tablet and showing them during key points in your presentation. You client can swipe around the panorama using their finger, allowing them to focus on the areas that are most important to them. Or view the panoramas on any laptop, navigating with the cursor. Alternatively, upload your panorama to the cloud and download a QR code. You can add these to posters and quickly scan them at the right moment, provided you have internet access, of course.

Provide a VR-like experience without the hardware; just pack your phone and your cardboard device!

Provide a VR-like experience without the hardware; just pack your phone and your cardboard device!

Another great tool to use in combination with stereo panoramas during presentation is a cardboard device. This adds an interactive, and therefore memorable, element to the presentation, with no extra fuss. You might not always be able to bring your full VR setup to client presentations, but you always have room for a cardboard device. It assembles in seconds; after that you simply open the panorama on a smartphone and enable cardboard mode by tapping the glasses icon in the lower right hand corner of the screen. This gives your client a fully 360° experience of their project in seconds.

Between presentations, sending panoramas is a great way to keep your client up-to-date on you progress. This is in no small part due to how easy it is to distribute panoramas. You can of course send your client the image file to view on their computer, but you can also simply send a weblink that they can open on their smartphone and view anywhere. Enscape user Steven Garubba says that he sends panoramas to his clients so that they can “get a good idea of the space that [he] just designed for them.”

They can easily view it on their phone and quickly get back to me with new ideas/changes without having to be on a computer which makes the process much faster.

The opportunity for immediate feedback is what makes using panoramas like this so powerful. You have the ability to give your client an impulse of where the project is heading, and immediately react to their response, saving you not only time but also headaches down the line.

The Construction Phase

It can be easy to write off panoramas once you leave the planning phase and enter construction, but a survey of Enscape users on our forum shows that this is where you can really get creative. This benefits not only your client, but also the workers. This is where panoramas distributed via QR code can be most useful. Once you have your floorplans ready, navigate you model in Enscape and export panoramas of key areas. Then simply upload these to the cloud and download the dedicated QR code. Adding this QR code directly to the floorplan can bring clarity to the design and help you avoid miscommunications about the direction of the project.

As Steven Garubba puts it:

I plan to place QR codes right onto the construction document seeing that the field loves to see the space before building it out and it generally gives the workers an end result to work towards.

Adding panoramas to 2D plans brings your project to life like never before. A 2D plan can convey the basic facts of your project, but it can’t tell a story the way a rendering can. Check out this interactive plan created by Space Architects for a recent project:

Adding a QR code to a 2D plan brings your project to life like never before.

Adding a QR code to a 2D plan brings your project to life like never before.

Credit: Space Architects

Credit: Space Architects

Combine the detail of a 2D plan with the imagery of a 360 panorama viewed immediately on a smartphone for a clear, comprehensible overall representation of the project. Printing QR codes in brochures to send out gives your project an even greater reach: anyone with a smartphone can see your idea in seconds.

Enscape user dsmith utilized QR codes during an on-site client presentation for memorable results with little effort. First, he used Revit with Enscape to develop “certain areas of the building that were of significant importance to the client (reception areas, classrooms).” For each important area he then created an informational poster, which showed the area in the floor plan and also provided the dedicated QR code for the panoramic view of that area.

Add QR codes to your construction site walkthrough for an immersive experience

Add QR codes to your construction site walkthrough for an immersive experience

Credit: Noviun Architects

Credit: Noviun Architects

The client could then walk around the building site and scan the QR code with their phone to immediately see the impression of what the finished product would look like. This approach allows a client to clearly see what the area will eventually look like, even if large parts of the design are still missing on-site. As dsmith put it:

This was particularly useful for giving an idea of space before any partitions were installed on site. It worked really well and all the clients were extremely happy with the final outcome.

Forum user Gadget used a similar technique in his own office. His company, Thistle Windows and Conservatories Ltd, created a custom showroom to present projects to clients and used QR codes during the planning phase:

During the development of the showroom, QR codes have been printed out, laminated and placed at key areas within the showroom so that the people working on it have a good idea of what the end result should look like.

The end is the beginning (Marketing and Promotion)

Panoramas can benefit your firm beyond the development of specific projects. They can also be an invaluable tool to convey your ability to potential clients. Collecting panoramas of past project is a great way to immediately showcase your design style. The most straightforward way to do this is to host panoramas of your past projects on your website. Check out the bottom of our Knowledgebase article on panoramas for guidelines on how to do this; you’ll find it under the heading “For Software Developers”.

One firm using this technique to showcase their designs is David Maxwell Architects. In the Portfolio section of their website , they use a mix of hosted panoramas and still renderings to show the kinds of stunning projects they have worked on in the past.

Host panoramas on your website to give potential clients an overview of your work

Host panoramas on your website to give potential clients an overview of your work

Another easy way to host panoramas and reach a wide audience is via Facebook’s 360 photo upload. It is just as easy as uploading a normal photo to Facebook, but allows the viewer to pan around the image with one click or tap. It couldn’t be easier to share your work on your timeline to reach an even wider audience. Just upload the panorama as you would upload a normal picture and Facebook will automatically recognize it as a 360 photo. You can then set your starting view and post to your timeline with one click!

Render interactive panoramas in seconds

Render interactive panoramas in seconds

Post interactive panoramas to Facebook in seconds

Post interactive panoramas to Facebook in seconds

A great way to take your QR codes up another notch is to personalize them to fit with your corporate identity. The QR codes that Enscape generates are functional and effective, but sometimes you might need something less nondescript. In this case, online QR code generators are perfect tools. Simply upload your panorama to the cloud to assign it a weblink. Then pick your favorite QR code generator.

Create QR codes to share your panorama

Create QR codes to share your panorama

Brand your QR codes with your company color or logo

Brand your QR codes with your company color or logo

As far as the free sites go, I find QR Code Monkey incredibly versatile and easy to use. It took me just a few clicks to create the above branded QR codes. Stick with your company color, or even add in your logo. Drop in the URL from Enscape and these personalized QR codes will link directly to your panorama.

One last way to integrate panoramas into your marketing materials is by creating a panorama tour. This is obviously also great for client presentations or during the planning stage, and hosting a panorama tour on your website makes a great first impression on potential clients. Not only does this give a similar effect to a real-time walkthrough, but many softwares and services allow you to also annotate the panorama tour; the viewer can then click selected elements and get more information.

There are a lot of different services out there that allow you to create such tours. Many are only available in a paid subscription, but create such beautiful tours that it might be an investment worth considering, especially if your firm creates such tours frequently. At the top of the list are 3DVista , RoundMe , krpano , and Modelo . Check out this pano-tour our forum user Nuge created using Modelo.

3DVista: Consider investing in a paid service to create high-performance tours

3DVista: Consider investing in a paid service to create high-performance tours

Modelo: Consider investing in a paid service to create high-performance tours

Modelo: Consider investing in a paid service to create high-performance tours

There are also two great free tools that allow you to create panorama tours at no cost. The first is Pannellum , a versatile tool: on the one hand you can use it to simply annotate single panoramas, to add more detail or information. On the other hand, you can create linked tours to give the viewer a full experience of the project. It is perhaps a little complicated at first to get the hang of, but the site offers lots of documentation and a detailed tutorial to get you started.

Open source tool Pannellum creates detailed and dynamic pano-tours

Open source tool Pannellum creates detailed and dynamic pano-tours

My new favorite tool, which I learned about from our forum user xxl, is marzipano . It’s incredibly intuitive; just drag and drop several panoramas into the webviewer and set the starting view. Then you can link the panoramas together and add info spots if you want to.

Create pano-tours in minutes for free with Marzipano

Create pano-tours in minutes for free with Marzipano

Conclusion

As you have seen, the ways to integrate panoramas into your workflow are almost endless. This underrated tool can enhance your project presentations, offering a near-VR experience with just a smartphone and a cardboard viewer. Between client meetings, it’s the easiest way to share updates with clients who might not have the graphics card to handle an executable standalone.

Beyond the planning stage, you can easily view panoramas, even on the construction site via QR codes. Personalize these to fit your company image, or use the Enscape-provided codes for even more ease. Printing these codes in your marketing materials or uploading a panorama to your Facebook page allows you to make an impact on even more potential clients than ever before. Long story short: adding panoramas into your workflow takes little effort and yields big results. Can you ask for more?

If you’re new to Enscape: the panorama export is included in our 14-day free trial. Sign up now and test it out!

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Best Practices: How to use Web Standalone Export for presentation https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/best-practices-how-to-use-web-standalone-export-for-presentation/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/best-practices-how-to-use-web-standalone-export-for-presentation/#respond Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:45:19 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=37030 You already know and love the executable standalone; it allows you to package your Enscape model and share it easily. But it requires a certain level of hardware, and your client doesn’t have the powerful graphics card required. With the web standalone, this is no longer an issue!

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Best Practices: How to use Web Standalone Export for presentation

You already know and love the executable standalone; it allows you to package your Enscape model and share it easily. But it requires a certain level of hardware, and your client might not have the powerful graphics card required. With the web standalone, this is no longer an issue!

  1. Why A Web Standalone?
  2. Export And Manage Your Web Standalone
  3. Conclusion

Enscape’s web standalone removes the requirement for high end graphics cards, as the standalone is rendered in a web browser. All you need in order for it to run is an internet connection. Just like with the executable standalone, it only takes two clicks to export your project. The uploaded standalone can be accessed instantly via a web link. Send your model to clients instantly, or export web standalones to use during client presentations, even if they do not have a high-end graphics card: the possibilities are endless!

Why a Web Standalone?

You might be wondering what the actual benefits of the web standalone are, and when it might be beneficial to use it versus our executable standalone. In this case, it comes down to what your goals are. Both the web standalone and the executable standalone offer a 3D walk-through of your rendered Enscape project. But the web standalone is, in some cases, easier to share.

The great benefit of the web standalone is that it removes the previously required high end graphics card. You might have top of the line hardware, but your client possibly does not. If they have a standard laptop, they might not meet the system requirements needed to run the executable standalone. However, the web standalone can be run on any computer with a WebGL2 compatible browser. All you need is an internet connection. You can send it to anyone and they can immediately open it.

Along these same lines, the web standalone is great when you want to quickly send your client an updated model for approval. You don’t have to worry about how to get the file to them; simply email the client the web link, and they can view the standalone immediately. Not only does this save you time, it might help you and your client catch some errors before they happen.

The web standalone is also perfectly suited for client presentations. Your office computer is probably able to run Enscape with no further issues, but the laptop you take on the road might not meet our system requirements. In this case, the web standalone makes it easy to still dazzle during a client presentation, as all you need to run them is an internet connection. Take your hard work with you and convince the client of your vision.

Export and Manage Your Web Standalone

Exporting the web standalone is the same process as exporting the executable standalone, with the added bonus that you can manage your web exports directly in Enscape. Enscape needs to be running to export the standalone, so first click the start button. Then, simply click the Export Web Standalone button.

Export the web standalone with two clicks

Export the web standalone with two clicks

Once the upload is complete, your default browser will open the standalone. The view you had active prior to export will define the start position when you open the web standalone. The settings you had active prior to exporting will be included in the standalone. It is not possible to change settings in the web standalone, beyond adjusting the time of day.

You can manage your uploaded standalones in the Manage Uploads window. Click the My Uploads button in the Enscape ribbon to open the window. Here you will find not only your created panoramas, but also any web standalones you have uploaded.

The My Uploads button in the Enscape ribbon

The My Uploads button in the Enscape ribbon

Uploaded standalones can be managed easily

Uploaded standalones can be managed easily

Clicking on any web standalone automatically opens it in your default browser. You can also delete any standalones you have created by hovering your mouse over the title and clicking the red X.

When you open the web standalone initially, you will see a loading screen featuring the Enscape logo.

The web standalone loading screen

The web standalone loading screen

The web standalone is a streamlined version of our executable standalone. The navigation controls are the same ones you are familiar with from Enscape. They are detailed in an instructions panel that appears automatically when you open the standalone. You can hide the panel simply by using the H key on your keyboard.

The web standalone has the same controls as Enscape itself

The web standalone has the same controls as Enscape itself

The web standalone can only run if the browser you are using is WebGL 2 compatible. As such, the web standalone will not be able to run in Internet Explorer or Edge; we recommend using Chrome or Firefox. Currently you cannot adjust settings or export favorite views with your web standalone, but these are features we hope to include in the future.

Conclusion

You work hard on your models, and you want to be able to quickly send them to clients for approval. You want to be able to show your model off during a client presentation, but don’t have a laptop with a high-end graphics card. The web standalone solves these problems in two clicks.

It couldn’t be easier to export your model, which is immediately uploaded and available via a web link. You can send your model is seconds, and don’t have to worry whether your client can view it and whether they have the right hardware. Take your model with you to client presentations and for on-site reviews. It’s not just about convenience. The web standalone can of course help you save time, but it also allows you to catch errors and avoid potential extra expenditure. Straightforward and user-friendly, the web standalone will change the way you share your projects!

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Best Practices: How to use executables for presentation https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/best-practice-how-to-use-executables-for-presentation/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/best-practice-how-to-use-executables-for-presentation/#respond Tue, 26 Jun 2018 13:50:56 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=29679 Best Practices: How to use executables for presentation Perhaps the most important part of an architect’s process is presenting a design to the client. This is what all your hard work is leading up to, and a good presentation can make or break your client’s approval. But 2D plans don’t exactly paint a picture in […]

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Best Practices: How to use executables for presentation

Perhaps the most important part of an architect’s process is presenting a design to the client. This is what all your hard work is leading up to, and a good presentation can make or break your client’s approval. But 2D plans don’t exactly paint a picture in the mind, your CAD software is lost on your client, and you don’t want to overwhelm with too many static renderings.

What you do want is to offer your client an effortless, yet unforgettable experience, which allows them to focus on the details that are important to them. This is just what Enscape’s standalone export (executable) offers: complexity without complication.

One little file offers endless possibilities. The standalone can be used as the basis for a formal presentation, or sent during the design process for quick evaluations. It allows you to catch problems earlier by communicating the design to the client more often. There is no software to learn and the client can open the standalone on their own hardware, as it does not require an Enscape subscription to run. These benefits and many more will be covered in this post.

 

The Basics

It couldn’t be easier to export a standalone model of your Enscape simulation. It takes just two clicks: one to start Enscape, and one to export the model. All of the fine-tuned settings you had active prior to exporting will be included in the standalone. After this, the possibilities are endless. You can keep the file for your own records, or send it to a client for evaluation.

 

How to export a standalone file in the Enscape menu

 

The beauty of standalone files is how easy they are to run. The machine on which the client wants to view the model must meet Enscape’s system requirements . however, no additional software of any kind is needed! The EXE provides the same experience and quality that Enscape does, but does not require Enscape, Revit, SketchUp, ArchiCAD or Rhino to run. This is what makes the standalones such an excellent tool for client interaction. And the Enscape controls  are incredibly intuitive; all instructions are listed right on the screen.

 

The Features

Upon opening the standalone, you will find that it has an integrated settings menu which allows to adjust the standalone like never before. These are limited to necessary, yet useful functions, and are incredibly simple to adjust. Of course, any settings you had active prior to exporting the model will also be active in the EXE. The adjustable settings offer you and your client the ability to spontaneously view the model under different conditions in a way simply not possible with static renderings. Let take a closer look at all the available settings.

 

You can easily pin and unpin the Settings menu in the standalone file

 

The tab to open the Settings menu is located on the left side of the screen, about one third of the way down. When it is hidden, you will only see a translucent bar. Hover your pointer over the tab, and it will automatically expand. If you click the pin icon, the menu will stay open while you move around. Click the icon again, and the menu will close.

In this menu you can turn virtual reality, light view and white mode on and off, and adjust the rendering quality and the thickness of the outlines.

 

Virtual Reality

Like so many things in Enscape, it only takes one click to enable Virtual Reality in the standalone. The machine that the model is being viewed on must fulfill Enscape’s virtual reality system requirements . Enscape currently supports the following head mounted displays: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality Headsets such as the Samsung Odyssey. The software needed to run Enscape with the individual headsets (Steam, Steam VR, Oculus runtime) is also required to run the standalone in VR. But as soon as this is set up, you can enable virtual reality and allow your client to explore the project like never before!

Virtual reality with just one click – also in the standalone

 

Virtual reality in the EXE looks exactly the same as running VR natively in Enscape. After setting up your hardware and enabling VR, you will be able to navigate the Virtual Reality Settings menu, which allows you to turn white mode on and off, adjust the thickness of the outlines and set the time of day, all from inside VR. Additionally, you can access your favorite views and turn the minimap on and off. Enscape also supports taking screenshots while in VR. You can either take a snapshot of your current view, or frame up a screenshot using a virtual camera. Screenshots are queued and rendered upon leaving virtual reality. Giving your clients the opportunity to view the model in virtual reality creates a commanding and distinctive moment they will never forget.

 

Rendering Quality

This is now one of the most useful adjustable settings: You can define the rendering quality from within the standalone, and change it freely. The same four options are available as in the native Enscape:

 

You can choose the best rendering quality for the given hardware equipment

 

This is a powerful setting, especially in relation to client interaction. Enscape has certain system requirements necessary to run, and client machines don’t always have top tier graphics cards, as they simply don’t need them. This is often an issue that does not arise until the client tries to open the file. With this new setting, there is no need to export a new EXE file; the client can simply adjust the rendering quality to find which setting allows them to run Enscape fluently.

Adjusting the rendering quality can go a long way towards viewing the Enscape model on machines that might not be meant for running such a demanding program. This feature is also especially useful for early stages in the project when high quality graphics are secondary. You can also use this feature in conjunction with virtual reality. Toggle the slider to find the quality that works best with your headset and hardware. This allows you to spontaneously switch to virtual reality, without having to switch machines.

 

Light View, White Mode and Outlines

Enabling white mode  will display your model void of any materials. Depending on where you are in the design process, you might want the client to simply focus on the architectural forms of your project, and not worry about colors and materials just yet. This is what white mode is perfect for. It displays a work in progress clearly as an unfinished model, rendering everything with a uniform white color. Try combining white mode with heavy outlines for a stylized, graphic look. Adjust the thickness of your outlines in white mode or normal mode via the Outlines slider.

 

You can enable white mode from within the standalone and adjust outlines.

 

If you’d like to show your client a light analysis of the model, you can do this by enabling light view. This option will display how many lux are falling onto each surface. Enable light view and adjust the time of day to see how your model interacts with the light at any given time. The time of day feature is unchanged in the new version of the standalone, however, in combination with the new features, changing the time of day can drastically affect how your client sees the project. Simply hold the shift key while clicking the right mouse button, and keep an eye on the bottom right corner of the screen; you will see a clock that shows the exact time.

 

Favorite Views

On the right side of the standalone screen, you will find the Favorite Views menu. It can be opened in the same way as the Settings menu: by hovering your pointer over the translucent tab. This feature simplifies moving around your model, and makes it easy for your client to find certain views. Clicking on the thumbnail preview will smoothly transport you to that location in the model. The animated transitions allow you to keep an overview of your location within the project as a whole. A double click will transport you directly to the desired spot.

 

Defined views will be automatically included as thumbnail images.

 

The views you wish to include in your standalone must be designated before it is exported. But, again, this only takes one click. Simply decide which views you would like to include and mark them as favorites by clicking the star next to their name in the Enscape view drop down menu.

When you have done this, these views will be automatically included as thumbnail images in the expandable sidebar menu. Please note that while the Setting menu is always included, the Views menu only appears if views have been designated prior to export. You can either click on the thumbnails, or use the Page Up and Page Down keys to switch views, even when the menu is not open. The possibilities for client presentations with this menu are endless. The views are exported with your time of day settings in Enscape, so you could for instance save different variants of the same view to quickly show one area in your model in different lighting situations.

 

Presentation and Documentation

The most straightforward application of the standalone export is for presentations. In a formal client meeting, the standalone simplifies your presentation down to the most salient features, delivered in a stunning display. You can use it to avoid overwhelming the client with your CAD software; streamline your delivery by only having one window open. During formal presentations, you can use the favorite views to choreograph your proposal, only showing the client the preselected views you want them to see. Alternatively, you can explore the whole project in the standalone, and leave yourself room for spontaneity in your pitch.

Between formal presentations, standalones are a straightforward way to give your client updates on changes or developments inside the model. Simply send your client the EXE file, and allow them the freedom to explore the model at their leisure. This is constructive for both sides, because it allows you to catch problems earlier by communicating the design to the client more frequently.

Documentation also becomes effortless through EXE exports. It is the simplest way to track changes in your project, and be able to access earlier versions for comparison. Enhance your workflow by periodically saving your model, enabling you to revert to it for reference without having to search through your CAD program. Leave your client with an unmistakable record of your work, even after the project is completed. Here you can check the other available export options .

 

Customization

Any settings you have active prior to exporting are included in the EXE – and this includes your customization features . You can define your own loading screen, overlay image, window icon and caption text. In the standalone, the overlay image and loading screen are particularly effective.

 

Insert the logo to cultivate your company’s corporate identity

 

Use the overlay image feature to add an image to your screen. This could be your company logo, or the name of the working architect. Use a personalized image for the loading screen. The customization settings are a great way to bring your standalone in line with your corporate identity.

Both features can be easily defined in the Customization tab of the Enscape Settings menu. Simply select an image by clicking the folder icon. If you decide you want to remove any of the customization features, simply uncheck the box next to the feature.

 

Conclusion

Now that you have spent some time getting to know the standalone and all of its features, you have perhaps already seen how this tool can benefit you personally. Document your design process without interrupting your workflow by saving standalones along the way. Send your client more frequent updates, and offer them a way to better understand their project. Engage your clients more fully during meetings by breaking away from typical presentation displays. In short, make the design process easier for you and your client.

The beauty of Enscape has always been its simplicity, and the standalone is no different. Just a few clicks, and your clients can explore their project in a way simply not possible with static renderings. Without software to install or programs to learn, they can focus on what is important: your design. And you can offer this opportunity in less than a minute; a small EXE with vast potential, a world of possibilities in one click.

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Export Options in Enscape https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/export-options-in-enscape/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/export-options-in-enscape/#respond Tue, 03 Apr 2018 06:47:16 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=27695 Export Options in Enscape When you stop and consider them all at once, it’s surprising how many options Enscape offers to export high-quality visualization content. In this Weeks post, we will look at seven different ways to do so. Thus, no matter if you are a daily Enscape user or new to the scene, there […]

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When you stop and consider them all at once, it’s surprising how many options Enscape offers to export high-quality visualization content. In this Weeks post, we will look at seven different ways to do so. Thus, no matter if you are a daily Enscape user or new to the scene, there will be something for you in this post. And, spoiler alert, one command has seen significant improvements in the most recent update, which includes the first-ever selectable element within the Enscape environment!

Listed here are the seven export options we will cover…

  1. Enable VR
  2. Screenshot (to File)
  3. Screenshot (As Rendering | only available in Revit)
  4. Export EXE
  5. Export Video
  6. Take Panorama (Mono)
  7. Take Panorama (Stereo)

 

Enscape Export Options

 

Let’s take a closer look at each of these export options; all of which work the same in Revit, SketchUp and Rhino – with one exception, as noted above.

Enable VR

In a sense, clicking the Enable VR option while Enscape is running, is an export-to-VR option. However, more to the point of this post, when combining this option with the Export EXE feature, we can create a VR-Ready standalone EXE file.

No need for Revit, SketchUp, Rhino or even Enscape! Just double-click the EXE file on a computer with a properly configured VR system, such as the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or one of the new Windows MR devices, and that’s it – a pre-packaged immersive VR experience to send to a client or take on the road.

 

Enscape VR Experience

 

Screenshot (to File)

This is everyones go-to command to create high quality still images as PNG, JPG, EXR, or TGA. I always say “it now takes longer to compose the view than it does to render and generate the raster image file”!

It is helpful to know that the resolution of the image can be set in the Enscape Settings dialog. By default, the resolution is set to Window, which means, use the width, height and resolution of the Enscape window. I like to leave this set at 1080p, so the quality is always high and I do not have to go back and recreate any images (see image below). This setting also creates a consistent aspect ratio. But, if you have a slower graphics card (GPU) that may take too much time early on in the design process; so a lower setting would be more appropriate.

 

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Screenshot settings

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Screenshot resolution

 

Selecting Custom allows us to enter any resolution up to 8192 x 8192 Pixels. The last two book updates, and for the next, I have used high-quality Enscape rendered images for the cover of my Revit textbooks. For a printed book cover the resolution needs to be very high, so it is set to 2588 x 3375. The combination of an Enscape image and a high quality printed book cover is really amazing, as shown in one example below.

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High quality still image for press printing

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Screenshot file format

 

The file format can also be selected when creating screenshots. The default is PNG, which is what I usually use.

A few other screenshot-related settings to keep in mind…

Keyboard shortcut

Be sure to take advantage of the Keyboard Shortcut. When composing a scene in Enscape, it is a lot easier to use the keyboard shortcut than go back over to Revit and click Screenshot (especially, seeing as the current tab on the Ribbon often changes to the Modify tab).

Material ID and Depth

Use this option to create a background depth mask and material ID layer. This can be used in an image editing application, such as Photoshop, to replace the background using a masking layer. When this option is checked, Enscape creates three image files as demonstrated below.

Automatic Naming

Use this option to easily create images in a rapid-fire fashion. No need to stop and specify a name and location of the image file about to be created.

Screenshot (As Rendering)

This is the only export option that is unique to Revit. Compared to the Screenshot (to File) option, rather than saving a still image to file, this feature saves the same information within Revit, as a Rendering. This is the same thing Revit does when using the ‘Save to Project’ button via its rendering dialog. The results, from using this Enscape feature, can be seen in the Project Browser, as shown in the image below. A rendering can then be placed (via drag & drop) on a sheet and resized.

 

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Revit Project Browser; Renderings

The size, or resolution, of the image is also based on the settings specified on the Capture tab in the Enscape Settings dialog. For example, the image below shows two Enscape-generated renderings placed on the same sheet in Revit; neither have been resized. The one on the left, within the titleblock, was created at ‘Window’ resolution, while the larger one is based on the ‘4k’ setting. If the intent was to fill the sheet, one is too small and the other larger than needed. Scaling up the small image will cause it to print pixelated and the larger image is just making the Revit file unnecessarily larger than needed. FYI: in this example, resizing the larger image would not be that big of a deal – but, I have seen billboard-sized images in Revit, then scaled down to fit on a sheet, which is way overkill.

 

Here are the Revit properties for the two sample images shown above – Compare size of Enscape generated images

 

Export EXE

To me, this is such an amazing gift from Enscape; they take the core-engine of their software, along with your model, and package it up royalty-free to share with the world! While we don’t have some controls found in the Enscape Settings dialog or these export options, we have a fully navigable model.

Not only that, but as mentioned at the beginning of this article, we can even save a VR ready EXE file. The only catch here is that it is one or the other right now. Meaning, the model can either be used in VR or explored manually; but not both from the same EXE. Thus, I like to export the model twice and name them accordingly – as shown below. I also like to include the Enscape version number, at least for my go-to sample projects. I want to keep those up-to-date so my demos always use the latest version of Enscapes technology.

 

Export to EXE

 

I recently shared an Enscape generated EXE with someone who works in the VR world (but not directly in the AEC sector). The model was from my Interior Design using Autodesk Revit 2018 textbook, and had my custom RPC in it (mentioned in this post). This person actually asked me if I used 3D cameras to create the architectural VR experience! This building does not exist, anywhere! It is totally made up for my books. That is how awesome the Enscape experience comes across to those outside of the AEC space, not familiar with Enscape; think, clients!

Surprisingly, the EXE file size is not extremely large. In this example, the 164MB files include my two-story office building (126MB Revit model, including structure and MEP) and the Enscape engine. Very reasonable.

Export Video

Enscape has been able to create very nice videos for a while now. If you can read a great LinkedIn post by Enscape reseller Phil Read, from Read | Thomas, called: Recreating Ten Classic Camera Moves In Revit with Enscape.

Recent developments have taken the two-point animation, where we could only define the beginning and end locations, and expanded the opportunity to define a continuous winding path through your project. And, are you ready for this; the first selectable element within the Enscape environment! We can select cameras and reposition them along the previously defined path.

The path and the cameras appear in Enscape as seen in this image…

 

Video path shown in Enscape with camera locations highlighted

 

Here is a link to the fully rendered path, using Export Video, which results in an MP4 file: Enscape Sample Video Export_1080p. Super cool! I can use so many adjectives, as I don’t work for Enscape. Although, I bet they use them too?

TIP: Turn off Enscapes Motion Blur for noticeably better video quality.

In the Enscape Settings dialog we have adjustments related to the quality and Duration of the video. Like still images, exported videos can be at the current ‘screen’ resolution up to 1080p. Enscape can even go higher than 1080p but I don’t recommend it as most televisions and even the best graphics cards have a hard time playing those videos – believe me, as I have tried; even on a large 4k flat screen. Stay tuned for a post dedicated to all the ins and outs on the new Camera Path features in Enscape!

TIP: For marketing, these videos often play very well from a flash-drive, directly plugged into a TV.

 

Video settings

 

Take Panorama (Mono)

Exporting a panorama is one of the most cost-effective ways to share an immersive 3D Enscape experience. It is something between a still image and a VR/navigable environment; where the former may be limiting in some cases and the latter requires a certain level of quality computer hardware. A Panorama is a fully rendered, fixed point in space, where we can look around in all directions. This can be done on your computer where you use your mouse to look around, or on a mobile device, where, when combined with a Google Cardboard Viewer, the user is immersed in the design. With a cardboard viewer in hand, you can send links, hosted by Enscape online, where your clients can view key portions of the design and potentially sign off on proposed solutions much earlier than in the past.

TIP: You can take this experience even further if you use a tool like Krpano to stitch individual panoramas together.

 

For a Mono Panorama example: Click here

 

A Google Cardboard-type viewer is inexpensive and easy to use (LHB’er Megan R.)

 

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Panorama settings

If using on a mobile device, with a cardboard viewer, be sure to adjust the Resolution to high if your device supports 4096 pixels. This is important when you think about that fact that you are placing your phones screen very close to your eyes. You want the best quality possible.

 

 

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Mobile device: display settings example

The next several images are screen captures from a mobile device so you know what to expect when using this export option. First, make sure to adjust your screens resolution, it may not be set to the highest setting by default.

 

When you click the link to open a pano or scan a QR code, this is what you see at first. A single image where you can move your phone around to see the entire space from the prescribed vantage point, even without a cardboard viewer. Notice the two icons in the lower right; switch to cardboard mode and full-screen mode.

 

Mobile device display: initial Enscape panorama view

 

When you switch into cardboard mode, be sure to select your viewer via the gear icon positioned at the bottom, center, of the screen. Try both to see which works best for your viewer.

 

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Mobile device display: cardboard viewer settings via gear icon

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Mobile device display: ready to be placed in viewer

 

In cardboard viewer mode, there is one image for each eye. With this first mono export option, the two images are exactly the same. In case it’s not clear, this is how the mobile device is positioned in the cardboard viewer…

 

Take Panorama (Stereo)

This brings us to the last export option; a stereo panorama. As the name implies, the cardboard view mode has two images that are slightly offset from each other. Everything else about the two pano options is exactly the same.

The next two images compare a downloaded Enscape panorama from the same vantage point; one Mono and the other Stereo. The second image, the stereo version, I added two vertical lines to highlight the fact that the two images are not exactly the same. This helps to simulate depth, just like our brain does based on the spacing between your eyes. Speaking of that, a better cardboard viewer will have the ability to adjust the eye spacing to make it compatible for each user. The example viewer shown below is a branded viewer my firm made to share with clients!

 

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Downloaded ‘Stereo’ example

Export Options in Enscape

Downloaded ‘Mono’ example

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Cardboard viewer with adjustable eye position tabs on each side

 

For a Stereo Panorama example: Click here

 

Finally, all your panoramas, stored locally and in the cloud, can be managed from Enscapes “My Panoramas” dialog. Here you can preview, delete, upload to cloud, download image and download QR code image.

 

The My Panoramas dialog organizes all your pano exports

 

Conclusion

Now you have a good grasp of all the export options within Enscape. On the surface, this real-time visualization tool is super simple and easy to use. And, when you stop and look a little deeper, you will see there are many additional opportunities to collaborate with the design team and engage clients and stakeholders. Not that they are difficult or hard to use, but in my experience, many people have not taken the time to give them a try. With the inspiration of this post, you can now give these many export options a try and even impress your colleagues and supervisor!

 

Dan Stine

Dan Stine
He is an Author, Blogger, Educator,
BIM Administrator and Wisconsin registered architect.
He works full-time at LHB – a 250 person full-service design firm.

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How to boost your Revit presentation with Enscape https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/how-to-boost-your-revit-presentation-with-enscape/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/how-to-boost-your-revit-presentation-with-enscape/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:12:15 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=24352 How to boost your Revit presentation with Enscape Whether you are presenting to a client one-on-one or in front of dozens of stakeholders, delivering a clear and smooth flowing representation of your design solution is of the utmost importance in gaining approval and maintaining confidence in your services. Using Enscape, along with its new Presentation […]

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Whether you are presenting to a client one-on-one or in front of dozens of stakeholders, delivering a clear and smooth flowing representation of your design solution is of the utmost importance in gaining approval and maintaining confidence in your services. Using Enscape, along with its new Presentation Mode, will help your client better understand the proposal in ways not possible just a few years ago. In addition to gaining confidence in your design and use of practical modern technology, you stand a better chance of enjoying repeat business down the road. This may sound overly dramatic, but when you compare the dynamic, lively Enscape experience with a few static images on presentation boards, the client will notice the difference.

This post will delve into the various nuances to consider when presenting using Enscape real-time rendering environment. This includes tips and tricks in and around the use of Enscape, including Presentation Mode, Exporting EXE models, licensing issues as well as the various input options. With this information in hand, the design team can deliver a memorable presentation!

Preparation

In a previous Enscape blog post, BEST PRACTICES FOR REVIT PROJECT SETUP, I covered many steps which can be employed prior to presenting or meeting with a client. For example, a good set of named views in Autodesk Revit can really facilitate a smooth transition between talking points.

Well Named Views in Revit

Enscape’s New Presentation Mode

During the presentation, it is helpful to use Enscape’s new Presentation Mode. This feature facilitates quickly moving to different locations within the project. This was not possible in an exported Enscape EXE project previously. Now it is possible, both within the EXE and efficiently in the Enscape view without having to switch over to Revit to select from the list of saved Revit views.

The great thing about Presentation Mode, is that only starred views (see example below) will appear in the flyout panel within Enscape. This is ideal as a typical Revit model can have a lot of 3D views which may not have relevance in an Enscape presentation.

Starred Views on Enscape Tab in Revit

Once you have starred one or more views, you will see the Presentation Mode tab on the right (see image below). To avoid confusion, it should be noted that the tab only appears when views have been starred as shown in the previous image (in Revit).

The New Presentation Mode Tab

When the cursor is positioned over the tab, the presentation panel slides out. This panel shows a preview of each starred view. Simply click on one of these views to transport yourself to that location in the model. TIP: You can also use the PageUp and PageDown keys to switch views, even when the Presentation panel is not open.

Saved Camera Previews

With the present panel expanded, click the icon in the upper left to see a helpful overlay of instructions as shown here. Click anywhere to toggle back. Clicking the icon just below it will lock the panel in the open position.

ToolTip Overlay for Presentation Mode

Clicking on any preview in the Presentation panel will jump you to that location in the model. This is a great way to make sure you cover all the important aspects of the design while presenting. Note that the previews are listed in alpha-numeric order, just like in Revit’s Project Browser. You may want to add a number prefix to each stared view if you would like to present the views in a specific order.
In the image below, the preview in the Presentation panel was just clicked on, and the main Enscape view transported to that location. Notice the preview, in the Presentation panel, now has an orange marker next to it.

Click a Preview to Transport to That Location in the Model

If you, the designer, will be controlling the navigation and you are familiar with the interface, consider pressing the H key to toggle the Enscape UI off for a cleaner look as shown in the next image.

Turn Off the Enscape UI for Less Clutter

There is an important distinction between switching views from the Enscape tab in Revit and using the new Presentation panel within the Enscape viewer. That is, when using the presentation panel, the model does not change. In contrast, when you switch between views in Revit, things like Section Box, Phasing, Design Options and hidden elements will update the Enscape view.

Thus, if you have two views from the same vantagepoint, but are set to show two different design options, you would only want to star one for presentation mode, as they will both look the same. It is possible to save different sun settings with each view… in the short video below, there are two saved views, which are the same except for the time of day. Using the PageUp and PageDown keys in Enscape, I can quickly switch back and forth between them to compare.

Enscape MiniMap

Another way to quickly move around a model in Escape is with the MiniMap. Type M to toggle the map and drag the lower right corner to adjust the map size. An icon appears at the current camera location as pointed out in the next image. Clicking anywhere within the map will instantly transport the camera to that location. It is possible to zoom in and out with the scroll wheel on the mouse, but panning is not supported yet.

Current Camera Location Shown in MiniMap

Enscape MiniMap Enlarged

Standalone Executable Enscape Experience

If you do not need to make edits to the model, adjust phasing or switch between Revit’s Design Options, you can Export the Enscape model to an EXE file. This is a self-contained version of the Enscape software along with a static copy of the model. Using this option, you do not even need Revit or Enscape installed on the presentation computer…. however, the computer still needs to be powerful enough to run Enscape.

With Enscape open, and model presented the way you would like it, click Export on the Enscape tab on the Ribbon.

Here are a few pros and cons to using an exported EXE version of the Enscape model:

  • Benefits
    • No Revit or Network license required
    • No Enscape or Floating license required
    • Can leave with client
    • Fastest startup
  • Limitations:
    • Cannot change phase
    • Cannot toggle design options
    • Cannot toggle White Mode, 2-Point, Light View, etc.
    • Cannot adjust environment settings (i.e. ambient lighting)

Consider creating multiple EXE exports if you need to show different design options, phasing or section box cutaway views. TIP: Clicking Enable (VR Headset) and then Exporting to EXE will create a VR-Ready EXE version of the Enscape model. This will work on the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift. Watch for a future post on using Enscape with VR.

It is also possible to add branding to Enscape; both the live view and exported executables. When leaving an EXE version of the model with a client this can be a good way to also add a date and design option information, as well as the firm logo to ensure your firm gets credit for the work.

Branding the Enscape Viewer

Related Links:

Input Devices

To aid in a smooth flowing presentation, it is a good idea to consider the input options one can use to navigate a scene in Enscape. This is a valid point for both working at your desk or presenting in front of an audience.

Keyboard Shortcuts plus Mouse

Using the keyboard shortcuts along with the mouse represents the most basic way in which to explore a Revit, SketchUp or Rhino model in Enscape.

Moving:
The traditional gaming keys W,A,S,D can be used to move forward (W), backwards (S) and left or right (A or D). Additionally, while in “Fly Mode” you can ascend (E) and descend (Q). The four arrow keys can also be used for navigation but they are disconnected from moving up and down, so I prefer the letter keys as they are all grouped together.

While in “Walk Mode” you are stuck to the ground at the specified Spectator Height, which is adjustable in the Enscape Settings dialog.

Double-clicking (left button) the mouse will transport you to that location. This, however, turns off “Walk Mode” so you may have to press the Spacebar to switch back.

Looking around:
Moving the mouse, while holding down the left mouse button, allows you to look around the scene without moving your feet (i.e. the camera).

Orbiting:
Moving the mouse while pressing the right mouse button initiates the orbit feature… the clever trick here is that you orbit around the 3D element at your cursor location – the 3D element beneath your cursor can be any distance away, it just needs to be visible in the current scene.

 

Xbox Controls

Another popular option is to use an Xbox controller to explore a model in Enscape. Using both hands, and the options shown in the image below, you can freely move and look around in Enscape.

SpaceMouse plus mouse

This third option is my favorite, as it allows you to move in five different directions at the same time, with one hand. Notice the different individual movements shown in the image below – these can be combined in any combination or all performed at once. For example, while in “Fly Mode”, you could explore a chair from many angles and elevations in a smooth continuous fashion.

FYI: It is possible to invoke multiple move/look/orbit commands using the Xbox, but requires the coordination and memory of multiple fingers, buttons, joysticks and triggers at once. If you have never done any gaming this can be challenging – an important point if you plan to let a client or other stakeholder drive.

It is worth pointing out that the larger, full featured, SpaceMouse is not necessary to do what I have just described. I have the simple SpaceMouse Wireless, which is essentially just the center dial/puck with two side buttons.

SpaceMouse Controls for Enscape

In the context of presenting, it is good to know your input options and have practiced before entering an important presentation or client meeting. Enscape has several settings on the Input tab, as shown below, which can make the presentation smoother – which can vary depending on your input device. I often need to toggle the SpaceMouse option when using a SpaceMouse. Also, be sure to check out the Enscape Help Page link below to see a full list of keyboard shortcuts.

Related Links:

 

Presenting Away from the Office

I have a few helpful tips if you will be presenting away from the office. If you need to open a Revit model, and then launch Enscape, you will need to make sure you can open Revit while away from the office. This may require checking out a network license.

Checkout a Revit License
If your office uses network licensing, you will need to checkout a license on your computer, laptop or checkout laptop. Do this before you leave the office. Also, if using a checkout computer, be sure it is powerful enough to run Enscape. It is not possible to run on integrated Intel graphics cards or Microsoft Surface Pro.

Access to Enscape
If using the Enscape add-in for Revit to open the model, you will need to ensure you have access to Enscape if using a floating license. Access to the internet and making sure there will be a free license when you need it is important – i.e. no one in the office will be using all of your allotted licenses.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected
Make sure you have a copy of the exported Enscape EXE model on a flash drive. I also travel with several video adaptors and a 25’ (7.5 Meter) HDMI cable as you cannot always know what to expect on-site.

If you are bringing all the tech, set it all up away from your normal working space to ensure you have everything, such as keyboard and mouse… some things are easy to leave behind when they are sitting where you always see them. I do the same with our VR gear before leaving the office.

Related Links:

 

Conclusion

The opportunity to convey your design solution in a lively and dynamic way has the potential to impress your client in ways not possible previously. The speed and ease in which Enscape allows this process to happen makes it a great option.

Impressing Clients with Enscape is Easy

Dan Stine

Dan Stine
He is an Author, Blogger, Educator,
BIM Administrator and Wisconsin registered architect.
He works full-time at LHB – a 250 person full-service design firm.

The post How to boost your Revit presentation with Enscape appeared first on Enscape.

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Architectural Presentations with Enscape https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/architectural-presentations-enscape/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/architectural-presentations-enscape/#respond Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:20:16 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=21025 The presentation is an important part of the architectural process. You spend a long time designing and perfecting the project–you want that to shine through to the client. Architectural presentations can become second nature to many professionals in the industry. The end of the design process is always the same, the client will want to […]

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The presentation is an important part of the architectural process. You spend a long time designing and perfecting the project–you want that to shine through to the client. Architectural presentations can become second nature to many professionals in the industry. The end of the design process is always the same, the client will want to see what the project looks like. It will take more than a good speech to sell the project to the client though. Enscape can bring your architectural presentations to life.

Architectural Presentations Tips & Tricks

Preparing for an Architectural Presentation

Before we jump into how to use Enscape with your presentations you should already be prepared and have a good mindset going in. Here’s what to do:

  • Be prepared. No matter if you’re a seasoned veteran in the industry or just starting out. You need to be prepared. You want to exude confidence and knowledge, and this requires you to be ready to present.
  • Practice what you’re going to say. You don’t want to fumble your words during the speech
  • Words, keep them short. Words alone won’t sell the idea and design to the client so keep the speeches as short as possible.

Of course, you need a speech, but the visuals will be the most important part of your presentation. Still, you don’t want to fumble your words when presenting to a client so be prepared.

Architectural Presentations with Enscape

Enscape Screenshot for Architectural Presentations

Now it’s time for the visual portion of your presentation. If you’re using Enscape to present then you’ve probably been using it throughout the design process as well. Becoming familiar with Enscape is a good idea before using it during a presentation. When you know how to work with Enscape then get ready to give your client a fully immersive experience. You have so many options with Enscape for Architectural Presentations. You can create

  • Have video or stills that the client can look through
  • A live walk through that the client could watch
  • Virtual Reality walkthrough. Let’s go through the options

 

Flymode or Walkthrough

Flythrough and walkthrough toggleAnother great way to have a client see the full extent of your designs is by you controlling a walkthrough or a flymode. What’s the difference between the two?

  • Flymode will allow you to move around with less restriction. It will let you go through walls and items with no problem.
  • Walkthrough gives it a more realistic sense of the project as you cannot walk through walls or objects. It’s a more realistic visual option when presenting to a client.

To toggle between the two options, you just hit the spacebar on your keyboard. You can also right-click on the mouse and be able to orbit.

Also, some extra tips to make your presentations as fluid and smooth as possible:

  • Use stand-alone exports to avoid loading times
  • Use mouse and camera smoothing to avoid hiccups
  • Rehearse on the machine that is going to be the one used during the presentation
  • Set the Enscape graphics quality according to the machine specs so that it is fluid

 

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality within the architectural community is huge right now. It’s becoming the exciting way to show off designs. Enscape luckily offers that. Virtual Reality is not for everyone though make sure your client isn’t prone to motion sickness as this may not be the best option for them, but there are ways to prevent motion sickness as well if they’re still interested in being fully immersed in their projects. Can’t blame them, can we?

Virtual Reality technology has been making great leaps and bounds within the Industry. With Enscape, you can have your client walking around their building and structures. The best way to give your presentation that “wow factor” is to start off with a regular 2D screen presentation, and then bringing up the fact they can view it as a Virtual Reality walkthrough. Here are some tips for you to make it as smooth of a process as possible:
Virtual Reality Walk through

  • Create some kind of boundary with tape on the floor, so the client feels comfortable
  • Make sure there’s nothing they can stumble over
  • Minimal amount of people in the room to avoid embarrassment
  • If you use an Xbox Controller, check the batteries and have a spare pack
  • Lens cleaning wipes for hygienic reasons
  • Pick an easy and large spot within the design without a lot of obstacles to make it easier
  • Show the client a little demo of VR capabilities and how to navigate

Enscape is one of the leading real-time rendering plugins available, and a great tool to keep in your Architectural arsenal. It’s going to breathe new life into your presentations, and the VR capabilities will just be the cherry on top.

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How To Create a Video in Enscape https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/how-to-create-a-video-in-enscape/ https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/how-to-create-a-video-in-enscape/#respond Thu, 31 Aug 2017 12:58:38 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=21580 The post How To Create a Video in Enscape appeared first on Enscape.

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Whether you’re new to Enscape  or just in need of a guide on how to create a video then we’ve created both a video and short rundown of what you need to do. Creating videos  within Enscape is a great way to show off your projects, but also help you with the design process. It will help you learn how to create screen recorded fly-throughs for your clients, or for your colleagues. Get ready to make a video in Enscape.

  1. 5 Easy Steps To Create A Video
  2. Time Lapse Effect
  3. Resolution
  4. More Settings
  5. Noise Reduction Quality

 

5 Simple Steps to Create a Video

Video creation in Enscape is easy. It’s a matter of knowing what you want to show, and where you want the video to begin and end. Here are 5 simple steps you can follow to make a video in Enscape:

  1. Move to a position that you want your video to start from
  2. Once you picked the position you can click on the Set Start Position button
  3. Then move your position to where you’d like your video to end
  4. Then click Set Stop Position
  5. Now you can click the Preview Video button to see the video you just created

These are covered right in the beginning of our tutorial video. Once you are done making your video you can then export  it, but let’s go over some of the other settings.

Time Lapse Effect

In the video, you can learn how to do a time lapse effect by playing with the time of day while making your Enscape video. So you simply follow the steps above, but between when you Start and End the video, you move the time of day forward so you can have a nice time lapse as the clouds move, and the sun slowly goes down. Gives it a lovely effect, and can also show the way light and shadows  show in your design. To change the time of day just follow these three steps:

  1. Get to the position that will show the sky properly
  2. Press the Shift key and right click on your mouse
  3. Now move the mouse to the right

This will get the clouds moving and the sunlight to slowly dim, giving the video a great visual. You can find this at about 0:47 in the video.

Resolution

With Enscape you will find that you have many options for resolutions for your video. We normally stick with 1080p as that makes it full HD, but you can choose another resolution or even customize it to better suit your needs. Find this at 1:48 in the video.

Enscape video resolution

More Video Settings

In the Enscape settings  and still within the Capture tab you will find more settings that you can choose from. One of the first ones you will see is the Compression Quality slide bar (1:58). Changing this can improve the overall quality of the image, but it will slightly increase the video size–it won’t affect the rendering time though. You can change the Duration(2:12) of the video which is measured in length in seconds from start to end position. You can change the frames per second (FPS 2:27) a higher FPS might be useful if you’d like to add slow motion to the video you’re creating when using post editing software. Another one of the unique parts in the Interpolation (2:37). You have three choices:

  1. Linear which will have an equal speed for the duration of the video
  2. Smooth which will start slow, speed up a bit, and then slow down towards the end
  3. Handy-cam which will give it a somewhat shaky more candid feel

video settings

Noise Reduction Quality

Enscape does everything in its power to ensure that every rendering and video you make has the best quality . but if you’re looking for a bit more of a push you can play with the Noise Reduction Quality slider. Take note that the higher the quality of noise reduction the longer it will take for your video to export. One of our team members ran a little test on his computer that has a GTX 1060 Graphics card to see how long it might take with some of the different levels and here are the results measured in minutes and seconds on how long it took to export the video:

  1. With the Noise Reduction Quality completely off, it took 2:26
  2. With it set to Medium it took 7:02
  3. With it set to Ultra it took 21:57

This is something to keep in mind when exporting your videos. You now have a basic rundown of how to create a video in Enscape, have fun creating!

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Real-time Architectural Rendering Woes: The Stress of Waiting Coupled with the Uncertainty of Result https://learn.enscape3d.com/blog/rendering-woes-stress-waiting-coupled-uncertainty-result/ Mon, 14 Dec 2015 10:16:39 +0000 https://enscape3d.com/?p=11057 Real-Time Architectural Rendering: Suppose you need a high resolution architectural rendering of the image above – something that you intend to print and put on a 30 x 42 board for customer meeting. Can you accurately predict what the final image will look like once rendered? How long would you expect to wait for the rendering […]

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Real-Time Architectural Rendering:

Suppose you need a high resolution architectural rendering of the image above – something that you intend to print and put on a 30 x 42 board for customer meeting. Can you accurately predict what the final image will look like once rendered? How long would you expect to wait for the rendering to complete?

Helping our customers get deeply satisfying results from photo-realistic rendering is an incredibly subjective and time-consuming process. While the results often look fantastic – that’s not the real challenge. The actual challenge is process:

  1. Rendering is often met with an incredibly long wait time made worse by the stresses of a rapidly approaching deadline
  2. You never really know what you’re going to get until you finish with step one

So imagine the frustration of waiting hours for a high quality architectural rendering to complete only to be dissatisfied with the results. Imagine the frustration as a designer after hours of tweaking lighting and materials to end up with a rendering you’re not happy to show your team and project manager. Imagine the frustration as a project manager knowing that it’s going to take hours or more to create another rendering.

Do you risk re-rendering and missing the deadline or do you go with what you have and risk underwhelming the customer?

In reality neither option is a viable solution.

Or consider this. The image below is what you’ll stare at for the better part of 7 1/2 hours while waiting for a high quality rendering to complete in Revit. In other words you start with the image at the top the page, you press the render button and hope for the best.

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The image below is the final rendering from Revit. Not bad for seven and a half hours. But if I was a project manager? The ambient lighting looks great, but I’d be pretty dissatisfied with the color of the furniture because it seems far more orange the the material assigned (and will confuse the customer). If your deadline is a few hours away there’s no time to change the lighting and / or materials and re-render. So it’s off the Photoshop for post-production.

real-time architectural rendering

Here’s the finished image at 4K resolution. If you’d like to download the image it’s over here.

real-time architectural rendering

Two of the reasons there’s so much interest in Enscape is because it removes the ambiguity and stress of real-time archichtectural rendering by letting you know what you’re going to get before you get it and then giving it to you in an order of magnitude less time.

In Enscape, your real-time architectural rendering is a live and explorable real-time window that runs side by side with Revit. To get the right vantage, you move the camera into just the right position (or base it on your camera in Revit). You adjust the lighting in real-time. And if you want to change the materials assigned to furniture, flooring or other fixtures you simply change the material in Revit and it updates in Enscape (which keeps everything nicely coordinated).

The image below is what you see in Enscape before pressing the Screenshot button. And after pressing the Screenshot button you wait for a lot less time. How much less? 1 minute and 16 seconds.

real-time architectural rendering

Let’s recap our real-time architectural rendering:

– Revit: 7 1/2 hours
– Enscape: 76 seconds

Here’s the finished image at 4K resolution. If you’d like to download the image it’s over here.

real-time architectural rendering

In my opinion each rendering has its pros and cons. I really prefer the reflectivity of the ceiling and ceiling based lighting fixtures in the Revit rendering. But I prefer the subtle shadows and rich material textures of the floor and furnishings in the Enscape real-time architectural rendering.

But what if I’m not satisfied with either image in Revit or Enscape? The real benefit of using Enscape is that it’s possible to adjust the lighting and the materials with real-time feedback and then save another high-resolution image in under two minutes.

This is a real-time architectural rendering process.

In other words it’s not just about result –  it’s about process.

You know what tastes great? Eating lunch away from your desk and with your team rather than stressing out over an incomplete rendering needed for a deadline. And you know what tastes even better than eating your own lunch?

Eating your competition’s lunch.

Or in the words of General George S. Patton:

“A good plan, violently executed now,
is better than a perfect plan next week.”

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