university of oregon - school of architecture and allied arts - department of architecture

analog / digital studio – arch 484/584 fall 00 – prof. nancy cheng

Modeling and Rendering Workshop

OBJECTIVE

To gain control in modeling and rendering to explore room design variations

To create products within a limited time frame

NEEEDED SUPPLIES

digital image of site, images of interior finishes, modeling & rendering software, room dimensions

 

DESCRIPTION

Early in the design process, rooms and spaces are drawn as abstract shapes.  These shapes are placeholders for the actual spaces.  Your challenge is to bring a room to life using the skills of a set designer:  dressing the scene, setting up lights and finding glamorous views.  Think about how movie stars project a character.  Through manipulating the forms and surfaces, see if you can you give your room a strong personality.

 

PROCEDURE

Save your file often with serial names (room01.fmz, room02.fmz, etc.)  Save JPG renderings from the key views at significant steps.

 

TIME

STEPS

5 minutes
  1. Model the shell of the room with correct dimensions. Draw the walls as a 3D extrusion and make separate planes for the ceiling and floor.

5 minutes
  1. Cut openings for windows and doors.

5 minutes
  1. Assign simple materials and background.  In Display Options > Renderzone options, place a site photo in the background.  It will show through the windows.

5 minutes
  1. Find key views & save. 

5 minutes
  1. Insert initial lighting

20 minutes
  1. Examine ceiling variations.  Create several flat shapes the exact dimension of your room.  Draw at least 8 spatial variations and create 3 of them in space.  Try inserting segments and lifting points as in the Origami video and try operations such as Extrusion, Sweeping, and Skinning.

15 minutes
  1. Adjust dimension and number of openings.  Save the file under different names and create at least 3 variations.

15 minutes
  1. Examine lighting variations

15 minutes
  1. Adjust materials and background

15 minutes
  1. Add trim, sills, cornice etc. to room, windows and doors.

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  1. Insert 3D furnishings, people, plants

FOR THE AMBITIOUS 

To perfect your skills, find a painting or interior photo of a room and see if you can match the finishes, fenestration, lighting and perspective.

REFLECTION

Write down three things you discovered in the process of the workshop to be shared in class next time.

REFERENCES

Rob Polevoi’s 3D Animation Workshop:  http://www.webreference.com/3d/indexa.html

Peter Weishar’s Digital Space