By BluEntCAD

11/26/2014 The way of creating architectural drawings has changed since drawings boards were dumped for a computer-based alternative known as CAD. What inspired designers was the ability to produce 3d models and architectural renderings. Not only did this add a design feature to the architectural process but also created a new sales tool for industry professionals. 3d rendering has now become a powerful tool to produce high quality elevations for homebuilders. 3D rendering expert at BluEntCAD shares five “Game Changing” methods for rendering home elevations.

1. Camera angle

While most of us may prefer to view a home from multiple angles, creating an exterior rendering for a home is a totally different ball game. Most home builders prefer to show the front elevation as part of their marketing brochures. The camera angle in a rendering software thus needs to be picked in a way that it shows the front view while depicting the depth of various parts of the elevation. The camera should be placed right in the front in a way that it minimizes the view of the driveway. Showing side faces of the home is usually avoided.

2. Landscaping

Picking trees and plants can be tricky. It is important to remember that the landscape should be placed in a way that it does not hide building elements. The trees should be shown at the correct height to show an accurate scale. It is also recommended to pick darker trees because they may look more photorealistic. Flower beds should only be shown in an organized fashion to show that the house has been properly landscaped. Weeds should be avoided in the front yard. Typically a home rendering requires plants to cover the house foundations.

3. Lighting and shadows

These are one of the most important aspects to consider while rendering a home elevation. Proper lighting and correct shadows can make the rendering look great. The overall lighting intensity should be chosen depending upon the scene type - if it is a day or an evening scene. Typically, a mid-day scene shows the house well and is preferred. The main light should therefore be placed higher to depict an afternoon sun. The resulting shadows would be shorter and intense which adds realism to the rendering. Lighting should also be adjusted to balance its impact on the landscaping. Sometimes, multiple lights may be needed to be added in the rendering software as a single light may not lit up the entire scene.

4. External elements

Home builders typically use home renderings as a sales tool and as part of their marketing collateral. It becomes important to choose which elements to show or avoid and what message the renderings intend to portray. An initial draft rendering created by an amateur 3d artist could include elements such as birds, people and cars. While these elements may add color and life to an architectural rendering, they are not something that all home builders prefer. Home renderings are thus different than a typical architectural rendering. Generally it is preferred not to add people or cars to the rendering. The idea is to emphasize on elements of the actual house. Brackets, awnings, garage doors, roof lines and other exterior architectural elements should be highlighted. The use of concrete in the foreground should be limited.

5. Materials

Material selection adds up to how the home rendering looks. In a big way. Firstly, material maps chosen for the 3d rendering should be of high quality. Specific materials should be typically used in brackets, garage doors and window trims to highlight the elements. The roof is important and the material selection should help the roof look less busy. A busy roofing material sometimes takes away the attention from other building materials. Another important material to pay attention to is the glass. Too many reflections in the glass could make the elevation look too busy and may not show the mullions very well. It is best to keep the elevation or rendering simple for the purpose of using it in the marketing collateral.

About the Author
Ava Smith consults and writes on AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) technology, trends, intelligent building modeling, CAD, Building Information Modeling (BIM), construction management and sustainable design practices. She can be reached at ava.smith@bluentcad.com.

BluEntCAD

Headquartered in Texas and operating in United States since 2003, BluEntCAD sets up CAD studios and provides Revit drafting and 3D Rendering resources to home builders, real estate developers and construction firms in Toronto, New York, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and other cities in Texas, Ne…

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