Which program to use?

[WigglyWorm]

My roomate is the in house 3D/render guy at an architecture firm, and dabble in planning now and then too (he's fresh out of uni but been working there full time for three years).

We're mostly stuck in Lumion land, which feels like it's tying our hands creatively. That's why he prefers to learn proper rendering using 3ds Max, Rhino, and FStorm.

There's a whole smorgasbord of programs out there for archviz, like Substance, Marvelous Designer, Daz3D, you name it.

Experienced people here, please tell me which of these do you actually roll up your sleeves and use?

Is Substance a must have for materials? Do you really need Marvelous Designer for those realistic drapes and fabrics? Are you rolling your own 3D people with Daz3D?

My game plan is to really nail down composition, mood, and realism, while also getting to grips with FStorm, V-Ray, and Corona and their workflows.

I'm want to build a knockout portfolio of work that I actually find interesting and high quality. Any words of wisdom would be a real lifesaver!

 

[tellynelly]

Sounds like a not so bad idea, but the tool overload can be overwhelming. Substance is great for realistic materials, buh you have to invest the time otherwise, premade textures can work fine. Marvelous designer is fantastic for drapes, but it's a steep learning curve and not always necessary if you're on a deadline.

 

[estes]

My roomate is the in house 3D/render guy at an architecture firm, and dabble in planning now and then too (he's fresh out of uni but been working there full time for three years).

We're mostly stuck in Lumion land, which feels like it's tying our hands creatively. That's why he prefers to learn proper rendering using 3ds Max, Rhino, and FStorm.

There's a whole smorgasbord of programs out there for archviz, like Substance, Marvelous Designer, Daz3D, you name it.

Experienced people here, please tell me which of these do you actually roll up your sleeves and use?

Is Substance a must have for materials? Do you really need Marvelous Designer for those realistic drapes and fabrics? Are you rolling your own 3D people with Daz3D?

My game plan is to really nail down composition, mood, and realism, while also getting to grips with FStorm, V-Ray, and Corona and their workflows.

I'm want to build a knockout portfolio of work that I actually find interesting and high quality. Any words of wisdom would be a real lifesaver!

If you want a photorealism vibe or something, I believe FStorm and Corona are perfect for you. But Substance is definitely it. You're gonna get next-level textures there, like if you got fabrics to highlight or something. Good luck on your portfolio!

 

[Sinclair.ven]

Would have said a lot but most have been said already, marvelous designer is killer for fabric, no doubt, not a must have for every scene, but when you need it, you'll be glad you have it. Daz3D? is a mixed bag, great for populating a scene fast, but you have to not let the Dazness show through, if you get what I mean, most pros use it, then rework the poses, materials, or silhouettes so it blends naturally or they just kitbash with assets from places like AXYZ, Reallusion, or even Metahuman

 

[CtrlZArchitect]

I agree that Substance is a game changer for realistic materials, though it's hard to learn. Marvelous Designer is great for fabrics, but only if you have the time or your scene needs it. FStorm and Corona are good for photorealism, especially in lighting and rendering. Daz3D is faster but needs work to not look like Daz. What's your roommate's workflow these days? Is he ready to use all the tools or learn bit by bit?

 

[babadon't]

Just popping back into this thread, as it's been a little while. I'd like to know how your roommate's journey into the new software is going. Did they end up choosing a specific workflow to get the ball rolling?

 

[estes]

Well if you all are more on the realist side, I guess Substance is worth learning for materials alone. Marvelous is great but it's definitely more of a "use when needed" tool. Daz can be helpful but just don't let the stock look ruin your vibe. Honestly, focus more on lighting and mood.