| Author |
Message |
    
Keith
New member
Username: Brown
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 05:41 pm: | 
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I was a real believer in form-z for rendering. Alot of older people who are just getting into 3d modeling have done so with sketchup. I thought it was a nice program for doing rough schematics and mass modeling, but then a new kid came in and showed us a plugin that creates good photorealistic renderings.
The think is that, yeah, Form-z may have a more powerful rendering engine and may be able to do more in terms of complex modeling but wow, for the price and the energy sketch-up runs circles around form-z.
Lighting is much simpler, the library of building components such as light fixtures, furniture, etc. is huge and easy to implement into models.
For good, quick renderings, I don't think anything beats sketch-up. |
Des Clarke
Senior Member
Username: Desclarke
Post Number: 352
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 06:58 pm: |
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Keith, how long have you been using FormZ? In fact, how long have you been involved in 3d modelling? Because to be honest you are sounding rather naive to make such a statement.
Most architects (including me) use Sketchup because it's free, but, and a big BUT, they (my clients) almost always end up hitting a brick wall when proper modeling needs to be done. I make a living and pay all the bills as well as feed my family due to the modeling capabilities of FormZ. Even the Pro Version of Sketchup doesn't come near to the capabilities of Fz. Once you get the hang of Fz with shortcuts etc. you will be faster at modeling which you can't compare other 3d apps to Fz.
Then comes the rendering;
Yes, lightworks render engine (with Renderzone/Radiozity and Renderzone Plus) is Ok, but there is always Maxwell for really realistic stuff, not to mention the strides Fz Plus has made with final gather etc.
Remember, FormZ Renderzone Plus is (imo) is not just a renderer, it is an all round 3d modelling, animation and rendering package in one covering pretty much all disciplines including architecture, product design etc.
Maybe you should go to the FormZ product description above to clarify.
Des |
Dan
Senior Member
Username: Designd
Post Number: 212
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 07:22 pm: |
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Right.
When sketch-up be capable of modeling models like this, pleas let me know.
Dan |
Abdullah
Junior Member
Username: Jimmy
Post Number: 28
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 08:14 pm: |
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oh yeah that one too!
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Shape Architecture Practice + Research
Junior Member
Username: Shape
Post Number: 26
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 08:32 pm: |
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Guys,
I think Keith is aware of formZ's powerful modeling capabilities as he noted in his post. I don't think he comparing it Sketchup on this front. I think he is referring to the low overhead of using Sketchup for regular (simple) geometries over formZ, and mainly relating that to the easy manipulation of objects, and scenes, etc, which is an *interface* issue (that is expected to be addressed in the coming release by the way Keith) and abundance of ready made included libraries.. all in the context of quick solutions...
As Des said, maybe Keith haven't used formZ long enough to develop productive work habits..
best,
Maher
(Message edited by shape on March 28, 2008) |
Dan Shear
Senior Member
Username: Redrngr
Post Number: 180
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 10:31 pm: |
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Very Nice Modeling Dan!
Oh, and your rendering is good and you probably did it pretty quickly also.
Dan S. |
Mark Leichliter
Member
Username: Exocubic
Post Number: 56
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 10:54 am: |
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For what it's worth, I've just moved up to formZ from SketchUp Pro. Many reasons for the change - chief among them being pure, raw power. I think anyone whose needs move beyond simple rectilinear forms feels limited by SU - and expertise in formZ will quickly overcome the quickness of SU.
Don't even try to compare Google's so-called support with what you can get here. No contest. |
Robert Woodruff
Senior Member
Username: Setz
Post Number: 162
Registered: 09-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 03:41 pm: |
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We use a lot of Sketchup in our business. Some of the people here can create some really amazing geometry with it, way beyond what would seem possible. Renders out of Sketchup using Maxwell Render can be amazing too.
As for exporting the geometry and sharing files, 2D and 3D, which we do a lot of, Sketchup forms are generally so messy and corrupt that everything needs to be rebuilt or redrawn. The sketchup files act only as templates that we use only to trace from. We use Form-Z to create geometry that is accurate and clean and which can be exported and shared for creating working drawings, CAM files and previsualizations.
Sketchup is fast, but when most of the work generated from it needs to be rebuilt, then it becomes costly and inefficient. For what it's worth, the people here who really know Form-Z well and those who know Sketchup well both model at basically the same speed. They really named it appropriately. It is a way to quickly sketch out ideas. It's The Digital Napkin.
r. |
Jason Brown
Senior Member
Username: Valkama
Post Number: 223
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 05:09 am: |
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I actually just finished a 2 day (weekend) deadline that had to be done all in sketchup. While working in sketchup i am always comparing it to Z. I have come to the conclusion that they are equal valuable tools for me now. Once the building starts to get complicated I like working in Z more. But in the initial design phase, I now prefer Sketchup. I started using sketchup by clients constantly throwing sketchup models at me and asking if they get a deal since the model is done. So I started to learn the program which actually only took a couple days to do. SU main strength is their UI and its speed to get ideas down on "virtual paper" and its model collection is extensive. Other than that, Z is better at just about everything else. If i am doing an organic design, its straight to Z. If its more linear Ill start with SU. For me, im glad i use both tools. |
Jason Brown
Senior Member
Username: Valkama
Post Number: 224
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 05:17 am: |
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Here are some model shots, done in SU, rendered in Maxwell. You can see that this type of project is simple enough to work well in SU. I do seem to have much more control over textures In Z, and Z seems to export to Maxwell better.
Just my 2cents.
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