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Thanks for the article Jeff!

..... Maybe if it's no so interesting commercialy, I'd better center my investigation on the not-commercial uses

Thanks to both for the opinions. I want to investigate on those tools as part of the creative process and as a way to explore architectural space. By now, I've checked CryEngine a little bit and it looks very interesting and no so hard to use at first glance, and I'm really impressed by the way you can experiment space inside a game, combining sound and "walking" capabilities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0DnS9WwMzIQ David, is it Lumen RT good on walkthroughs or just in flythroughs??. Graphics don't look very pleasing to me really on LumenRT or Lumion either. Maybe if it's no so interesting commercialy

As I said there are use cases where it makes sense, but I still don't see it becoming mainstream in the design process or for architecture presentation.

Jeff, as a landscape architect and urban planner I disagree. It isn't always about the final product, but rather being able to work through solutions with your client. Max, I have beta tested LumenRT4 for several months and together with the new Plant Factory from e-onsoftware they make an unbeatable pair. I am particularly interested to see where the integration with CityEngine goes. I also recommend checking out Lumion 3, but it is very expensive in comparison and has more limitations.

Thanks Max. On real-time viz I think there are special use cases where it makes sense, but as a mainstream technology I personally don't ever see it becoming widely used. Even though there are some tools that have greatly simplified and sped up the process of authoring immersive environments from the original 3d model, they just aren't catching on. I think there are a few reasons for this: 1) It's just not needed in most cases 2) Even with the faster authoring tools the total cost of development is more than most clients want to pay. 3) All of these tools require higher end video cards that most clients do not have 4) Most clients/customers are not well versed in navigating a 3d scene unassisted. 5) The re-use of the asset it limited. Unlike an image or film/animation which can be re-purposed for many uses, real-time is generally limited to a single use case. Tools like CryEngine and UDK are very expensive if you buy a proper license and are very complex to program. Tools like TwinMotion, RenderLights etc are more likely to be used in architecture, but even they still have not really caught on.

Hi jeff I read everything, and every comment and now my head really hurts, but THANKS! What a great article. I still want to know what do you think exactly about real time viz on game Engines like CryEngine o UDK. By the way, I'm starting a 4month investigation on immersive architecture, so that's kinda why I am asking. Sorry for my bad english. Max Daiber Architecture student at the Universidad de Chile

One of the benefits the downturn has had is that it has forced more innovation, which is accelerating the evolution of our industry. Very exciting times ahead, for sure jhv

My view on a CG image is modeling / lighting / texturing / rendering / post production what i THINK is going to happen is that the core of an image will be easier to create being "lighting - texturing - rendering" > modeling: complex models still require an in-depth knowledge of software, organic shapes even more. This is still hand-work - nothing the computer can help you with, unless you're generating an existing model from photographs. But new buildings... hmm *nods. > post production is the artistic side of an image (in my case) where the image comes alive. What i feel is clients get more involved in the process, but this has always been the case for me. I never tried to push the client out, they might have good insights, and i love working WITH people. My own little island doesn't really exist. Working with other people isn't a bad thing. But really, I don't know so many architects who are genuinely interested in expanding their knowlegde beyond autocad or sketchup to fast-model a concept in 3D to explore a project. Don't forget there's also the technical side they need to keep updating, which is a good counterbalance for CG. Stability, Materials, HVAC, Electricity, basicly new technologies. The world keeps evolving on all fronts, not just CG. I always imagined CG is something they would love to do, but due to lack of time, cannot.

OK - that link was awesome - thanks Jeff! That makes me excited for the future.

Hey, I want to thank you for all your work with Cgarchitect.

Thanks Adam!

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That's pretty cool Jeff. Hey, I want to thank you for all your work with Cgarchitect. I'm glad I signed up back in 2002. So many members have helped me and I hope I've been able to do the same in the past. I think you had a great vision of what you were wanting to accomplish with this site...and a picture is worth a thousand words...especially on this site :-) Adam

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Jeff; Being that the Visualization community is so vast and global - it would be in our best interest to discuss and follow future technologies that will impact us. I don't think we are going away, but will adapt easily because we know software and will always be software platforms on which technologies will evolve. If 3D is democratized at it's basic sketch-up level - I think there will be more sophisticated platforms available for us to offer to Architects and clients. Another observation is that of the evolution of Autocad - they projected back in the 90's it would be a push button technology for Architects - and look how complicated it has become. I have to re-study tutorials an videos just to figure-out each new version. Same applies to Max. Also - using programs like Lumion require alot of model fixing from Sketch-up or Revit. It is still a complex conversion. Designers will be using all their budgets working on these issues I predict. Thanks again! Julian

Thanks Jeff, I had looked at InGlobe awhile back, but haven't seen the latest improvements. They now offer exactly what I've been looking for. Specifically I want to show clients landscape improvements and proposed buildings on-site. I just need Vue plants to be compatible if they are not yet. I also see this being the future to meet environmental review. Imagine if a developer was forced to show a proposed project in three dimensions rather than just having one illustrative on-site!

I also have a question for you and anyone else reading. Can you recommend any technologies for augmented reality? I have done some initial research, but want to hear your impression on the topic.

A French company called Immersion has a pretty cool Minority Report-esque system Their . Also check out . They used to be called Infinite Z. They have an amazing "virtual-holigraphic" system. I'm not a fan of anything with 3d glasses, but this product is the ONLY one that amazed me. Without seeing it in person it's hard to explain, but it's the best implementation of 3d stereoscopic with eye tracking out there IMHO. also has some good AR plugins for 3ds Max and SketchUp among others

@Jeff I guess my point is not a lot of architects know how to 3d model, or it takes them too long and see it as an impediment to the design process. I know a few who can "do it all" but the vast majority, in my experience rely on an expert to do the 3d who can do it fast-fast-fast. Revit is a dense program to learn and you have to use it quite a bit to be proficient. Whenever an architect opens a Revit model, the techs practically have a seizure because they'll screw something up. You are right about the cost of 3d printing. I'll check out that article - thanks!

Also check out the next issue of 3Dworld Magazine. I did some coverage of HKS' use of 3d printers and some of the models they are creating with Makerbot 3d printers. They now have a dozen of these machines working 24/7

@Vince, certainly in some architectural firms you are correct not all architects use applications like 3ds Max, but my expectation is they they likely never will use 3ds Max as long as it's as complicated as it is now. However apps like SketchUp, Revit, AutoCAD, all of which have 3d modelling capabilities, and are used my many architects on a daily basis now. SketchUp for example is opened by around 5 million unique users every week, so that tells me there are a lot more designers using it than not. As I said not every firm is the same but as I whole I still hold to my democratization prediction. As far as 3d printing goes, you're right 3d printing is not new, but what has changed is the price point. Back in 2002 and even some printers now, you can spend upwards of $40K. Desktop 3d printers however are only $2000 or less. Again back to the democratization of technology, not just the technology itself. When more people can use a technology easier, chances are they will. Pen and pencil are never going to be replaced, that's a given, but think back to the transition between the drafting board and CAD. I'm sure the same arguments were made that as soon as it became too difficult they would just default back to the drafting board. How many drafting boards do you see now?

First - great article Jeff, it's been awesome watching the site and the industry evolve over the years. Thank you. I think caution should be had when predicting a future regarding the "democratization" of visualization. People who are a part of the visualization community who perform the day to day work within a large firm know that most architects/designers have no time to model, light, texture, manage assets...etc, let alone know what the heck VRAy, IRay...is. Most laugh when you say "render farm", and ask where the chickens are. No matter how fast the hardware is at creating photo-real images at the push of a button, most architects will never open 3dsMax, or even Revit. Producing images for clients may differ from firm to firm based on size and philosophy, but need for someone skilled with the software will be there. I think we sometimes get a little too "inside baseball" and forget the reality of the work that architects and those who actually design (which is a whole other topic)do - and very little of it is spent behind a computer drawing. I asked a newly hired younger architect who had experience working in 3dsMax if she wanted to install it on her computer - she responded by saying heck no that's your job, in a friendly way of course. I personally don't see the tools, no matter how simple they are being used by the average architect. For instance, Sketch-up is widely considered in the architectural community as the simplest tool for doing 3d work with. The models I've seen from a variety of skilled co-workers, and from other firms aren't client ready. Not from lack of intelligence, but mostly lack of time to put together a well organized model, or the concern with it. I recall seeing 3d printing in 2002 and everyone saying it's only 2-5 years before everyone is using it, and 5 years ago about "cloud" computing - but the reality of bandwidth and actual need smacks hard the prediction. I absolutely love technology and it's evolution, but the second a designer get's frustrated trying to use Formit (which looks really cool) on their iPad, their going to reach for the ultimate design weapon - a pen and paper to express their idea.