304 replies to this topic

[Brian Delwiche]

Great to see all the Lumion rendering examples!

I recently purchased 9.5 and I'm amazed at the quality this add on software can provide. Wish Softplan would integrate live sync, it would be a time saver for changes!

 

 

[Nick Moorhead]

Experimenting with reflections here with Lumion. 

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[Allen McDonnell]

I use the high definition glass....reflection 5.0.  

[Allen McDonnell]

Ive started using Lumion for the live 3-d walk throughs i do (as opposed to SP) ....everyone loves it.  Everyone always comments on the flowers, etc blowing in the wind.

[Nick Moorhead]

I also find Lumion much better for 3D walkthroughs Allen. It adds much more life and realism to the design!

[Allen McDonnell]

https://www.youtube....h?v=Cpr84kJNZGc

 

 

Lumion 10 Coming soon.

[Allen McDonnell]

Nick, are you upgrading to Lumion 10?  I checked today and price should be around 1150....which means i will have spent 4500$ on Lumion this year...YIKES!!!!!...However, worth every penny.  All my builders love it so much they are sending me the smallest of jobs just so it can be rendered in L.  

[Nick Moorhead]

Hey Allen,

 

I will probably upgrade to 10.0 only if it is free for now. I am very impressed with 9.5 and can't wait to see what they put in 10.0! Congrats on your workflow, sounds like it is really making a difference. Considering what you can charge for rendered videos/photos, I would say it would be worth the investment! Are you builders wanting more still images or video walk-throughs? 

 

Also, I wish Softplan would give us any idea that they are working on a 'live-sync'. I can't imagine it would be that hard to implement considering other drafting platforms are integrating it. Its still such a cumbersome process to continuously load drawings all the time. Come on Softplan! Lets get this done!! Thanks

[Keith Almond]

Sorry, I have to disagree. I understand that for the people who work with Lumion, that you would love better integration. However, I think that Softplans 3D capabilities are more than adequate for most people's needs, and I would be upset if time, effort and resources, were being spent on Lumion at the expense of a number of other area's that could do with improving ... Staircases and railing systems for one.

[Allen McDonnell]

Well, Im glad Softplan did not ask you whether or not they should be able to export Lumion files to begin with.

[Allen McDonnell]

Few examples....wish i could post them all!!

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[Nick Moorhead]

Sorry, I have to disagree. I understand that for the people who work with Lumion, that you would love better integration. However, I think that Softplans 3D capabilities are more than adequate for most people's needs, and I would be upset if time, effort and resources, were being spent on Lumion at the expense of a number of other area's that could do with improving ... Staircases and railing systems for one.

Keith,

 

Respectfully, do you think that issues like staircases and railing systems should have been addressed a few versions ago?? I don't think you would upset the community if you invested a little more capability in a 'live sync' especially for those who are requesting it and investing a lot of money in new software and PCs. After all, you DO have Lumion logos printed on your Softplan marketing, so I would expect closer integration between platforms. The .FBX export function was a nice addition, but I feel you should dedicate more effort towards better Lumion support like other drafting software such as Autodesk, Revit, SketchUP, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks...etc.

 

Softplan's 3D capabilities are adequate for simple, quick renderings but the higher quality renders are nowhere close to what Lumion can offer. As you can see from the forum here, people are having great results with Lumion and their customers are expecting more, and faster high-resolution renderings.

 

I have been using Softplan and Lumion together for the past 3 years for a national homebuilder a we, like many others are requesting more support. Why not consider this Keith?

[Nick Moorhead]

Well, Im glad Softplan did not ask you whether or not they should be able to export Lumion files to begin with.

 

Allen, you actually COULD use Softplan drawings in .dwg format before Softplan introduced the .fbx export feature. I will say though that the .fbx function is better as the materials in .dwg format have scaling problems, and the models import into Lumion at GIANT scale from .dwg. 

[Allen McDonnell]

Wish we could upload 4k....

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[Allen McDonnell]

Allen, you actually COULD use Softplan drawings in .dwg format before Softplan introduced the .fbx export feature. I will say though that the .fbx function is better as the materials in .dwg format have scaling problems, and the models import into Lumion at GIANT scale from .dwg. 

Never knew that!!!  But apparently am not missing out.  

[Allen McDonnell]

Nick, have you or do you use "open street map".  On remodels i use this to quickly add entourage (buildings) around the house i am working on.  I simply open streetscape, download the smallest radius possible, and then hide the building at the correct location.  Then import the SP model and go from there.  Attached is an example.  The previous house was torn down and we are building this one.

 

i am mixed on this as i like "real" buildings...but it is nice to not always have to do "tree bombs" as i believe you have called it.  And once you figure it out it is very quick to do (pending a decent internet speed)

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=Xly0t41Bf_s

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[Keith Almond]

Keith,

 

Respectfully, do you think that issues like staircases and railing systems should have been addressed a few versions ago?? I don't think you would upset the community if you invested a little more capability in a 'live sync' especially for those who are requesting it and investing a lot of money in new software and PCs. After all, you DO have Lumion logos printed on your Softplan marketing, so I would expect closer integration between platforms. The .FBX export function was a nice addition, but I feel you should dedicate more effort towards better Lumion support like other drafting software such as Autodesk, Revit, SketchUP, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks...etc.

 

Softplan's 3D capabilities are adequate for simple, quick renderings but the higher quality renders are nowhere close to what Lumion can offer. As you can see from the forum here, people are having great results with Lumion and their customers are expecting more, and faster high-resolution renderings.

 

I have been using Softplan and Lumion together for the past 3 years for a national homebuilder a we, like many others are requesting more support. Why not consider this Keith?

 

Nick, I have nothing to do with Softplan Systems, I'm just a user the same as you are. I had no idea that the Lumion Logo was on Softplan's marketing literature. This was just my own PERSONAL opinion.

 

I just think that Lumion's capabilities are over the top for what I and I assume MOST Softplan users needs are.

[Nick Moorhead]

Nick, I have nothing to do with Softplan Systems, I'm just a user the same as you are. I had no idea that the Lumion Logo was on Softplan's marketing literature. This was just my own PERSONAL opinion.

 

I just think that Lumion's capabilities are over the top for what I and I assume MOST Softplan users needs are.

Fair enough Keith, I understand you may not use Lumion so have not experienced the frustration that I and others have using it in conjunction with Softplan. I would agree that Softplan does an adequate job with quick and easy renderings, and that may be enough for some people. I also understand that cost and hardware upgrades might be cost prohibitive for some as well. But both I and others have experienced great results using BOTH programs and expect a little more support on the Softplan end of things. Photo-real rendering engines are getting better and cheaper and lots of customers expectations are evolving, due to them being shown on numerous TV shows and the like. I'm just over here waiting for my 'live-sync' ..... 

[Nick Moorhead]

Nick, have you or do you use "open street map".  On remodels i use this to quickly add entourage (buildings) around the house i am working on.  I simply open streetscape, download the smallest radius possible, and then hide the building at the correct location.  Then import the SP model and go from there.  Attached is an example.  The previous house was torn down and we are building this one.

 

i am mixed on this as i like "real" buildings...but it is nice to not always have to do "tree bombs" as i believe you have called it.  And once you figure it out it is very quick to do (pending a decent internet speed)

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=Xly0t41Bf_s

 

Hey Allen! I have not used the street map functions on any of my models so far, but I am open to it! I have been trying to come up with some NEW quick "landscape templates" that I can cycle through from model to model and wouldn't mind experimenting with this. I sometimes find that the landscape and scene design take more effort than my actual models sometimes...ha. And yes, the "tree bombings" become very taxing to the rendering process. I use them to hide any horizon lines that may appear in filming (they tend to break the illusion of realism). 

 

If you (or anyone else) comes across any way to import scenes into Lumion that would be ideal. And I think the Google neighborhoods you made are great! I have been wanting to put my next luxury model on a golf course for some time, but haven't had the time to create one.

[Allen McDonnell]

Nick, the "landscape template" that i am using consists of "real homes"...So basically....  I have started to "copy projects" and then add a house next to a completely textured (in lumion) house.   the end goal in mind will be to render a home with real homes across the street or behind the house.   then i can add trees, people, car.  I am basically making a "make believe" subdivision.  The issue i will run into will be terrain.  So my "make believe" subdivision will be all flat lots (what a dream)