The advantages of photorealistic rendering
Showing a project idea to your client before its execution has become a standard practice in today’s design industry thanks to the potential of photorealistic rendering
A useful communication and design preview tool that reduces the risk of aesthetic errors or incorrect measurements, photorealistic rendering is now largely dominating the architectural and engineering design scene. There are numerous unprecedented advantages that it offers, bringing a design project to the next level.
Rendering produced with Edificius
We live in an image-driven world and today’s architecture is all about visualization. People is attracted by stunning visuals because they are much more powerful and easier to understand than mere text (or try to imagine your client interpreting a floor plan or cross-section).
You can engage your interested prospects and client base by presenting photorealistic renderings and bring out the appeal in an image.
Thanks to the development of computer graphics, extraordinary progress has been made in terms of solutions for the actual architectural process and the way in which a project can be presented to the client. In addition, the use of BIM software for architectural design could help you get ahead of the competition curve. For example, you could obtain a millimetric precision both in the calculation of surfaces and volumes and in the metric calculation, or the production of three-dimensional views with realistic images immediately understandable and extremely faithful to reality.
Rendering produced with Edificius
Photorealistic rendering
The principle behind photorealistic rendering is to allow the creation of a highly realistic artificial image based on a three-dimensional model.
More in detail, an image is generated from the computer that follows a three-dimensional modelling process based on the project data. The geometry is then coated with a colour or an image and textures, which represents the real materials to be used in the construction.
The software can also simulate light sources, both natural and artificial, to give a more accurate image.
If the rendering parameters are set to match those existing in reality, then the texture quality and the different perspectives of the final rendering can be considered “photorealistic”.
Photorealistic rendering produced with Edificius
Basically, if a photograph reproduces something that already exists, a rendering aims at illustrating an idea, a project, a model that does not exist yet, but as if it was true!
The advantages of rendering
When showing a project to a client, it is good practice to take advantage of the software to produce detailed representations of the proposed structure, as it provides the best perception of spaces and the organization of the design elements.
Thanks to rendering, even a low-tech customer can enjoy the benefits of the project at different phases:
- being immersed in something like a virtual reality with volumes, functional spaces, furnishings and accessories that don’t even exist in real life
- be included in the design process, proposing changes and observe the results.
The result is a great advantage for the professional, who saves time and eliminates risks associated with misunderstandings. Renderings are also an excellent tool to advertise new projects before construction.
Rendering is therefore a useful project preview tool. If a 2D plan leaves free interpretation, a photorealistic image is clear and immediate and it does not lead to misunderstandings and additional post-construction costs.
Being a 360 ° design verification tool, involving the study of materials, colours, lighting technology, as well as the layout of systems, furnishings and accessories, it reduces the risks of aesthetical and measurement errors.
This is why the rendering is widely used, for example, for a final project verification, in environmental and landscape impact studies and for a final work presentation to the client.
Photorealistic rendering detail produced with Edificius
Benefits for design studios are multiple, as well as obvious:
- providing clients with a highly realistic view of the architectural solutions adopted
- showing all the elements of the surrounding environment to be able to provide an effective perception of the outside, through a view from above or through a vision at eye level
- illustrating to the customer the materials chosen with high detail and suggestive shots from multiple angles
- offering absolutely faithful renderings to your client even in case of particularly complex or unusual architectural structures
- exhibiting a project with various types of lighting to better represent a structure’s details or interiors.
The use of BIM and rendering technology is also useful to assess the geometric, materials and labour requirements in a more accurately manner.
Construction processes are often over-budgeting and missing deadlines, because of unexpected problems or miscalculations relating to the materials needed. Computer software high level of detail and powerful capabilities can easily prevent undesirable circumstances and constantly update information, thus providing design with more flexibility and adaptability.
