Graphics card-based rendering.
From the series "Tools for design, modeling, rendering - review 2023".
A powerful computer is an essential tool for any architect. While sketches are often still created on paper, visualizations are already created almost exclusively with modern applications running on the fastest laptops and desktops.
Employees of design studios usually use the software of one company, because it allows them to complete orders faster. But even in this case, they may be located in different offices or work remotely. Transferring files with changes between them takes up valuable time that could be spent on creative work. Recently, artists have been able to use the NVIDIA Omniverse platform for collaborative work, integrating multiple 3D graphics applications. This allows users of different or the same programs to save a lot of time spent downloading, converting and re-uploading files.
graphics card-based rendering
vision: © Pawel Podwojewski, Motiv Studio
Omniverse is part of the NVIDIA Studio platform for developers. Studio is both certified hardware, dedicated free software and special drivers that ensure the highest performance and stability of creative applications. Omniverse supports the USD (Universal Scene Description) format, allowing creators to collaborate on a single project across applications, in real time.
One of the companies using state-of-the-art design-support tools is MOTIV studio, led by Pawel Podwojewski, founder and also art director.
graphics card-based rendering
vision: © Pawel Podwojewski, Motiv Studio
His professional adventure with computer graphics and architecture began more than 15 years ago. As an architecture graduate, he wanted to create bridges and design houses, and for this, 3D computer tools have always been helpful. The studio's clients are architectural corporations, mostly American, with projects all over the world. The main software MOTIV uses is 3ds Max. It has accompanied them from the very beginning, so they know it inside out and their creative processes are based on it.
We use several rendering engines. We have the possibility to make calculations based on traditional CPU, but most often we use GPU, which is graphics card-based rendering," said Pawel Podwojewski. - We operate in Poland - we have a studio in Gdynia and in Warsaw, but also a branch office in Bordeaux, France. We combine these three offices by working on joint projects every day.
graphics card-based rendering
vision: © Pawel Podwojewski, Motiv Studio
The leader of the Warsaw-based MOTIVE team is Tomasz Saracen:
We are involved in 3D graphics and a broadly creative approach to design. On a daily basis we deal with visualizations, conceptual design, realization of various types of presentations. Our Warsaw branch is part of a larger team that works in Gdynia. Our daily cooperation on projects is based on a common server where we share files. There is a great need for this real-time coordination and collaboration, which is enabled by the NVIDIA Omniverse platform.
Omniverse allows the MOTIV studio to connect creative processes from different offices in real time. The design process in architecture, but also in many other fields, is precisely about creative interaction. The tools available now are much better than they used to be.
graphics card-based rendering
vision: © Pawel Podwojewski, Motiv Studio
You can work much faster and smoother," added Pawel Podwojewski. - But mostly within one workstation, one's file. This means that if I'm working on a laptop and my colleague will be on the other side of the table, I actually have to walk over to him to see what he's working on at the moment. Omniverse is just such a piece of paper, where architects and other creatives can draw at the same time. It uses USD files, and it is because of this that we are able to use and collaborate in real time with other creators on a single file.
A practical guide to using NVIDIA Omniverse
graphics card-based rendering
vision: © Pawel Podwojewski, Motiv Studio
How does Omniverse work in real life? Working on interior visualizations and being in different locations around the world, architects can share a single file in virtual space. They are able to make various changes, edits, comments, and add and remove elements at the same time. In standard procedure, they would have to work on three different files, share them by sending archives, and comment on shared screens. Using Omniverse, they collaborate on a project by editing items that each of them can see, comment on and modify. The edits they make in Omniverse automatically synchronize with the file in 3ds Max and other programs. This allows everyone to track any changes they make in real time.
graphics card-based rendering
vision: © Pawel Podwojewski, Motiv Studio
Omniverse offers unlimited possibilities in terms of collaboration between developers from different locations, not only in a given city or country, but all over the world, said Pawel Podwojewski. - We are part of Omniverse, and we at MOTIV will be keeping a close eye on all the new opportunities this software opens up. We should also remember that Omniverse gives us full control over the file. This means that when we collaborate with friends or clients, we have the base version of the output file modified all the time, and we can always go back to the original. So we're looking to the future, we're looking at Omniverse, and hopefully with increasing fluidity we'll be there. To which you are cordially invited.
For more information, visit the company's NVIDIA page on PdA.
