Architects creating visualizations, who until now have not been convinced by GPU technology, have less and less of an argument with the arrival of Lumion 12. Lumion has already been offering photorealistic effects with rendering that takes seconds. Creating animations on one's own computer, without a rendering farm or an arch-vis specialist, is an opportunity that more and more architects, whether running larger studios or one-person operations, are seizing. With Lumion 12, will the architecture industry do without professional visualizers?
GPU (graphics processing unit)based rendering is nothing more than rendering that uses the graphics card instead of the computer's processor. What does this mean in practice? First, lightning-fast rendering - you get static visualizations in seconds and animations (even in 4K) take hours, not weeks. Second, you don't need a rendering farm, as your own computer with a good graphics card is enough to do the job. Finally, third, rendering is done in real time. We model in a BIM or CAD program and the effects of these changes are observed in real time in a visualization program, where the model can be seen in realistic light, with selected materials.
DIY visualization - without the farm and without 3D graphics.
The development of all visualization software is moving towards GPU technology, but Lumion stands out for its ease of use from the beginning. The interface is so friendly that a satisfactory result can be obtained the first time you run the program. And it brings a whole new work philosophy to offices. Visualizations, which previously required specialized knowledge and many months - if not years - of experience, are now within everyone's reach. Ready-made settings, sliders, drag-and-drop technique - with all these facilities, according to the program's developer, Lumion can be mastered in 15 minutes.
Lumion has completely transformed how we design. Previously, we created visualizations ourselves, but it took a lot of time and the results were not always satisfactory. Anyway, for large projects - such as public buildings - we outsourced them anyway. With Lumion we create visions for each project and we can also do animations. This has helped us a lot in building a community around our Youtube channel," says Karolina Taraszkiewicz, an architect with KaraTe Project.
what real-time-rendering gives
RTR (real-time-rendering) has several significant consequences for the organization of architects' work. First, it makes them independent of external 3D graphic designers, which not only improves communication (within the team or with the client), but also gives them more control over the creative process. With traditional rendering, it was easier to overlook an error and only see it when the program rendered the image, often in the morning, because rendering had to be scheduled for the night hours. Unlike CPU - that is, CPU-based rendering - Lumion 12's rendering engine speeds things up to the point where you gain twice as much time for what matters most - design.
real-time-rendering with Lumion 12
The maker of Lumion has been focusing on maximum intuitiveness and photorealistic visualization quality for more than a decade. However, the hundreds of enhancements made to Lumion 12 bring ease and precision to building scenes like never before. Interior architects will be particularly pleased with the new features related to lighting and materials. Volumetric directional light with a slider to control color temperature on the Kelvin scale is a simple trick for building mood and achieving a cinematic effect. You can also modify surfaces with one click - age them, change edges, add texture or highlight imperfections.
© LUMION
The library has been enriched with 570 objects (including solar panels, solar heaters, an electric car charger) and 65 new materials. The ability to select and save favorite models has been made easier, which, with nearly 7,000 objects and more than 1,300 materials in the library, significantly helps produce express results. All changes have one common denominator - you can turn a raw 3D model into a vibrant design in a very short time.
Has the time of GPU-based visualization arrived?
Visualization specialists are receiving more and more orders for product visualizations, which are replacing photos from advertising sessions. In this field, it is still difficult for Lumion software to compete. However, Lumion was created with architects in mind, so that they can get the full effect of realism without strenuous study or the involvement of a 3D graphic designer. It is best to find out for yourself whether the program fulfills this promise. The latest version of the program can already be tested free of charge for 14 days - just fill out the form on the Lumion website.
