Microstation - Help & Advice Needed

[Mr S]

Hi,
To begin with, a little bit of background.
I have a graphics background (photography, video and computer graphics) and work for a large architectural company with my main role being the production of 2D and 3D graphics. This is mostly for presentations, bids and public display. The majority of the staff are Architects and Architectural Technicians. The management prefer me to spend my time on producing the "pretty" stuff while the rest of the staff stay focused on the nuts and bolts of production, i.e. 2D CAD.

We have just been informed that the company is switching from using AutoCAD to Microstation. Obviously, there will be a transition period. We have just received our first batch of training and I have been informed that the 3D capabilities of Microstation far outstrips SketchUp and has a great ease of use compared to the likes of 3DS MAX or VIZ. More complicated than SketchUp perhaps, but with far superior output results.

Visit: http://www.bentley.com/en-US/Products/MicroStation/Iterative+Luxology+Rendering.htm

Microstation has incorporated the Luxology render engine and the surface modelling tools of Modo, so I would expect the results to be better. It can also import SketchUp files and produce high quality renders.
It looks as though I am going to have to up my game somewhat!

Although I love SketchUp, it looks like my company have given up on it being upgraded to keep up with the advances being made by other 2D/3D applications. This is a real shame. 4 years ago I watched their faces light-up as I showed them the results that could be achieved with SketchUp. 4 years later they have become frustrated that SketchUp doesn't seem to have progressed much. They were never great fans of AutoCAD either, but used it because "everyone else does".

In their eyes they have decided to up the capabilities of our 2D and 3D tools. If I'm really honest with myself, I have to agree with them that this is probably the right way to go.

So, I was wondering if anyone here has experience of Microstation or Modo.
If so, I would like to read your thoughts on this issue.
Any links that would help me in this transition would also be appreciated.

Regards
Mr S

[Anssi]

Mr S,

Are you really switching from plain AutoCad to plain Microstation? IMO doing that is seriously going against the current. I can't claim to knowing MS, but its reputation is that of another bloated behemot that no one in the architectural profession knows how to use. Everyone else seems to be switching from plain CAD to BIM tools like ArchiCad or Revit, if they have not done so already. Even our main clients have started to require the use of BIM in their projects.

As to replacing SU, you will have to see for yourself. To be honest, SU itself does not DO anything spectacular, it is just the model building interface that might be superior to anything currently available. If you can learn to be productive with something else - why not? I have used AutoCad for 23 years and I think I by now know it almost inside out, but since discovering SU I have not felt the need to use ACAD for 3D models.

In the architectural sphere, the real threat to SU is coming from the BIM applications. Today it is still a good sketching tool and also a good tool for creating 3D content for the BIM apps, most of which are still, essentially 2 1/2 D with complicated procedures needed to achieve things quite simple with SU. But when the model will be built in BIM anyway, the necessary renders etc. will be taken directly from that, and 3D model building for presentational purposes will dwindle.

Just thoughts

Anssi

[Mr S]

Hi Anssi,

Thanks for the response.

This is a decision that has been taken by those "higher-ups" in the company.
I have to hope that they know what they are doing.

Powerdraft will replace AutoCAD LT (used by the majority of our staff) and Microstation V8 will replace the full version of AutoCAD.

As I understand it AutoCAD was originally created for Engineers not Architects.
Microstation, ArchiCAD etc were built from the ground up for Architects.
Whether this makes any real difference in use I have yet to see.

With regards to BIM software I am not quite sure what to make of this.
On the one hand, it makes sense to have software that can generate 3D data from your 2D data input.
In theory this should make producing 3D images a lot simpler and less error prone.

I have heard that Revit is a very clever piece of software.
But it does not have (as some try to claim) a magic button that can produce professional 3D results.
I have also heard that practically no-one outside of the demonstration team can use it in a productive manner.
(OK, I may be exaggerating a little here, but you know what I mean)

The management of my company do not want their Architectural staff wasting valuable time trying to learn and understand lighting, texturing, composition and the hundreds of other issues associated with creating professional 3D imagery. They want their Architectural staff producing working 2D CAD drawings that generate actual income!

I think they have a very good point.
Most of the 2D CAD operators I know do not seen to understand (or find very difficult) the concept of 3D.
Management can't presume to think that just because some staff use Microsoft Word every day that automatically gives them the skills to become a great novelist.
They may not even grasp basic spelling or grammar!
Or just because someone can use Microsoft Paint they will also be expert users of Adobe Photoshop.

The skills required to produce professional 3D results, seems to me, to require a great deal of dedication to learning a range of skills well beyond the normal requirements of most 2D CAD operators. It also requires an active imagination and what I can only describe as an "eye" for being able to visualise a 3D image.
Quite simply, not everyone has this, no matter how good the software.

Anyway, I would appreciate reading any further thoughts on this subject.

Regards
Mr S