Ok.. currently I use Autocad Architecture to draw the floorplans after the initial handsketching. After that I fire up Sketchup to get some 3D.
Our drafting people makes the following drawings in Revit.

We are talking seriously about a more streamlined workflow, but I just hate Revit. The views is in parallel mode (cameras can be in perspective mode, but it's just not good enough), and the dimensions is snapping all over - it's far from Sketchups simple interface.

The Autodesk package I have installed on my workstation, is very expensive, and not that usefull for the work I do

This post is primary targeted architectural design (not the detailed drawings)!

Within my 12 years of experience with building design, I have tried different software to find the best (for me) workflow.
I have primary used autodesk software, autocad and revit architecture, Max, and of course Sketchup

But there are a lot of similar software, eg. Archicad, Vectorworks, Allplan (all Nemetschek), bonsai 3D, lumion 3D, Thea Render, and a lot more I don't know!

If you were about to make a fresh start, what would you buy to get the best workflow, focusing on architectural design and presentation??

Absolute fantastic

Somehow I can't seem to generate short hair?
I set the "Lenght" to 0.0001 but the hair doesn't seem to get shorter then approx. 50 mm!

It would be nice to be able to save presets!!!

Great job

Well.. reading some of the previous comments I have to say that I'm not a "renderguy" but like to stay updated and play around with it from time to time!

I've bought Thea Render because I found the UI and workflow nice and easy, It didn't take me long to make nice results, but of cause I'm not used to other renders. (Ok.. I have twilight two)

The texture editor is well hidden, and som shortcuts would be nice, but I bought the software because I can use it now and that it has a promising future where many of the small "beta-lacks" will be eliminated by the very involved developers. Also the announced roadmap told me that this is a software to rely on!

Maybe I could get on the Thea payroll

Does anybody know where I can find a beech hedge for archviz??

ARK

I do agree to!

As a workaround, I showed how to make som scenes with different views and also one with top view with paralle projection.

Hi

Today I was presenting my workflow to a designcompany. They had just one big wish, to be able to split the viewport like in other 3D app.

Is there a plugin/ruby that can do that or would that be imposible?

Hurry Google!

Just gave the free version a spin with old heavy model, and it's just much faster to update!

It's a shame with the missing dwg/dxf import as I use it every time I start a project in sketchup, but now that Google takes this fine software seriously, I just might by the pro version

Dear Ajordan

Export to dxf from AutoCAD ACA and import it to Sketchup.
Can't remember if you have to switch to 3d view (e.g. SW) before exporting.

Sketchup can't import AEC objects as the intelligent walls, windows, doors and .....

I've posted a diagram of my ideas to the workflow and features of the SU2LUX exporter!
http://www.luxrender.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=81&p=20337#p20337

Please comment!

It would be nice to make a mod of SU2KT so it could be used to both Kerkythea and Luxrender. I remember this idea was mentioned earlier on this forum!

@unknownuser said:

Hi guys,

I understand you're all keen on a sketchup exporter
Even though i had plans to make one, i don't think i have the time to take that on currently...

Maybe you can ask around and find one in your sketchup forum community who can build one ?

Radiance

Wish I had time to learn Ruby

In my work as an architect I mostly use Sketchup to get a hold on the volumes. It's simply the best software for that purpose. Plans and elevations is done in Autocad Architecture (in my case).
For a while I've been watching this community to be updated on the use of Sketchup. And it's remarkeble what you can do, mostly very detailed work for rendering purpose.

But how do you use sketchup for architectural presentations?

Is it for clean renderings, for simple "2D" plans and elevations, perspektiv sketches, volumes for handsketching on tracingpaper or......?

How is the renderspeed i VUE compared to e.g. V-ray or Modo renderengine?
It seems that VUE can make some nice renders!

Hi Alan

I've been playing with Podium to see if I was able to produce some nice renderings, and I found out that the different presets is very different!

Try to unpack the attatched file and put the .xml file in the presets folder. ( Google SketchUp 7\Plugins\Podium\presets ) It's a preset I've been working on to make the shadows soft, but not sure if it works on omnies!

You have to restart sketchup to be able to choose the new preset!

Interior Soft Shadows.zip

I've had my eyes on VUE for a while now, and I'm looking forward to see what rendering quality it can produce!

Well, hope this is more cleare!

If a model is imported to Modo, and textures is applied. Then the model is changed in Sketchup and it would be nice to "update" (merge) the model allready imported to Modo, so you don't have to make a total retexturing.
For archviz it's a greath feature because the model always gets adjusted during the renderprocess.

I don't know the Modo reference feature in details, but maybe it could be used as described above!

Is it possible to update the model once it's imported to Modo?

I've seen a tutorial about Modo's reference features, but don't know if it can be used as a workaround? It would be nice to use Modo's renderfeatures!

As a architect I like Sketchup because it's fast and easy to model, and therefor test some ideas. And often the geometry is simple.

If I wasn't so hooked on sketchup and the need to adjust the design, I would go for Modo! A good modeler, super quality render, real-time views for render setup, and fast too.

AutoDesk is simply to expensive with their software, compared to the quality, and you have to have a subscription to keep up with the yearly update. If I wasn't forced to use AutoDesk software because of file-exchange I wouldn't touch it!

As mentioned, I've also been playing with Artlantis.

I know that the quality can't beat Vray, Maxwell and other big renderapplications, but the setup was fast and I realy like the real-time window where the light and materials can be adjusted until the result is good enough to render.

Artlantis has announced a new version in january where quality is improved and faster rendering.

The attached image is rendered in Artlantis as a test!