New Website - Learn 3d Design and Architectural Visualization

Hello loyal followers.  I want to announce that I am launching a new website.  It is called learnArchViz.com and it is completely dedicated to helping the masses to be introduced to 3d design and architectural visualization, or arch viz.  If you have ever wanted to learn how to render in 3dsMax, Vray, or Vray for SketchUp, there should be plenty of info for you there.  There are many courses there ranging from beginner level, to expert.  There are also other resources there that will help on your path to learn architectural visualization.  Check it out, and make sure to bookmark it and tell your friends.  There is much more to come.

Learn Arch Viz for $5!

Are you interested in architecture? Are you interested in 3d? How about both? I already know you are, that is why you're here. If you answered yes to these questions, I have an offer for you. From now until Saturday, I am offering my intro to arch viz class for just $5! Don't miss out. It will never be cheaper. Click RIGHT HERE to get the discounted price. You're Welcome!

Intro to Architectural Visualization For 3ds Max and V-Ray

I am happy to announce that my full-length, professional visualization course is now available.  If you have ever wanted to jump in and learn the industry standard software, now is the time.  As an introductory rate, I am offering the whole class, 6+ hours of instruction, for %50 off.  Only $15!!!!

Click this link to get the discounted rate.

Also, I know a lot of you are SketchUp enthusiasts.  That's great.  You should check out this course too.  You can import your SketchUp models into Max, maybe spruce them up a bit, and then still render them with V-Ray.  Plus, you can learn to model in a more complete and robust modeling program.

*You don't need any prior experience, or any purchased software for this course.

V-Ray for SketchUp - Features | Chaos Group

Vray for SketchUp 2.0 is now available.  If you are a SketchUp user, this plugin is an absolute MUST.  I am still an advocate of using 3ds Max to do your modelling, but if you insist on using SketchUp, Vray will take your models to the next level.  In my opinion, it is the best rendering package available, especially for arch viz.  Here are the details on the release, plus some nice tutorials going over new features.  Probably the most important feature is the addition of Vray proxies, which makes SketchUp's ability to handle large, complex scenes much better.  Check it out.

I also posted the tutorial videos on the freecg facebook page, here.

More Vray Materials.mp4

This is a video I made a long time ago, but it has been pretty popular on YouTube.  I think it warrants a re-post.  If you haven't seen it before, check it out.  I know some of you are looking for info on Vray for SketchUp.  The principles I go over in this video should translate directly, even though the screen shots look different.

Vray for SketchUp Tutorial

Vray for Sketchup Tutorial - Post Processing Your Renderings in Photoshop

Sometimes an image just needs a little adjustment to take it to the next level. This is where Photoshop comes in. This video is actually a recording of a webinar that lasts about 40 minutes. The speaker goes over his entire process for enhancing his images after rendering the out of Vray. It is very informative. If you have a little time to spend have a look. The techniques shown are extremely valuable to any visualization professional.

Photoshop for Post-Rendered Work from ASGVIS, LLC on Vimeo.

Creative Director Yavuz “Yavo” Goncu" shares his Photoshop for post-rendered work secrets. Webinar from March 14, 2009

Download the practice scene files from http://bit.ly/coFMIP (Scroll to the bottom of page.)

Vray for Sketchup Tutorial - Lighting

Vray is the best tool to add the necessary power to SketchUP. This tutorial shows why. It uses global illumination technology, including area lights, physical sun and sky, etc. (all seen in this video) to create images that far surpass what SketchUP can do on its own. Watch this tutorial for a basic overview of how the lighting works, and how it can enhance your scenes.

Basic Light Settings in V-Ray for SketchUp Tutorial from ASGVIS, LLC on Vimeo.

Basic Light Settings in V-Ray for SketchUp
Video tutorial by Jorge Barrero.

Free Vray for SketchUp Materials

Here is a library of materials available for download. I know people are always looking for this stuff. If you want to learn how to make your own Vray materials then watch this video tutorial I made about it.

Basic Lighting Settings for Vray in Sketchup

Basic Light Settings in V-Ray for SketchUp Tutorial from ASGVIS, LLC on Vimeo.

Basic Light Settings in V-Ray for SketchUp

Video tutorial by Jorge Barrero.

Zdepth in Vray for Sketchup

This tutorial outlines how to use the Zdepth render element in Vray for Sketchup. This is a powerful render element because it can be used to produce depth of field effects in Photoshop or other post programs. This can save tons of valuable render time since rendering depth of field within the program can take FOREVER. Definitely a good watch. Check it out.

New Vray for SketchUP Materials

Find them here.

Beginner Tutorial - Making Tileable Textures

Vray for Sketchup: Tips and Tricks

Here is a forum thread where a bunch of people have posted tips and tricks for vray for sketchup. There is a bunch of very useful information here including displacement, ies lights, amongst other things. Here is the link.

And see the rest of our vray for sketchup links here.

Vray Sun and Sky Tutorial + linking to a daylight system

This is a common thing that people want to do with Vray but it is not always obvious how it is done. Plus, the Vray Sun can be a little bit confusing if you are new to it, so this is a good tutorial for examining how it works. watch carefully!

This is a decent tutorial if you can handle the horrible music that is played rather then narration. Displacement as many of you probably already know can be a really powerful tool for making complex geometry using only maps. Like the stone in this video, you can get the effect of modelled stone with just a map applied to a plane, like a bump map, except displacement actually creates the geometry of the stone based on your map...so it looks more convincing.

Anyway...it can be kind of tricky so check out the basics of how to do it here in this tutorial.

Vray + Sketchup Exterior Rendering Tutorial

This guy goes through this project from beginning to end in a long series of videos. He shoes you where to find a bunch of good sketchup models too. This will be a really useful tutorial series for anyone who uses these programs.

Here is the link to my entire collection of Vray for Sketchup tutorials.

And below is an extensive explanation of Vray materials.

Vray For Sketchup Tutorial: Studio Setup and Making a Glass of Water

Another Vray for Sketchup Tutorial

This guy posted some vray for sketchup images and tutorials on his blog. Check them out if you're into sketchup + Vray. This one shows specifically how to make water material.

There are a bunch of new youtube tutorials for vray + sketchup. Some of them are actually pretty decent now. This is just one of several. Go to this one on youtube and you will see several others in the playlist. This particular one covers the use of HDRI.