ARCH VIZ LEARNING PATH
If you are wondering where to start on your arch viz journey, the following information might be helpful.
What Software Should I Learn For Architectural Visualization?
There are so many different options when it comes to software, and each option has its own pros and cons. If you are looking to get some professional insight as to where you should place your focus, try reading this article all about the different software packages available.
3ds Max
3ds Max is an essential starting point for all aspiring architectural visualization artists. It can manage all your modeling, lighting, material, rendering and animation needs. It is also extremely expandable via various plug-ins, making it a powerful visualization tool.
3ds Max Mastery in 7 Hrs: Project Based Intro for Beginners
A great introduction and overview of the basic functions and tools in 3ds Max. Great for those who have never used the software before.
3ds Max + V-Ray: 3ds Max PRO in 6 Hrs
This is the original Learn Arch Viz course. It focuses on how to use 3ds Max and V-Ray, specifically for a professional arch viz workflow.
Unreal Engine 4
Take this path if you want to export your models into a game engine and start creating real time content, such as virtual reality walkthroughs. It is the most advanced and powerful option for real time.
Unreal Engine 4: Project Based VR Course for Arch Viz in UE4
This course is an introduction on how to use Unreal Engine (UE4) for real time arch viz and VR. If you haven't used UE4 before, start here.
UE4: An Advanced Real Time Arch Viz Project
This course assumes some knowledge of how to get around in Unreal Engine, so it is able to focus on some more advanced, arch viz specific things.
3ds Max + V-Ray: Materials Masterclass
This is a more focused course, specifically developing a students ability to make professional, photo realistic materials with 3ds Max and V-Ray.
3ds Max: Model High-Poly Assets for Your Arch Viz Scenes
This is a focused 3ds Max course, concentrating on the essential arch viz skill of poly modeling, and creating high detail assets for your scenes.
3ds Max + V-Ray Advanced Projects
Continue along this path if you want to further develop your rendering skills with the industry standards of 3dsMax and V-Ray with advanced arch viz projects.
3ds Max + V-Ray: Advanced Architectural Exterior
This course takes an advanced exterior project from beginning to end, with some additional advanced tools and workflows explained.
3ds Max + V-Ray: Advanced Interior Project
This course takes an advanced interior project from beginning to end, with some additional advanced tools and workflows explained.
3ds Max + Forest Pack: Create Realistic 3d Environments
This course takes an advanced project that is heavy on environment creation. The base software used is 3ds Max + V-Ray, but it also leans heavily on other professional tools.
Additional Skills
These skills may become essential for every good arch viz artist at some point too, but they can be added into your learning path at any point as necessary, and they can be an important part to any other path you choose.
Photoshop and Arch Viz: Project Based Post-Processing Course
No matter what stage you are at in arch viz, you will need to know how to post-process things in Photoshop. That's what this course is for.
3ds Max + After Effects: Camera Tracking and Compositing 3d With Live Footage
Many times, arch viz artists need to enhance existing footage with 3d elements. Most commonly, this is used for adding concepts into aerial drone footage. Learn to do that here.
Lumion
Lumion is an alternative to more complicated game engines like UE4. Follow courses here if you are looking for a simple / quick way to go from models to real time renderings and animations
Lumion: Photorealistic Arch Viz in Just 2.5 Hrs
This is a great introduction and overview for Lumion. In the course, you can take a basic model to final rendering and animation in just a couple of hours.
Lumion: Advanced Interior Projects
Here you can dive deeper into Lumion by creating 2 advanced interior projects
Twinmotion
Twinmotion is another, simpler alternative to complex game engines like UE4. It is a good option for jumping directly into real time, with the added benefit of full VR walkthrough capabilities.
Twinmotion from Beginning To End
This is a great introduction and overview for Twinmotion. In the course, you can take a basic model to final rendering and animation in just a couple of hours, and learn every tool and setting.
Stand Alone: SketchUp + Photoshop
Some people prefer SketchUp for modeling. If that is the case for you, you can take this course to learn how to create beautiful "hand drawn" looking renderings from your SketchUp models.
SketchUp + Photoshop: Digital Watercolor Renderings in 3 Hrs
This course demonstrates how to take a SketchUp model into Photoshop to create a digital watercolor rendering. This is an easy solution for quick, conceptual, loose renderings with artistic flare.
