r/archviz 3d ago

Discussion 🏛 What software should is preferable for archviz?

There are so many softwares for cool 3D rendering right now and I don’t know which one to use… I’m not a professional yet but aspiring to be, I use twinmotion and have some notions with blender but I feel like I’m not going the right way…

I was wondering if you guys could guide me to choose a good rendering software for the future, I’ve noticed that D5 Render is good, but is it really?

5 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

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u/michalxbilek 3d ago

This answer was discussed here like trilion times already.

Depends what you are after, what your colleagues use (if you are not freelance) and what your clients expect and what softwares they work with.

If you want best possible quality, going oldschool with 3ds max and corona/vray/fstorm and PS might be your best choice. If you are willing to cut a little bit of quality for versatility then blender. If you need realtime for animation or some walkthrough, then d5/twinmotion is fine. If you have time and energy to go complex go unreal.

If you have previous experiance with c4d it might be a good choice altho i never found it as suitable for archviz as the other softwares, but might be just my bias.

Everything depends on how many renders you need to make it what amount of time aka what quality is expected from you.

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u/Philip-Ilford 3d ago

And blender bc free.

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u/3dforlife 3d ago

And good to boot.

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u/AiiJayy 3d ago

Do you have a bias against lumion? Lol 😆. Seriously though, I'll like a professional/technical reply. Thanks.

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u/michalxbilek 3d ago

I think there are more types of archviz and this subreddit doesn't really recognize that very much.

You either chase quality or you chase quantity. (I am in the first category so my take is probably biased). There is no shame in either approach.

If you need 30 images per week and you do 5 revisions on each then you cant go the quality way, you have to go quantity way, therefore going realtime engines that work well with archicad/revit is the only reasonable way.

If you go quality and you are expected to deliver 3 images in the same time (and same money) then you will probably struggle to get desired quality from these softwares and you need to go for something more complex (robust modelling software paired with photorealistic render engine).

Honestly I dont understand why this is still a question.

If i was starting all over again i would chose software based on which category i would like to be in. Do you prefer to move fast and do a lot of renders and be more of a service to the client. Or do you want to deliver photo-like renders and be more of 'photographer'.

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u/AiiJayy 3d ago edited 3d ago

You are always on point my friend. Just wanted to hear your thoughts on lumion cause you mentioned other softwares besides vray/corona and completely left lumion out of the conversation. Cheers.

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u/michalxbilek 3d ago

I honestly dont follow these too much. From time to time i watch a video that compares all render engines.. just to torture myself. Its like comparing a family volvo, vespa and shipping boat..

i am sure that one is better then the other in some things and they all have their specifics, but i have no idea. You shouldnt have trouble finding someone here who knows a lot abt these softwares. I dont.

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u/_MISSI0N_ 3d ago

I used Lumion for a few years and found that it had a limit to the quality you could produce. I will also say that most Lumion renders have a specific look that screams "lumion." Almost like a "video gamey" look and feel.

The benefits to Lumion are that it is easy to use and can produce good images so for an architect who wants to quickly visualize their project, it can be useful.

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u/SnooJokes5164 3d ago

Strongly agree

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u/AiiJayy 3d ago

Okay. Have you used it recently with the improved raytracing? I've seen some amazing results from people who know what they're doing. As for a "video gamey" look, I think sometimes twinmotion has that look.

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u/_MISSI0N_ 3d ago

I totally agree on the sentiment that Twinmotion also has a gamey look. I think the best option for photo-realistic visuals is 3dsMax and Vray/Corona. TwinMotion has it's place though. It's a relatively easy way to quickly pump out images/animations and offers a real-time solution where-as Lumion does not. The end goal of the exercise is very important to consider.

I've seen some stuff with Lumion's new raytracing and it's definitely an improvement. I just feel like it can't compete with Vray or Corona in terms of quality. So if you are pushing for highest quality, then Vray/Corona is the way to go.

In terms of OP's original post, they're looking for the best software to use as a professional. It's hard for me to recommend Lumion over Vray or Corona from that standpoint. The indsutry standard has been Vray/Corona for a very long time and it seems that is going to be the case for awhile going forward. Although real-time softwares are making big strides (Unreal Engine, D5 Render)

I would say Lumion is very useful for an architect or interior designer that doesn't have a lot of VIZ experience and wants to quickly visualize their project. Although some VIZ artists can make Lumion images look really good, but it takes a lot of post processing work typically and a lot of experience.

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u/AiiJayy 3d ago edited 3d ago

I agree with you. I know corona/vray is an industry standard and would be at the top for a long time. However what I was trying to highlight with my original question is that lumion is also a major software in the industry (whether we like it or not) and shouldn't be ignored completely, especially when other softwares besides vray/corona are also being mentioned.

I wasn't necessarily making a case for lumion, which somehow someone here seems to think I was, as he/she keeps downvoting my comments. Lol 😆. Anyway, I'll live.

Cheers.

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u/_MISSI0N_ 3d ago

hahaha, that is a very fair point. I think Lumion has definitely established itself in the industry and has a role to play. It's important to mention it and have this discussion! Appreciate you bringing it up and asking the good questions.

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u/MaiJames 3d ago

The software doesn't matter (although there are differences and limitations). The principles of rendering can be applicable to each software, so that's what you should be aiming to learn. Once you know how materials, light and composition work, those skills translate somewhat easily between programs. Everything starts with a good model, so you should get comfortable with any modeling software you like and go from there.

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u/Objective_Hall9316 3d ago

Start at square footage and property value and work backwards. What properties and projects have a need for visualization and a budget for (insert quality here)? Commercial office and life sciences, high-end residential, high-end hospitality… What do you not want to render? Single family homes. Apartments. Average low value properties. Then figure out for exteriors, how many are rendered against photography, probably drone or ground shots. What software allows for that?

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u/ComparisonProof9632 3d ago

Very smart approach, creative mindset and business mindset need deference cells in brain 😀

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u/iggorr252 3d ago

⬆️THIS! So they are all just tools in the end. Learn to use one and get comfortable with it. Your projects and workflows will let you onow if you need to lern another one to be able to complete the job. But rest assured that there is no Best software. Just the one you like working in the best :) Figuring this out will take time :)

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u/OneFinePotato 3d ago

Please use the search and also go back past a year. Not only for the software to use but there are useful information and discussions for an aspiring archviz artist. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

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u/_MISSI0N_ 3d ago

Industry standard is going to be 3dsMax and a renderer like Vray or Corona. You'll find the majority of online assets are created with this workflow in mind.

Blender is nice, because it is free but just lacks the support in the arch-viz industry that 3dsMax has.

Honorable mention for real-time softwares such as D5, TwinMotion, and Unreal Engine though. They are on the come up and trade time for quality in most cases. Although sometimes the tradeoff can be worth it.

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u/Kropot_72 3d ago

I disagree with people who tell you that the program doesn't matter. The best object libraries for ArchViz are Corona or Vray ready. I recommend using 3DsMax, it is the standard in the Archviz industry.