microsites>> 
|
microsites>> |
| CAD, CAM, CAE, design, technical drawing, drafting, delineation, visualization, manufacturing | ISSN 1442-2255 : <%= Date()%> - <%= Time()%> |
|
PiranesiSimon Bruce It is not often that you find the words ‘software’ and ‘fun’ being used in the same sentence. Piranesi, an exciting new rendering package finally achieves this great combination. In our quest for photorealistic 3D models in the architectural industry, we seem to have left out the all important ingredient of "artistic flair". Although the images currently being created are impressive, they can tend to be cartoon-like and sterile. My first attempt at Piranesi was on a laptop on a flight to Darwin. After a couple of hours of play, I was convinced I had missed my calling, perhaps I do have some artistic talent. On first appearance, Piranesi is similar to most 2D rendering and bitmap paint programs. However, the extended pixel file format it generates, EPIX, contains depth information (Z value), material information as well as the RGB color values. This extra information enables the determination of each pixel from the camera and allows for the recognition of geometric planes and material. Simply put, this means it is easy to retain perspective views and remain between the lines when painting finishes.
The program has three controlling locks that can either constrain the rendering process, or free it up. These can be individually or simultaneously turned on or off. The first, the plane lock, confines painting to a single plane, ignoring any overlapping brush strokes. The second, the material lock, confines painting to the pixels rendered in a particular material. The third, the color lock, restricts painting to areas sharing a common RGB.
A single uncomplicated toolbox provides access to all the necessary processes. Unlike some rendering packages I have used in the past, the toolbox is not enormous and does not require scrolling out to view all its contents. One thing that does take a little getting used to is the fact that the lock buttons remain on once depressed even when selecting another. This does make perfect sense since you may need a combination, but if you have used other paint applications you may not be accustomed to it.
A wide range of styles can be applied to the scene by the user from charcoal, to etching, to pastel, to watercolor. A variety of materials is also provided and can be applied to surfaces in a painting fashion or dropped onto a particular plain, with the perspective automatically taken care of. People and trees can be placed into a scene and are scaled proportionally as you locate them. A fog effect can be applied to draw the emphasis from certain areas to others. People can be added to a room, but by making them transparent, the focus can remain on the room. Transparent ink, highlighting edges, combinations of photorealism and the artistic touch are just a few more of the features easily applied. Piranesi is not intended to be a modeling package. It allows you to import 3D models from packages like MicroGDS, 3D Studio MAX and 3D Studio VIZ. There is a plug in for 3D Studio MAX and VIZ, available from the Informatix web site, which enables the user to save the file with an epx extension. DXF files can be converted and opened using the Vedute application included with Piranesi. The latest plugin is from Bentley Systems. Currently in beta, this plugin allows you to generatet EPIX from MicroStation/J on WIndows 98/NT. There is never enough time to play with applications as enjoyable as this, but with a little practice, it would be easy to develop a few masterpieces. In the hands of a user with any artistic ability, this could add a whole new aspect to many architectural presentations. Simon Bruce
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All rights reserved © 1996-2007 Digital Business Media Pty Ltd | home : editorial archive : contact : legal |
