Landscape designing software – A Better Visualization of Your Design

Landscape planning is a most needed step, especially for a new home. Expert designers carve out the best plan for a landscape after analyzing the views, activities and environments of the location. Traditionally, the plan is designed with pencil and paper that is not only time-taking but also ineffective for redrawing. Though it is considered to be the organic way of a design, today’s designers are looking for easy alternatives.

Professional landscape designing software applications are designed by companies to help designers add details as perfectly as they visualize.

Landscape designs on paper are more like an artistic job where designers consider and measure each detail very carefully. The downfall of such designs is nothing but a lack of efficiency. Redrawing of the designs is time-consuming, and getting a proper visualization is also very difficult.

3D landscape design software applications are growing in numbers with time. The useful applications and tools carry everything that is needed to make a proper plan for your landscape. Google SketchUp proves to be handy as it allows even beginners to design like an expert.

Drawing landscape on paper does not communicate well with the clients. The plans even fail to cut the mark due to the lack of clarity. This is why landscape designing software applications outrun the former one and make a strong place in the designing tool of the planners.

These software applications are also not free from shortfalls. Students and designers who are confident on designing in a conventional way feel uncomfortable with these tools. They need to go through an extensive training program to learn the application first before drawing a design using the tools. The applications are costly and they require a timely update.

The above-mentioned problems of 3d landscape design software are minor ones that can easily be eliminated. The benefits of these applications are countless and they bring the profit-driven result also. A better communication with the clients is established by the software application.

Advantages make you convinced that professional landscape design software application is a necessary tool for the designers. You can develop a master plan with colors and details that add a real look to your model. Editing any part of your design is not worrisome; rather it is an easily executed work by the designers.

Creating perspective photo through pencil is a hard and time-consuming job, and the end result is also not as clean as the design done by software application. You can prepare a virtual photo of your design with all meaningful aspects. Trees, flowers, sidewalks and other necessary details of landscape design are preloaded in the software application so that you can drop them in your design as per you like.

Generally, 3D designs software tools like SketchUp come up with all important things required for designing a landscape. Companies, though, go further and create applications specially designed for sketching landscape digitally. 3D images and designs take clients to the virtual landscape and give them a real-time thrill to walk through the design.

Article Source: postandcourier.com




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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com
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Demo of TGI3D plugin for sketchup

This sketchup video demonstrates the application of TGI3D plugin for sketchup. Tgi3D SU plugins support SketchUp v7.1 or higher (along with SketchUp 2016). 64-bit SketchUp versions are supported with v1.32. Tgi3D SU Plugins are also compatible with Mac OS X systems equal and higher than Mac OS X 10.5.0.

TGI3D plugin for sketchup is available in three different versions Tgi3D SU Amorph Training Edition, Tgi3D SU Amorph 30 Day Trial and Tgi3D SU Photoscan 30 Day Trial.

TGI3D plugin for sketchup contains the following features :-

o Advanced plugins for SketchUp!

o Allows the users to generate precise 3D models without any difficulty, either with or without pictures.

o These SketchUp plugins are free-form 3D modeling softwares, which allow you to create organic 3D models.

o Easy yet robust calibration method!

o Superior quality photogrammetry!

o Smooth texturing!

o Quick and effective object warping!

Link for download www.tgi3d.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Visualizer for SketchUp can generate photorealistic virtual image with a single click

Imagination Technologies has just launched Visualizer for SketchUp. This latest sketchup program facilitates the users to snap real time virtual photos of their 3D designs in SketchUp(R) with a single click.

The sketchup users can access Visualizer for SketchUp through getvisualizer.com. A free seven-day trial and a license version for $19.99 are available in getvisualizer.com.

Visualizer for SketchUp can transform any sketchup model to a photographic version. Visualizer is similar to a smartphone camera inside SketchUp. With the progression of the work, the image in the Visualizer revises in real time and produces quick visual view for the design underway. After getting the satisfactory result, the users can apply shutter button to snap a quick picture and distribute with others, present to the client for demonstration, or have an idea regarding the quality of the design.

By reproducing the pathways of light in 3D space precisely, users will be able to view shadows, delicate lighting details as well as focal depth and exposure of the virtual camera itself. With the physical dimensions and geolocation information obtained from SketchUp, the resulting picture depicts how the photograph of the model will appear in real-life.

Visualizer ascertains material properties directly from the information previously existed in the SketchUp model devoid of any modification. To manage focus and exposure, just draw an exposure and focus point just about the image and the picture revises in real-time.

Visualizer for SketchUp applies Imagination's highly powerful PowerVR Ray Tracing software for generating photorealistic images in real-time.

 

  

 

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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VUE 2014.5 brings more light to your digital nature

e-on software, just launched VUE 2014.5 xStream and Infinite for commercial application. This latest version VUE software will be useful for making natural 3D surroundings as well as performing animation & rendering.

The existing users of VUE 2014 xStream and Infinite and the users who are not under maintenance can access VUE 2014.5 version at free of cost.

Graphics professionals will be greatly benefitted with this new version as it comes with numerous advanced features. VUE Infinite functions as a separate application whereas VUE xStream compatible with 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, LightWave and Cinema4D.

VUE 2014.5 xStream and Infinite contain the following improved features:-

• Better support for Plant Factory vegetation: Noteworthy enhancements are included in VUE 2014.5 to accelerate the rendering of TPF plants involving a render-time equal to 20 times quicker (higher pre-computing of illumination on plants, superior illumination quality, etc...). The normal mapping algorithms also improved severely to make better plant rendering quality on the whole. Access greater way to TPF plant published parameters and mesh resolution in the Plant Editor. Well versed with Plant Factory 2014.5 lightweight preset technology.

• High Quality Photometric Lights: Perform real time rendering with sophisticated light colors through the high quality Photometric Light presets in VUE 2014.5. Various new presets were included which range from Carbon Arc, Sodium Vapor, Metal Halide etc...).

• Light Portals: Light Portals significantly develop the accurateness and quality of interior renders and facilitate the users to comprehend how the light will come into indoor scenes.

• Sound interoperability: VUE xStream 2014.5 is well suited with Autodesk 2015 Media & Entertainment products (3ds Max 2015, Maya 2015 and Softimage 2015), and also compatible with V-Ray 3 for 3ds Max (support V-Ray 3 for Maya is under process). Some latest Python callbacks are included for Terrains and EcoSystem management...

All registered users of VUE 2014 xStream and Infinite (no maintenance plan necessary) can avail VUE 2014.5 at free of cost. VUE 2014 Infinite and xStream owners can directly shift to VUE 2014.5 by downloading the most recent software update for their product from www.e-onsoftware.com/updates.

VUE 2014.5 xStream will be priced at $1,995 (one year maintenance included), and upgrades from VUE 11.x xStream starting at $439. VUE 2014.5 Infinite will cost at $1,495 (with one year maintenance), with upgrades from VUE 11.x Infinite starting at $359. Upgrades from VUE 10.x Infinite and VUE 10.x xStream are also obtainable.

 

 

  

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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Brief introduction of sketchfab, a web based platform to share 3d models easier

Rajib Dey - Editor-in-chief

3D modeling plays an important role in the technological advancement of the current era. France based Sketchfab make it easy for internet users to access 3D models from anywhere of the globe. Sketchupfab is a useful platform where the users will be able to upload their 3D models either through any web browser or directly from any 3D editor devoid of any plugin and distribute these models with others via leading social media platforms like Facebook, Behance, LinkedIn, Kickstarter, DeviantArt, WordPress, and other forums. The users can view as well as edit these models in web supported 3D editor and utilize the models which were uploaded earlier.

Sketchupfab is compatible with 3D Studio Max, AutoCad, Blender, Cinema4D, GrassHopper, Inventor, Maya, Minecraft, Modo, Sketchup, Solidworks, Unity and ZBrush.

Sketchfab had started its service in March 2012 and at present over 100K users consider it as a universal go-to platform for circulating 3D models through web.

Sketchupfab is providing support for a wide array of 28 formats of models. In January, it has tied up with Adobe that facilitates the users to make 3D models in Photoshop and adequately distribute their design through Sketchfab.

The users also get the ability to explore through a catalog of numerous models produced by others. Any interactive 3d model can also be implanted.

The users can access Sketchfab at free of cost but the free plan is valid for uploading 50mb at a time or applying basic tools. For unlimited usages, the users have to pay $10 per month (for individuals) or $29 per month (for businesses).

Some leading investors like Partech Ventures, Balderton Capital, Borealis Ventures, and a mass of individuals provide financial support of $2.5 million to Sketchupfab.

  

By applying Exporters plugins of sketchupfab, the users can directly upload their 3d models from inside their 3D modeling software.

The material editor can be applied to polish up the rendering of each material of any scene in real-time through Sketchfab viewer. The users can access it from the edit panel, situated at the right side of the viewer. It catalogs all your materials with the names assigned to them. Picking a material will place the camera view in center on it and choose its area on the model. All your textures are also scheduled there. The users can substitute them or upload fresh ones, and opt for a color with the color picker.

How it performs:-

Sketchfab is completely browser supported, and the users don’t have to download or set up any supplementary 3rd party software for executing any work. The users should require a browser well-suited with WebGL to get the models in their full 3D atmosphere. The users have to open a free account and upload a 3D model in 28 supported formats. The available server in sketchfab will process the file, and demonstrate it in real-time in any browser through some recognized web technologies like WebGL and HTML5. The Sketchfab 3D viewer uses the WebGL JavaScript API to present 3D models and is built with the open-source OSG.JS JavaScript library. The users will be able to include meta information and distribute their model on the web. The users can also take out the models which are already uploaded at anytime from their dashboard. The users can implant the viewer on any web page, similar to a YouTube video.

Mobile compatibility

WebGL is well-suited with the following mobile operating systems/browsers:

• Android 4.0 with Firefox beta and Google Chrome
• Blackberry default browser

For mobile phones that are not compatible with WebGL, along with iOS, the Sketchfab viewer applies a 2D fallback showing a pre-rendered 3D model with 360° view.

  

The application of Exporters:-

• Download an exporter situated on the left side of the sketchup website
• Set up it on your 3D software,
• Provide your API token (given in your Password settings),
• Export your model.

Sketchupfab provides following benefits to the users:-

• Provide secured way for displaying any work online
• Contain the features like easy distribution, magnificently comprehensible surface, intuitive navigation
• Superior in-browser 3D technology that allows the users to create great products and glimpse all the great designs
• An online 3D viewer to exhibit all the models for unlimited time

Some days ago, Sketchfab launched the second version of its 3D platform. On the updated website, the users will be capable giving comment on 3D models as well as following people to curate a newsfeed of 3D models and more. The total browsing interface was completely revamped. Categories, folders and tags are fully updated. One can look for users by locations and skills, browse content by folders or categories. The upload procedure becomes uncomplicated. Lastly, it’s a responsive website compatible with your phone, tablet or computer.

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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LightWave 11.6 and NevronMotion Final Releases Now Available

The LightWave 3D Group, a division of NewTek, Inc., has made available the final release of LightWave 11.6 software for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering. In addition, the company announced today the final release of the NevronMotion plug-in for LightWave 11.6, which uses the Microsoft Kinect camera to capture motion in real time for retargeting to 3D or live-performance characters.

NevronMotion also simplifies retargeting data from standard motion capture files directly into the LightWave interface.

LightWave 11.6 introduces new features for modeling, animating, capturing, retargeting, and inputting and outputting to 3D.

Animate in New Ways: With the Spline Control tool, nulls or other objects act as nodes in a spline to control or deform objects such as tentacles, tails, whips or even elevators; Raycast Motion utilizes raycasting technology to make an animated object aware of its surroundings;, and the Compound Node feature can simplify complex networks down to a single node.

Streamline Real-Time Virtual Production, Pre-Viz, and Game Development: Use NVIDIA CgFX shader technology to create 3D assets for virtual production, pre-visualization, or game development and view assets within LightWave OpenGL exactly as they will appear in the final real-time display engine. Users can also place Normal Maps on 3D objects to make lower-polygon objects or characters display as higher-resolution objects, and create custom CgFX shaders or use existing CgFX shaders.

Output to 3D Printers: LightWave Modeler now includes new import and export options to support the popular STL and PLY file formats. VRML is also supported and offers surface color data for 3D color printing of objects with texture maps. Also included is full control of the export format used, whether in ASCII or binary, the up direction, and units for export. New geometry clean up tools specifically for 3D printing output are also included.

Review in Full Stereoscopic 3D: With support for NVIDIA 3D Vision, 3D Vision Pro, and HDMI stereo devices, artists and designers can visualize high-quality advanced stereoscopic 3D environments across multiple devices, including enabled desktop monitors and multi-projector wall displays.

  

TheNevronMotion plug-in for LightWave 11.6 extends the software's Virtual Studio Tools to:

• Capture live-rig motion with the Microsoft Kinect camera

• Retarget motion capture directly in LightWave Layout

• Save and adjust captured motion data from the Kinect camera

• Easily adjust arm and leg mocap positions and layer hand-keyed animation on top of motion capture files

• Save and load retargeting presets for FBX, BVH, or custom setups

• Preset rigs for Kinect and motion capture formats

• Quickly bake out motion to character rigs

LightWave 11.6 is priced at $1,495 and the NevronMotion plug-in is priced at $299. Registered LightWave 11 customers can upgrade to LightWave 11.6 free of charge; upgrade pricing from LightWave 10 or earlier versions is $695. Educational pricing is also available.

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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Toolbar Editor 1.1.1 – An exclusive sketchup extension for making custom toolbars & buttons

Aerilius has developed Toolbar Editor for sketchup. This sketchup extension is compatible with SketchUp 8, SketchUp 2013, SketchUp 2014.

The plugin facilitates the sketchup users to make custom toolbars as well as buttons from any other plugin. The users can generate toolbars which have only buttons to be utilized in reality or integrate buttons from diverse plugins.

The sketchup users will be able to rapidly include new button for ruby commands and valuable code snippets devoid of transforming code into a plugin on its own.

Application:

• Menu Window → Toolbar Editor

• Select the "+" button situated at left side to generate a new toolbar. The name of the toolbar can be edited and the toolbar (“-” button) can also be eliminated.

• Drag and drop items from the list of existing buttons to the left into a toolbar panel. The users will be capable of reorganizing the buttons, shifting them into other toolbars or taking out them by placing them out to the right. After making necessary modifications, press the apply button to save. All modifications will not be reflected instantly, some only on next start of SketchUp.

• The users can sort out the list by providing some keys into the search field.

 Press the "+" button on the right for getting a new button. After that give your own Ruby commands or put  on a piece of Ruby code that is available on the forums.

The sketchup users can download it from the extension warehouse or sketchUcation forum.

 

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Esri's CityEngine eases urban planning mapmaking in 3-D

Geospatial tech leader Esri released an updated version of its CityEngine modeling software that is used to generate three-dimensional designs for planning urban environments.

The software supports decision-making surrounding civic planning and design by making it easier to model architectural plans or changes in urban settings.

The software helps create detailed large-scale 3-D city models with a few clicks of the mouse instead of the work-intensive method of object creation and manual placement, Esri said.

Using a “procedural modeling approach,” which automatically generates maps based on a predefined set of rules, planners can explore how changes in the rules or “grammars” might affect or set up new design possibilities.

The latest version, CityEngine 2013, includes a software developer kit (SDK) that enables developers to use CityEngine to create 3-D urban applications using popular 3-D design applications such as AutoDesk Maya, 3dss Max and SketchUp.

The software also has a feature that lets users rapidly import OpenStreetMap data into a project. OpenStreetMap is an open, collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world by gathering mostly free, crowdsourced data.

Another feature in the new version of CityEngine helps developers easily share their work with other users of ArcGIS, Esri’s flagship geospatial information system technology.

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Published By 

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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