3D - 2

3D Studio Max for Architectural renderings?

Hi all, hope you can guide me in the right direction. I work on Autocad doing Architectural work - house plans. I also have 3d Studio max and would like to make a 3d model of my plans , then render them (hopefully very photo-realistically), add people, sky tree etc. for the use of design and presentation BUT I dont know where to start. Is there somewhere online or somewhere where there are step by step tutorials to help me make my flat 2D plans a 3D rendered masterpiece. Come on all you 3d buffs !!! I NEED YOUR HELP !! p.s I cannot go on a course/college etc, as I work and cannot take time off (or afford it) Many thanks...have a great day

Public Comments

1. There is no quick solution to take a 2d to 3d quickly (allthough there is some ideas in development). Right now you will need to basically import your image as a background and build upon it with 3d models. 3DSMax is a HUGE app, and quite difficult. If you want to use it (will give best rendering results eventually, i recomend ordering a DVD about it on amazon, or from its site. Given you have that thousand dollar app you can afford some videos. If not, a cheaper, more basicsolution is Rhino 3D. Good luck.
2. To begin with, I'd use the tutorials that come with Max. I think that many newbies (and the experienced) fail to remember that most design programs these days come with tutorials that were written and put together by the programmers themselves. So, typically they are a great place to start for learning. For Max 8 go to Help>Tutorials. This will go far to explain the basics to you of AEC modeling techniques including the importing of CAD files into max, layer attributes, etc. I also tried out free video tutorials found on the web ( for example www.3dbuzz.com etc..)