Interoperability: Image Sequences for Easy Editing

Did you know can create and save a sequence of images from 3ds Max as a single file (AVI or MOV)?

By combining the best features from Revit and 3ds Max it is possible to edit specific frames (images) within a movie. From Revit we get the required, linked building elements with their materials, and from 3ds Max we get the ability to render a sequence of PNG files. This workflow saves us the trouble of having to re-rendering the whole movie, say after removing reflecting materials, or making other edits.

In this video tutorial, Interoperability: Image Sequencing for Easy Editing, only the first 40 images of a 900 image sequence needed to be fixed. The first sequence had a reflective paver material that took 40 minutes to render in one frame. The second, “fixed,” sequence used a matte material that took about 20 minutes to render in one frame.

First Sequence with relective paver material

Second, fixed, sequence with matte paver material

The building used for this example is a proposed prefabricated house, designed by Lt. Russell M. Amdal and featured in Art and Architecture Case Studies, 1945.

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Jim Cowan

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after University Curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has a special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.

Interoperability: Animated 3d Studio Max AEC Objects and Revit Models

Only a camera can be animated within Revit, but we often need opening doors, windows or other animated objects in a presentation. This workflow shows how we can reuse our Revit model, minus doors, plants and people, and add animatable objects from 3d Studio Max. The model we will be using as an example is a prefabricated house as proposed by Lt. Russell M. Amdal, Art and Architecture Case Studies, 1945. 

By combining the best features of both products we get, from Revit, the majority of the required building elements, and the AEC objects from within 3d Studio Max. We can use their parametric properties to animate them – such as the angled opening of the door.

This example shows a 3d Studio Max pivot door in the door opening that can be animated.

For a close-up look at this workflow, watch my video Interoperability: Animated 3d Studio Max AEC Objects and Revit Models.

Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Jim Cowan

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after University Curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has a special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.