MasterGraphics Weblog
Archives
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
Archive for the ‘Building / AEC’ Category
Successful Revit Implementation
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
By: Dwane Lindsey
MasterGraphics helped Wight and Company implement Revit and successfully complete their pilot project. Jeff Sliepka and Nick Jaworsky of Wight discuss why they chose to implement Revit and how their experience with MasterGraphics has been, which can be seen by clicking on the link below.
Someone’s been very busy…
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Autodesk has frequently pushed the frontier of it’s own software limits and it seems as of late they have out done even themselves with the recent release of three separate software packages on Autodesk Labs, their site for emerging software. What ties these three packages together is their use in design visualization in the AEC field.
The point cloud tool (http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/3dsmax_pointcloud/) allows the user to take point clouds from laser scans of an existing site and turn them into surfaces within 3ds Max. This allows you to scan in an existing building and then begin building geometry off of it. While this tool is still in its infancy, hence it is on the Labs site, it shows great power and applicability in the AEC field.
Project Photofly (http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/photo_scene_editor/) introduces the use of cloud computing for converting flat photographs of a scene into a 3 dimensional model format. This is similar to Autodesk ImageModeler and even results in an ImageModeler file (RZI extension) but promises the speed of multiple computers that you don’t need to own or maintain. This is an excellent way to build an urban landscape to house your latest building or public space in.
Neon (http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/neon/) is another cloud computing technology, it distributes the rendering of files across mulitple computers across a large network to reduce the rendering times. Currently, it is only available to render AutoCAD scenes, probably because the 3ds Max users would bombard it with so many job requests they’d crash the cloud. When complete, this may minimize the need to own a server farm, a very large expense in doing in-house rendering, while also bringing distributed rendering to AutoCAD users for the first time.
Individually, these software packages will likely be good productivity enhancers for anyone doing design visualization in the AEC envrionment. When used together, they have the potential to dramatically reduce the time to obtain quality renderings as well as decrease the level of effort to get high quality renderings.
Stephen Gabriel
Rendering in Revit 2011
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Revit has been out for a bit and I went through the courseware for our half day class to update it to the latest version. The major differences I found were in the materials, everything else is pretty much the same. If you have any other AutoCAD or Autodesk software, then you know that Autodesk has come out with a new material type, the Autodesk material. This replaces the ProMaterials from the last release so we’ll all have to get used to new naming conventions and types. All in all, the Autodesk Materials are nice. There are hundreds of useful materials with decent bitmaps attached and they are well organized and easy to browse and use. And because all software releases, including 3ds Max Design, are shipped with this same Autodesk material library, the materials will still come across to 3ds Max Design for more advanced rendering and animation.
One of the features I like most about the new Autodesk material is that we are no longer constrained to using bitmap images only for creating maps for diffuse color, reflections and bumps. The new material allows us to use procedural maps, parametrically controlled mathematically driven patterns. This means we can create maps that do not visibly tile across the image, a common problem with using bitmap images. The new maps available are Checker, Gradient, Marble, Noise, Speckle, Tiles, Waves and Wood.
The Checker map allows us to create a checkerboard effect by defining the color of the two squares and the size of the pattern.
The Gradient map blends from one color to the next but the real power of this tool is our ability to add mulitple color flags within the material and control the way the pattern is oriented and how the colors blend. The Gradient allows you to select a Type, such as Linear or Radial among many others, to set the gradient into a specific pattern. This is extremely powerful and can be used to add detail such as a proper pillow edge for tiles.
The Marble map simulates a two color veined marble material with parameters for the colors and the vein width and spacing.
The Noise map creates a random pattern shifting from one color the next with parameters for the size and colors in the map as well as the Noise type of Regular, Fractal or Turbulance. The Noise Threshold values can be used to clamp the top and bottom of the pattern, reducing the number of steps between the two selected colors. This creates sharper edges for the transition of the colors.
The Speckle map creates a pattern akin to the spray from flicking a paint brush with parameters for color and size.
The Tiles map is extremely useful for generating repetitive rectilinear patterns, such as standard tile floors, ceilings, sidewalks, and masonry walls. You can control the color, the pattern and the size of the grout lines.
The Waves map creates a series of waves originating from 1 or more points with controls over the color, the number of points generating the waves and the lengths and amplitudes of the waves.
The Wood map creates a two color grain pattern with controls for size and axial and radial noise that add variation to the grain.
The addition of these new maps greatly extends the power of the materials inside of Revit Architecture 2011, providing more professional tools for the user to more quickly match the desired appearance of a material. Give them a try the next time you are creating materials and see how quickly they become addictive.
Stephen Gabriel
Wondering About Your Graphics Hardware for Revit 2011???
Friday, June 25th, 2010
Written By: Adrianna Schneider, Senior Application Engineer
I am always being asked about what we recommend when it comes to Hardware for Revit. I still reference the Technical Note from 2010. Although the link brings you to our Revit Structure site, the Technical Note includes all three Revit platforms.
The Revit Clinic, however, has some additional information about cards and drivers, updated from the previous list. Additional tests have been performed, check out the changes!
Web Updates for Revit 2011
Friday, June 25th, 2010
Written By: Adrianna Schneider, Senior Application Engineer
They are out and ready for you to download! Please remember, on the top right hand corner of your Revit Workspace, the Communication Center provides you with updated information, including new posts on Autodesk Blogs (Inside the Factory, The Revit Clinic and The Building Coder).
For today, however, click on the following links to get the updates:
Revit Architecture 2011 Update 1
Having Revit Temporary Dimension Amnesia? Forget About It…
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
By: Kim Eicher
It’s always been nice to have these temporary dimensions around. Let’s be honest, though… They’ve been a VERY temporary tool; a frustratingly temporary, live in the moment, no turning back sort of tool. Until now…
With Revit 2011, FINALLY these dimensions know their place in the project. Set them once and don’t worry about them getting lost.
This tool has definitely come out of its state of amnesia, once and for all!
AutoCAD MEP 2010 Service Pack 2
Monday, May 17th, 2010
By: Dwane Lindsey
On May 13, 2010, Autodesk released an update for AutoCAD MEP 2010. This service pack/update 2 can be installed even if you don’t have service pack 1 installed as it includes the SP1’s updates.
You can apply Update 2 to AutoCAD MEP 2010 running on all supported operating systems and languages. Be sure to install the correct update for your operating system (32bit or 64bit).
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=15135406&linkID=9240938
AutoCAD Architecture 2010 Service Pack 2
Monday, May 17th, 2010
By: Dwane Lindsey
On May 13, 2010, Autodesk released an update for AutoCAD Architecture 2010. This service pack/update 2 can be installed even if you don’t have service pack 1 installed as it includes the SP1’s updates.
You can apply Update 2 to AutoCAD Architecture 2010 running on all supported operating systems and languages. Be sure to install the correct update for your operating system (32bit or 64bit).
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=15135553&linkID=9240658
Subscription Clients - Autodesk 2011 Software Via Download
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
For current Autodesk subscription clients the Autodesk 2011 products primary delivery mechanism is via a download. By downloading the software you will be able to receive the software quicker than waiting for a box of software. Your Software Coordinator will receive an email as soon as their serial number has been upgraded after the release of the 2011 product. The email, is sent from Download@autodesksubscription.com, contains the customer’s serial number and the product key, which is needed for installation. Please remind your customers to check their junk/spam folders for mail coming from Download@autodesksubscription.com because the emails sometimes end up there.
If you prefer to receive the software in a box your Software Coordinator can log into www.autodesk.com/subscription and change the delivery preference in your Subscription Center profile to “box.”
Enjoy the new software.
Join the MasterGraphics Team!
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Sales Representative – Manufacturing Software and Services
MasterGraphics is looking for a high energy, high activity consultative Sales Representative to help grow our business within the manufacturing community. Celebrating our 60th anniversary this year, MasterGraphics is a well-established, solid organization with a number of untapped business opportunities.
You will be networking in to clients with design data needs, helping them to enhance their design process with Autodesk®’s suite of industry-leading CAD and digital prototyping tools. As a Premier Service Provider for Autodesk, MasterGraphics is authorized to provide not only the software but the installation, training and business consulting services that manufacturing organizations need to stay on top of their game. Our set of software and services positions both the customer and you for success.
This position will cover a territory that includes Madison and a radius north, west and south. It will roughly cover Rockford, IL up to Black River Falls and over into Iowa. The position will be based at our Madison headquarters.
Click here to learn more about this position and the benefits of joining the MasterGraphics Team
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- tony on Roundabout Layouts: A True Story
- Rich on Import AutoCAD Blocks into Inventor DWG Drawing
- Darren Hartenstine - MasterGraphics on Is Your Autodesk Vault Safe?
- Robert on Is Your Autodesk Vault Safe?
- Tony on The Thing About Geo-referenced Images…