17th August 2022 by 
Delivering bespoke 3D architectural visualisations (or ‘renders’, as they are commonly referred to) is often a time-consuming process. As time equals money, we do our best to help our clients keep those all-important minutes from clocking up.
CGI artists value anything and everything that a client can provide to them in terms of reference material. You can’t really give them too much! No matter who you’ll be sourcing your renders from, there are several essential items they’ll need in order to facilitate a smooth workflow when your project hits their inbox.
Remember your P’s & E’s: Plans and elevations for each property type
At the least, they’ll need a full set of plans and elevations (P&E’s) for each building you want visualising. If external renders are all you’re after, then architects’ drawings presenting all elevations (side views) and a plan (top view) are the must-haves. Internal plans and elevations are required for interior views, especially those showing the location of electrical points.
Often, we get sent full ‘house-packs’ that include all the basic structural information, both within and without. These comprehensive documents help us build a full and accurate representation of a given structure.
Although many CGI companies require CAD files, we simply need these assets supplied as PDF’s.
Siteplans
Siteplans are relied upon to present a property in its correct environment. There may be multiple versions of the site drawings: Those showing just the plot numbers and locations of the different house types, to those with level, planting, and surface details. Ideally, you should try to supply all of them to reduce the number of amendments at proofing stage, especially if the landscaping accuracy is of great consideration. Again, these are best supplied to us in PDF format.
Block drawings
Should certain properties be terraced or semi-detached, the P&E’s for each may differ than those shown in a ‘house-pack’ or an individual set of plans. If you have a row or group of adjoining houses, ask your architect or technical department if there are any block drawings available for these plots.
Material schedule
Other than P&E’s, the material schedule for the property (or development as a whole) is a vital resource for the visualisers working on your project. If materials used differ from plot to plot, then make sure to highlight which plots you want to show off.
Material reference
Most material schedules provide the type and colour of a feature (such as brickwork, etc.) and can include the manufacturer details for certain products. Access to the material schedule allows us to then research and collect as much reference material as possible. This is where a client can really contribute most to an efficient workflow – simply by supplying the URLs to the various products used on their project can lead to time-saving benefits and more accurate 3D models. Examples of front doors or specific external lighting choices, for example, are often provided only after a client has seen their first proof. Money is then spent fixing avoidable errors. In short, always keep in mind that the 3D folks working for you can rarely have too much information!
Specific features
Should there be any unique features or important points you wish to focus on, don’t forget to highlight them in your brief. For example, there may be things that are not shown or are contradicted by the siteplan or P&E’, such as a ramp being shown where there are in fact steps.
Conclusion
The best results, both in terms of image quality and turnaround time, come when the studio and client are working hand-in-hand. We enjoy direct communication when reviewing the work-in-progress and consider the client as part of the team.
Looking for help in producing 3D architectural visualisations for your development? We have the expertise and we would love to help you.
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