2D or not 2D

Signing off...

2011-04-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

For those who have been a loyal reader, thank you - whoever you might be. I've been mulling around the idea of a new blog and finally settled on a name - "Adventures in the World of BIM". For the very small percentage of you out there that don't know what BIM is, it's short for Building Information Modeling. Check out my first post!

This blog will stay as it is since there are a few good posts from over the years which I still reference from time to time.

3d Models in a Web Browser

2011-04-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Why should you care about loading 3d models into a web browser? Think about this scenario:

A property management company has invested the time and money to get all their buildings into a BIM and now want to manipulate that at each respective location for FM. We all know how big these files get and the hardware required to handle the data is expensive. What about the property owner running (or outsourcing) their own data center to house all the models with sufficient hardware to navigate and manipulate said models and then letting the FM person for each location access the BIM through a web browser at their site?

Or, you want to enable a client to review certain aspects of a project but they don't have the software/hardware to access the project you've developed in BIM? Simply have them navigate to a web page where they can see what you need them to.

Granted the technology is in it's infancy, but I for one would tend to agree with Tom's statement at Inside the Factory that this is a turning point for 3d on the web.

In an echo of a recent post from Inside the Factory, you should check out 3d in your web browser if you haven't yet. It will WOW you...

P.S. - you need firefox 4.x to see this easily, otherwise Tom lists other options for doing so. Now, If I can just help my co-worker print from Excel, we can say the future is here!

New Autodesk 2012 products are downloading at browser near you!

2011-04-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

I found that the blog, "What Revit Wants" has posted the download links to get all 3 flavors of Revit, NOW.
Revit 2012 download via What Revit Wants

I also noticed in my subscription center that 3ds Max 2012 and 3ds MAX Design 2012 are available now...

For those excited about such things, AutoCAD products have been out for a while now. Meh.

Edit:
Apparently, people have been so excited to download their new software, the site has crashed both Subscription center and the download links - try again later today maybe...

What's new in Revit 2012 by Scott Davis of Autodesk

2011-03-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

The What's new session for Revit 2012 that was presented at BUGIE was recorded and is in the process of uploading to Vimeo. When finished you can view the video here: Vimeo link

Which graphics card do I pick?

2011-03-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

I've heard this so often (again last night at a Revit user group) that I think it finally got through to Autodesk. They have finally launched a new page which will help you find the right card for multiple scenarios!
http://www.autodesk.com/graphics-hardware

RTC 2011 Conference open for Registration

2011-03-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

Echoing Steve Stafford's blog post, RTC 2011 registration is open! I plan to be there -are you planning to be there?

Autodesk Media Webcast Part II

2011-03-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

3ds Max 2012 delivers a new accelerated graphics core, mRigids for dynamic rigid-body simulations in the viewport and sculpting and painting enhancements. Also added is a new viewport technology called Nitrous which adds real-time viewport shade modes that some would call "Sketchup-ish". The great thing about this new feature is it can also render out images with this shade mode active. Now you have have one more reason to convince your designers to move from Sketchup to 3ds Max.

Autodesk Media Webcast

2011-03-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

Watching the Autodesk Media Webcast and they are showcasing the new 2012 Autodesk products. The biggest news is the Building Design Suites. The basae software included is AutoCAD 2012, AutoCAD Architecture 2012, AutoCAD MEP 2012, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2012, Autodesk Showcase 2012 and Autodesk SketchBook Designer 2012. The Premium edition adds Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012, Autodesk Revit MEP 2012, Autodesk Revit Structure 2012 and Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012. The Ultimate edition adds Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2012, Autodesk Quantity Takeoff 2012 and Autodesk Inventor 2012.

Additional AEC software-specific updates include:

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012 enables users to create material appearance libraries to help standardize materials across projects and improve collaboration within the project team. Visualization enhancements give users the ability to display edges with more realistic views and shadows in consistent colors mode.
Autodesk Revit Structure 2012 offers analytical model enhancements to help users create and manage the structural analytical model, enabling greater control and better consistency with the structural physical model. Reinforcement enhancements help users more easily define and visualize concrete reinforcement.
Autodesk Revit MEP 2012 now enables users create custom systems, assign systems to ducts/pipes without requiring them to be connected to equipment, assign color and linetype by system without filters, as well as see total electrical load, air flow or pipe flow at any point within the system. New placeholders give users the ability to create conceptual level single line ducts and pipes early in the design process, and later convert them to 3D geometry.
Autodesk Navisworks 2012 accelerates BIM project review through integration, analysis, and communication enhancements. File interoperability improvements help boost productivity by supporting workflows between the latest enhancements in Autodesk Revit products and third-party applications. New user interface and API (application programming interface) for the Timeliner tool provide greater control and flexibility when working with 4D simulations. New multi-sheet 2D DWF support enables users to open, review and explore 2D data sets alongside 3D models.
The 2012 AutoCAD Family adds a more robust set of 3D modeling tools that enable improved surfacing and conceptual design functionality, expanded point cloud support and direct access to the AutoCAD WS application via the AutoCAD user interface to enable users to view, edit and share DWG drawings through a web browser or mobile device. Other enhancements provide faster start times, faster commands and overall improved product performance, and a premium graphics and visual experience. Product specific updates include:
AutoCAD Architecture 2012 now offers faster startup and drawing load times for more immediate access to tools and large drawing navigation. A new corner windows capability makes it easy to add a single window in the corner intersection of two walls.
AutoCAD MEP 2012 offers enhanced native productivity and utilities tools that make it easier to access dynamic and interactive 3D modeling for building system design. New Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) support from within AutoCAD MEP helps users manage and share data with others throughout the design process.
AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2012 now offers the ability to display solid objects on structural drawings that include items typically supported by a steel structure. Users now also have the ability to present reinforcement and reinforced concrete element geometry in 3D views.

Edit: Autodesk also claims to have "One-click" install for these suites and will deliver the entire suite on a USB drive. Hmm... We'll have to wait and see on this one.

Finally - Confirmation on Revit usage of Video Memory

2011-03-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

As I have suspected, Revit 2011 does indeed use the memory on the video card for realistic views.

Inside the Factory

3ds MAX Design 2012 new feature videos are out!

2011-03-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

A press release from Autodesk today featured the new Digital Entertainment Creation products for their 2012 line of products!

Check out what we can do now with 3ds MAX 2012!

dendritic recursion rendered as a tree

2011-02-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Say What!?!? Try that 10x faster... I've been following with great interest Zach's exploration of using Revit to produce parametric patterns as established in the Elements of Parametric Design. So far he has been able to demonstrate 11 out of the 14 - pretty awesome so far. The latest post I found particularly fascinating.

Recursive Patterns

Vasari 1.1

2011-02-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

So by now, I've seen close to a dozen different blog post saying hey Vasari 1.1 is out. Yup, we know its out...

So, confirming what I thought on the Friday prior to this post, I was correct in seeing Vasari include Nucleus technology in it.

Go. get. it. now.

Vasari 1.1

Physics Simulation in Revit

2011-02-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

WOAH!

Looks like I caught this early! Labs just released a plugin that gives one the ability to run physics simulations right inside Revit.

Looks like this might be tied to an update on Vasari too. The pending update to vasari will include more than just physics sim - interactive wind rose and solar radiation studies now run live in the model!

AUGI forums

2011-01-10T09:44:00.001-08:00

If you have been accustomed to the AUGI forums, you may have encountered a dissapointment back in December when the forum data was suddenly offline. I won't get into details of that as that has already been covered in depth. However, much to my delight, the original forums are now back online with the wealth of data that has accumulated over the past 5 plus years. Thank goodness!

www.augi.com

Design Review Workflow for Comparing Changes on Sheets

2010-12-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

Ever receive an updated package of design files and wonder if there is an easy way to convey what changed? Using the compare tool in Design Review 2011 you can do just that. This video shows a process using Revit Architecture to create DWF files, then opening them in Design Review to compare what has changed.
Hosted on Vimeo:

Design Review Workflow for Comparing Changes on Sheets from Steve Bennett on Vimeo.

Hosted on YouTube:

Signing out from AU...

2010-12-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

Until next time...

It gets longer every year...

2010-12-02T18:41:00.000-08:00

I only saw one person with a longer list of ribbons, Mr. Bill Adams.

Autodesk Inventor Software Used to Design First 3D Printed Car

2010-12-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Autodesk, Inc. Helps Drive Sustainable Design for KOR EcoLogic’s Urbee;
Green Car Gets 200 MPG

LAS VEGAS, Autodesk University, Dec. 2, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced today that KOR EcoLogic used Autodesk’s software solution for Digital Prototyping to design the first prototype car with a body created using a 3D printer. The KOR EcoLogic Urbee car gets up to 200 miles per gallon (MPG) and uses a hybrid electric/gasoline engine.

The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program — which provides design and engineering software for emerging clean tech companies in North America and Europe — enabled KOR EcoLogic to design and test the Urbee using Autodesk tools, including Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Showcase, and Autodesk Alias Design software.

“The Urbee was designed from the ground up to be as efficient as possible, and to run on renewable energy,” said Jim Kor, president and chief technology officer of KOR EcoLogic. “From concept through rendering, Autodesk software helped us not only build an efficient and sustainable car, but also communicate our designs to a broader audience, including potential investors.”

Using Autodesk partner Stratasys’ digital manufacturing service, Urbee is the first car to have its entire body 3D printed with an additive process.

Sustainability Central to Urbee’s Design

The KOR EcoLogic team began by developing a set of core principles and pinning them to their workshop wall. Among them, the Urbee was designed to use minimal energy and produce less pollution during its design, manufacturing, operation and recycling stages, while remaining affordable and visually appealing.

The Urbee can be charged through a standard home outlet, or through a home solar array, windmill or conventional energy source, running on as little as 1 cent of energy per mile travelled.

“Startup clean tech companies need technology enabling them to create professional, fully realized and tested designs, while benefiting from visually stunning imagery of their products,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Autodesk Manufacturing Industry Group. “KOR EcoLogic is a great example of the combined power of Digital Prototyping and sustainable design.”

The Urbee team used Autodesk Inventor software to design a 3D digital prototype of the car’s body and subject it to simulated road and wind conditions, test different body designs to minimize drag and reduce overall weight by eliminating excess parts. More than 80 percent of a product’s environmental impact can be determined during the design phase, making Inventor a critical component in establishing the Urbee’s high level of environmental responsibility. KOR EcoLogic used Autodesk Showcase 3D visualization software to create photorealistic renderings of the Urbee for marketing to potential investors, partners and the general public.

The Urbee was a contender for the 2010 Automotive X Prize, which challenges teams to design, build and race super-efficient, low-emission vehicles that can be manufactured for the mass market.

About the Clean Tech Partner Program

The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program supports early-stage clean technology companies by providing design and engineering software that accelerates their development of solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Clean tech companies in North America and Europe who can benefit from Autodesk solutions for Digital Prototyping are invited to apply to receive up to $150,000* worth of software for only $50. Access to a collection of Autodesk software applications includes up to five licenses of AutoCAD Inventor Professional Suite, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Vault Professional, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Alias Design, Autodesk Algor Simulation and Autodesk Inventor Publisher software. For additional information, visit www.autodesk.com/cleantech.

AUGI Beer Bash

2010-12-01T19:25:00.001-08:00

Apparently the blue man group was unavailable for this years entertainment...

dv327-2 Linear color workflow and gamma correction

2010-12-01T16:02:00.001-08:00

A great class from Pierre on gamma correction, what it is and when you need to apply it in 3ds max.

All kinds of goodness so far today

2010-12-01T13:51:00.001-08:00

So far I've gotten invited to be a part of a beta program, invited to another class, invited to a private event, asked to be interviewed for Autodesk subscription and asked to participate in a customer success story. How can this get any better?

AC322-4L - AutoCAD® for Mac®—Finally!

2010-12-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

Yeah baby! AutoCAD for Mac yo! Great session from Shaun covering basics of AutoCAD for Mac as well as limitations and hopes for future changes.

AC322-4L - AutoCAD® for Mac®—Finally!

2010-12-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Eat your hearts out Mac lovers! There's enough Mac power in here to put an apple store to shame. Really looking forward to this session.

DV319-2 - Four Flavors of Visualization with Revit Architecture, 3ds Max Design, Impression, and Navisworks

2010-12-01T10:00:00.001-08:00

Great class for those looking to get into visualization on their projects.

DV316-2 - Visual Communication Strategy and Research

2010-12-01T09:36:00.001-08:00

Boy oh boy was this a great class! Iray, fbx and more! There is some really promising things Autodesk is working towards to get data flowing between their applications. Whether you are looking to analyze human interaction in crowds or bring a design from inventor into 3ds max WITH pre-established constraints from inventor, things are starting to shape up for easier data transfer.

Autodesk Announces Factory Layout Optimization for AutoCAD

2010-12-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

New Technology Preview on Autodesk Labs Enhances Efficiency by Providing Real-Time Feedback on Factory Layouts

What’s the News: Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, today announced the availability of Factory Layout Optimization for AutoCAD software, a new free* technology preview available on Autodesk Labs enabling industrial engineers and layout designers to devise more efficient factory layouts for material handling. The AutoCAD plug-in helps manufacturers adopt leaner manufacturing methods, decreasing waste and improving overall factory efficiency.

What is Factory Layout Optimization for AutoCAD: The Factory Layout Optimization utility enables industrial engineers and factory layout designers to take existing 2D layouts created using AutoCAD and define the material flow paths and stations inside the factory. The new technology provides real-time feedback on optimizing layout from a material handling standpoint, enabling more precise evaluation of multiple layout scenarios earlier in the design process. The Technology Preview can be applied to new or existing 2D layout designs in AutoCAD 2011, AutoCAD Architecture 2011, AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 and Autodesk Factory Design Suite 2011.

“This technology is an exciting addition to our factory design software capabilities,” said Scott Reese, senior director, Autodesk Manufacturing Industry Group. “The Factory Layout Optimization utility will enable our many factory customers to eliminate the guesswork from factory layout and have greater confidence in their decisions.”

Availability: Factory Layout Optimization for AutoCAD will be available on Autodesk Labs for a limited time. Factory Layout Optimization for AutoCAD is compatible with AutoCAD 2011, AutoCAD Architecture 2011,AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 and Autodesk Factory Design Suite 2011 software; both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The user interface for Factory Layout Optimization for AutoCAD is in English, but the technology preview is compatible with non-English versions of the supported applications.

Autodesk Software Helps Enable Cost-Effective Electric Bike Design at Pi Mobility

2010-12-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

Digital Prototyping Puts Clean Tech Company on Path to Profitability While It Produces a Green Transportation Alternative

LAS VEGAS, Autodesk University, Dec. 1, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) has named Pi Mobility as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for December for using Autodesk software to more efficiently design the Pi Cycle, a new generation of sturdy, long-lasting electric bicycles.

In the early stages of design, Pi Mobility used Autodesk Inventor software to produce a 3D digital prototype of the Pi Cycle that showed that by increasing the diameter of the bike’s tube by a half an inch, the company could immediately save $335,000. Extrapolated over several years, this discovery translates into seven figures worth of cost savings — a discovery that puts Pi Mobility on track to achieve profitability a full year ahead of schedule.

“We can form a tube in about 30 seconds, and with the help of Autodesk software, changes to the design can be embedded very quickly,” said Marcus Hays, CEO of Pi Mobility. “Our manufacturing method offers very rapid scale at very competitive prices, but it also reduces the required labor to a fraction of more traditional electric bikes.”

The Pi Cycle’s single, arched tube of recycled aluminum is the key to its strength, providing a frame that eliminates the need to cobble together multiple plastic components that are prone to breakage. In addition to giving the Pi Cycle an iconic and instantly recognizable shape, the arch provides a durability that ensures the bike will last over the long haul — helping increase the viability of electric bikes as a sustainable transportation option.

The Pi Cycle has a miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) of roughly 1,250 miles, which makes its unique hybrid of human and electric power 20 to 30 times more efficient than a conventional car or motorcycle running on fossil fuel. In addition, the recycled aluminum tube that makes up its frame requires just one-thirteenth the amount of electricity to produce when compared to virgin aluminum, further reducing environmental impact.

Digital Prototyping Optimizes Design Process

Pi Mobility is also a member of the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program, which provides software for emerging clean tech companies in North America and Europe. The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping — including Autodesk Vault, Autodesk Alias Design, and Autodesk Showcase, as well as Inventor — helped the company to rapidly explore different materials and iteration choices to optimize the design of the Pi Cycle.

Thanks to the less labor-intensive design and associated cost savings of the single tube, the company is able to maintain high-quality production of its Pi Cycles in the United States — rather than sending the work overseas, where most electric bikes are produced — and still be profitable.

“Clean tech companies like Pi Mobility need to take a great idea and make it a reality—quickly and cost effectively,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. “With Digital Prototyping, they can do just that: save time and money, build better products, and beat the competition to market.”

About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program

Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the users of Autodesk Inventor software, which takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.

About the Clean Tech Partner Program

The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program supports early-stage clean technology companies by providing design and engineering software that accelerates their development of solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Clean tech companies in North America and Europe who can benefit from Autodesk solutions for Digital Prototyping are invited to apply to receive up to $150,000* worth of software for only $50. Access to a collection of Autodesk industry-leading software applications includes up to five licenses of AutoCAD Inventor Professional Suite, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Vault Professional, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Alias Design, Autodesk Algor Simulation and Autodesk Inventor Publisher software. For additional information, visit

http://www.autodesk.com/cleantech.

About Pi Mobility

Headquartered in Sausalito, California, Pi Mobility has been developing electric bicycles since 2000, providing an earth-friendly mode of personal mobility that reduces dependence on automobiles. For additional information, visit http://pimobility.com.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries ¾ including the last 15 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects ¾ use Autodesk software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

An interview with Pi Mobility is available on the Autodesk YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU-CRpyQpec.

Autodesk Announces Rendering Revolution Contest Winners at Autodesk University

2010-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

International Competition Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Autodesk 3ds Max Software and Advancements in GPU-Accelerated Rendering

LAS VEGAS, Autodesk University, Dec. 1, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc., announced the winners of the Rendering Revolution contest — a still-image architectural visualization competition hosted by CGarchitect.com. The winning entry, submitted by Chinese artist Qingfeng Chen, shows an artistic rendering of the 3ds Max 20th anniversary logo.* The image was inspired by a diverse pile of steel pipes Chen noticed on a construction site. Second- and third-place prizes went to German artist Benjamin Brosdau and Italian artist Dionissios Tsangaropoulos, respectively. View the winning entries at gpu.cgarchitect.com/gpu-competition-winners.

Sponsored by Autodesk, along with the support of NVIDIA, the Rendering Revolution contest was held in celebration of Autodesk 3ds Max software’s 20th anniversary and recent advancements in GPU-accelerated rendering solutions. The term “Rendering Revolution” describes the broad changes taking place in rendering as GPU-based computing power brings revolutionary workflows, speed and performance capabilities to many aspects of the rendering process.

“We have reached a point where artists can scale their rendering resources according to deadlines and other requirements. This will help artists and designers to explore ideas in a way that has never before been possible,” said Ken Pimentel, Autodesk director of product management, visual communication. “The submissions we received for this contest showcase what can be done with new rendering technologies, such as QuickSilver, iray and V-Ray RT. Congratulations to Qingfeng Chen and all our finalists on their exceptional work.”

Chen, Brosdau and Tsangaropoulos will each receive a license of the Autodesk Design Suite Premium 2011 software and NVIDIA Quadro cards. As first-place winner, Chen elected to receive a cash prize, which he will put towards his up-coming wedding, instead of the trip for two to Autodesk University.

Submissions were judged for artistic merit and originality by a distinguished panel of industry judges: Matthew Bannister (dbox), Jules Cocke (Squint/Opera), Lon Grohs (Neoscape), Torgeir Holm (Netron/VRAY.info), Alex Morris (Alex Morris Visualisation), Ximo Peris (Crystal CG) and Michiel Quist (3idee).

About the Contest Winners

First-place winner Qingfeng Chen is the founder of chen3d company, based in Xiamen, China. He has been using 3ds Max software for nine years to produce animations, still renderings and computer-generated artwork. He is a graduate of Xiamen University of Technology where he majored in Architecture Structure, which has contributed to his success as a 3D artist and visualization specialist. His winning entry was created using 3ds Max software and the V-Ray RT renderer.

Second-place winner Benjamin Brosdau is a self-taught 3D artist who has been using 3ds Max software for more than 10 years. Based in Berlin, Germany, Brosdau is technical director for shading and lighting at purerender GmbH. His museum-inspired winning submission was created with 3ds Max software and mental images’ iray renderer. The iray renderer is now available to current 3ds Max Autodesk Subscription members, as part of the Advantage Pack for 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design 2011.

Third-place winner Dionissios Tsangaropoulos is founder and CEO of Delta Tracing Srl, with offices in Treviso and Marcon, Italy. He has been using 3ds Max for more than 15 years and shares his experience through his work for TechData as a 3ds Max product specialist. His winning entry was created with 3ds Max and iray.

International Reception and Exhibit Hall Opening

2010-11-30T21:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I have to say I was really happy with the exhibit hall this year - made some great contacts and managed to see some acquaintances I haven't seen for some time. Good times indeed.

AutoCAD & M&E Keynote vs ME234-1P - Visual Qualitative Energy and Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

2010-11-30T21:46:00.000-08:00

I was really torn between attending a class vs the keynote. REALLY glad I choose the keynote. 15-20 preview of Tron Legacy was shown complete with Dolby Digital 3D glasses and earth shattering sound. Sooooo sweet and now can hardly wait to see it on IMAX 3D!!!! They really tie in nicely as a sequel too. Viewing of the original is a must in my opinion. Check out the attached Tron Legacy sneak peak photo - isn't the 3D just spectacular?!?! I really liked how they made the depth perception go INTO the depth of the screen instead jumping out at you. It made it feel like you were looking through a window or portal instead of something being thrown at you.

DV231-1 - Combine 3D Models with Live Footage Using 3D Tracking Techniques

2010-11-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

Yet another stellar class by Louis Marcoux - I really love his classes as he really plows through in 3 distinct parts and leaves a lot of the picks/clicks for the handouts and finishes with a bang every time.

BO228-1 - Strategic Planning 101: The Basic Tools for Success

2010-11-30T21:43:00.000-08:00

Great tips on building your next strategic plan or refining an existing one.

Autodesk Updates AutoCAD WS with Support for Offline Editing

2010-11-30T12:01:00.001-08:00

Mobile Application Offers Viewing and Editing of DWG Files without Data Connection; Mobile App Downloads Pass 500,000

LAS VEGAS, Autodesk University, Nov. 30, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced updates to AutoCAD WS, a free* web application that uses cloud computing to enable AutoCAD software users to view, edit and share their AutoCAD designs and DWG files through web browsers and mobile devices. The updated mobile application, which will soon to be available through the App Store, helps to significantly increase usability and functionality in AutoCAD WS by making designs accessible even when users are not connected to the Internet, and offers support for opening email attachments directly into AutoCAD WS.

“AutoCAD WS has been overwhelmingly embraced by users,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Autodesk Platform Solutions and Emerging Business. “In just eight weeks, over 410,000 users have registered, 430,000 drawings have been uploaded and the mobile application has been downloaded from Apple’s App Store over 560,000 times. With the update to AutoCAD WS, we are directly responding to user feedback. We have added requested features, including the ability to access designs while offline. This will encourage even more designers to start using this free* and groundbreaking product.”

AutoCAD WS facilitates true anytime, anywhere design by connecting AutoCAD users across the globe through an online workspace that is accessible directly from their AutoCAD desktop software or on iOS devices, including Apple iPhone and iPad. The 1.1 version of the AutoCAD WS mobile application will expand design accessibility through features that include:

· Offline support: Most requested from existing AutoCAD WS users, designs can now be viewed and edited from mobile devices, without the need for Internet connectivity.

· Direct file uploads from an iPad: Users can now open an email attachment and upload it to their AutoCAD WS account directly from their device.

· Simplified gesture interface: Editing, drawing and markup has been enhanced to be more intuitive and similar to AutoCAD.

Availability

Version 1.1 of the free* AutoCAD WS mobile application for iPad, iPhone or iPod touch will soon be available on the App Store. Users of AutoCAD products including 2010 and 2011 versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT software can download a free plug-in to upload and open files stored in AutoCAD WS accounts directly from their desktop. For more information or to download the plug-in visit www.autocadws.com.

About Autodesk

DV223-1 - Project Management Basics: How to Manage a Design Visualization Project

2010-11-30T11:53:00.001-08:00

Great design vis project management insights from Parsons Brinckerhoff!

AB220-11L - Welcome to Family Counseling

2010-11-30T11:21:00.001-08:00

Donnia ran a great class today on family counseling and was able to team up at lab station with a high school teacher learning Revit for his school.

The crowd...

2010-11-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

Seems everyone wanted to go to class at the same time!

Mars Rover Replica

2010-11-30T09:40:00.001-08:00

Yup, that's right - they have a full scale Mars Rover replica on display...

Exhibit Hall Setup

2010-11-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

The exhibit hall setup is going along nicely. Helped get the AUGI booth ready for the opening tonight. The nVidia booth is looking real nice too.

Autodesk Homestyler Updated With Cloud-Based Near Photo-Quality Rendering Feature

2010-11-30T00:02:00.001-08:00

What’s the News: Autodesk, Inc., a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, has updated Autodesk Homestyler, free* online software for 2D and 3D home design and remodeling projects. With the new Snapshot feature , users can create high-resolution, near photo-quality images of any home interior design project created in Homestyler. In addition, a new toolbar that helps speed access to top design and sharing features has been added to Homestyler and the catalog of content has been increased to over 20,000 branded and generic building elements.

What Are the Benefits: The Snapshots feature makes high-resolution renderings available to novice designers without the need for any special training or additional computer hardware. The images produced by Snapshots will provide realistic details, such as lighting, textures, and perspective, allowing users to experience their designs as if they’re standing right in the room. Snapshots are created using cloud computing technology currently in technology preview on Autodesk Labs. The renderings are delivered within minutes and can easily be shared with friends, family, or professional designers.

“One of the most challenging aspects of undertaking any home remodeling or decorating project is envisioning the finished project. The high-resolution renderings generated by Snapshots takes Homestyler’s visualization capabilities to the next level,” said Patrick Aragon, Autodesk Homestyler Product Manager. “We are excited to be able to provide these professional tools to everyday homeowners and home renovators, helping them have confidence in their design decisions before moving ahead with any project. The new feature also demonstrates how Autodesk is using its cloud computing resources to help users make high-end design technology accessible through a variety of channels.”

When & Where: The Snapshot feature, catalog search and browse performance improvements, additional content, enhanced sharing and social capabilities, and new toolbar are now available on Autodesk Homestyler (http://www.homestyler.com/.)

To read more news and information about Autodesk, visit the Autodesk News Room.

It's coming...

2010-11-29T22:30:00.000-08:00

It's real and it's coming to a southern California town next year... More info to come!

Excellent first day at AU 2010

2010-11-29T22:17:00.000-08:00

So far, I have been very pleased with the event on the first day. So far, I have tried to be in 4 places at once and was sort of successful.

Design Technology Management Conference
AUGI Volunteer gathering
Focus Group for CAD Managers and Web Services
Autodesk Blogger Social
Autodesk AEC Mixer

I have to say I was very happy to meet some new faces (well sort of new since I knew them virtually but not in person) as well as see some acquaintances I haven't seen for a while. Great to reconnect and looking forward to seeing more new faces and familiar ones as well.

They knew I was attending...

2010-11-29T21:28:00.001-08:00

Evidently the Mandalay Bay staff was informed of my power consumption requirements prior to my arrival...

Look who I met!!!

2010-11-29T20:07:00.000-08:00

Yup that's right. His business card is just like his license plate and blog!

Autodesk blogger social

2010-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

My sincere thanks go to Autodesk for hosting this event for those of us blogging about Autodesk products!

Vasari

2010-11-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

So quite a few of my colleagues have posted that Project Vasari is now live on the labs. Yay! I'm really glad to see this released. Over the past few days I've tried a few things out just to test out some of my own questions. Here are a few key take aways I've found.

Yes you can open files saved from Vasari, in Revit.
Yes, you can open files saved from the full version of Revit, in Vasari.
What you can do with the file from the full version of Revit in Vasari is somewhat limited. Also, if the project is not modeled properly, the energy analysis portion of Vasari will not function properly.
From what I've been able to discern, there is no difference between the massing functionality of the full version of Revit and what is found in Vasari.
If you have Revit and are on subscription, you already have the energy modeling tools found in Vasari available to you via the new conceptual modeling package. However, Vasari does have the sun radiance tool to analyze surfaces whereas Revit does not.
If you already have and use both Revit and Ecotect in your workflow, Vasari is probably not for you.

However, don't let this stop you from getting into Vasari and exploring it. If you use Sketchup or Rhino to explore forms, find yourself wishing you had energy analysis tools in your workflow and eventually do stuff in Revit, give Vasari a look!

Workflow Using Revit Server with Project Bluestreak Desktop App and the Revit Activity Stream App

2010-11-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

So much of this technology is so new I've been left trying to figure out how it all works together. Well, I think I finally have a clearer picture. Here is how I see the whole scenario playing out between the latest releases from Autodesk consisting of Revit Server, Project Bluestreak Desktop App and the Revit Activity Stream App. Plenty of people have blogged about how to setup Revit Server and connect to Revit Server, etc. but what I've been wanting to see is a workflow showing these 3 tools work together. Here goes the following where a designer goes to work on a model that has been setup by his BIM Administrator:
Assumptions

A Revit Server has been setup (This link will only work if signed into subscription center)
Your computer has Revit 2011, Web Update 2 installed
Your computer has the Revit Server Extension - Application Extension installed (This link will only work if signed into subscription center)
You have signed up for Project Bluestreak
You have installed the Autodesk Bluestreak Desktop App
You have installed the Autodesk Revit Activity Stream App

After opening Revit, go to the Collaborate tab and expand the Synchronize panel, then click "Connect to Revit Server".

Enter your Revit Server Name or the IP address of your Revit Server.

Now that you are connected to a server, Go to the purple R (Revit application menu) and choose open, then click the shortcut on the left hand side called Revit Server. Browse to where your project lives in the Revit Server environment and open it with the option selected to create a new local file.

As the designer works, they might get a request to STC and relinquish all borrowed elements. They will go to Sync w/ Central box as before, only now the directory path and browse button will be grayed out (a result of opening a model from Revit Server). The only thing to do now is click OK.

If this is the first time the designer has worked on the file, they will get the following box to appear. They have several options here. If the BIM Administrator has already created a group, the designer can select it from the list. If no group has been created the designer has the option to create one. Or they can choose not now or specify they do not have access to the group. If you choose one of the first 2 options the model will become associated with the group for future saves and this box will not appear. AUTO-MAGIC!

Once you choose an option and click OK on the above shown box, you will get a pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen like this.

Followed by a confirmation showing the process is done and what happened.

Provided others are part of this group, they will see the same notifications. Also, now you will start to see where the add-in "Manage Sharing" comes into play.

Clicking the button shown in the prior image will take you to your bluestreak account page and now you will see a new tab appear for managing what Revit projects you are receiving notifications for.

Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what to expect when getting this process started.

Exactly why you should run sun studies...

2010-09-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

Vdara's Death Ray

BIM - How would you define it?

2010-09-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day on how I would define BIM to someone. McGraw Hill defined it in their recently released Smart Market report on Green BIM. It defined BIM as follows:
BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. As such, it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility and forms a reliable basis for decisions during its lifecycle, from inception onward. BIM also refers broadly to the creation and use of digital models and related collaborative processes between companies to leverage the value of the models.

Wow. That’s a mouthful. In short, it’s a great way to communicate between team members and external trades!

So, how would you define it? Do you feel that is an accurate definition?

3ds Max Design class

2010-08-16T10:17:00.001-07:00

One of the students in my class today is blogging his notes live from class. Check them out at the end of the day for a civil perspective on 3ds Max!
http://blog.civil3dreminders.com/

Certifications are in!

2010-08-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well, Autodesk has approved me as a Certified Professional in AutoCAD, Revit Architecture and 3ds MAX Design, in addition to my existing certified expert status with AutoCAD Architecture. It's nice to have this under my belt after the tests they put you through!

Old School

2010-07-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

So, in running an AutoCAD class today, from what I can tell, Autodesk has changed a DEFAULT in how the hatch command works. I know what you are thinking, change a default??? From what I observed, it would appear that hatches now default to Outer Island Detection and no longer defaults to Normal Island Detection as the out of the box setting. Really??? After all these long years of updates they finally changed a default? Can someone else who didn't migrate previous settings confirm this?

Finally. An officially published list of Supported and Recommended Graphics Cards for use with Revit

2010-07-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

In my last post about choosing the appropriate hardware for your next Autodesk product you are thinking about upgrading to, I mentioned how they don't get into graphics cards that much in the technical white paper that was published. Well, they have finally released one.

Graphic cards list for Revit platform

See if your card and driver combo made the list!

Choosing computer OS / hardware to run Autodesk products

2010-05-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

A common question I'm asked is, how do I choose the appropriate computer specifications (or specs for short) for my Autodesk software? Believe it or not, Autodesk has a wealth of information that goes beyond the usual minimum specs. The problem is, knowing where to find it. The following links are a short collection to a few of the more common offerings from Autodesk which you can use to help figure out the specs for your next system upgrade.

For those looking for a quick answer on how to do this, here it is in a nutshell. Everyone I've talked to recently such as Autodesk, other technology firms and IT professionals are saying to make the jump to Windows 7 64bit OS. It is of course up to you to verify that if you are running older hardware and software to ensure they will work on Windows 7 64bit OS. If you bought a new computer in the last year or two, there is a really good chance your hardware will be fine leaving you to ensure just software runs fine.

As for choosing the right hardware, more is usually better - usually. Ask yourself, what do I work with on a day to day basis? Simple AutoCAD drawings that average in size at approximately 1-5 megabytes? Do I work with moderately sized Revit files in the 50-75 megabyte range or really big ones over 150 megabytes? Do I work on large scenes in 3ds MAX with millions of polygons and file sizes pushing the 200 megabyte range?

Each of you may have a slightly different answer which means I can't really give a one size fits all answer to hardware. I can help you understand what is what and where the different parts of the computer will help.

CPU: This part will help process calculations that process math.The more CPUs you have and the faster they can run, the more that can be processed - provided your software is written to take advantage of them. AutoCAD can take a small advantage from a multiple core CPU. Revit will only take advantage of multiple CPUs if you render. 3ds MAX Design will take advantage of multiple CPUs for math related tasks as well as rendering.
HD: There are three things to look at with a HD. Type, speed and size. Traditional HD's using a disk will be the least expensive option but the newer SSD HD's will not be. Traditional HD's offer larger a large storage space, SSD are catching up but not quite there yet. Traditional HD's offer varying speed which affect the rate at which data can be accessed - look for something at least 7200 RPMs or above. For SSD, data is access nearly instantaneously. Pick your poison!
RAM: In the past, RAM wasn't so critical. Now, if you are trying to work with medium to large sized files like I mentioned, RAM will make or break your day. The bigger the file you are trying to open is, the more RAM you should have. I've heard on numerous occasions by IT professionals that you should strive for a minimum of 2GBs RAM per CPU Core on a 32bit OS and 4 GBs RAM per CPU Core on a 64bit OS. There is obviously a limit for your budget and perhaps how much your motherboard can hold, but that's a pretty good rule of thumb to follow if possible.
Graphics Card: This is what helps your computer display information in your drawing viewport on your screen. For using Autodesk products, try and stay away from gaming cards as they typically are not certified or supported. The better the card and the more on board memory it has, the better things can look and perform in the viewport. Ever try to run 3D orbit on a model to have it skip or jump as it is spun? Most likely you had a card that wasn't up to the task. If you are trying to preview lighting effects, materials in a realistic shade mode or have a lot of data to display, the better the card, the smoother things will go.

For a more in depth bit of research, have a look at the following info to augment what I touched on above.

Here is a link to some Revit white papers, one of which is called the Revit Model Performance Technical Note. This has detailed recommendations regarding OS, CPU, RAM, HD, Network and other items in addition to keeping your Revit model running smoothly. In the version released for working with Revit 2010, they don't get into graphics cards in great detail so I've been recommending people take a look at the AutoCAD or 3ds MAX certified graphics cards (links to follow).
Revit White Papers: Model Performance Technical Note

Here is the link to AutoCAD Certified Hardware where you can look to see if a card you have in mind is certified or get the latest info to make sure AutoCAD runs smoothly with your graphics card. You can combine the Revit white paper above with a card in this list to ensure compatibility on into the future. Please, when choosing a card, be sure to select one that are Certified, Supported AND Recommended!
AutoCAD Certified Hardware

With 3ds MAX Design, Autodesk gets even more detailed in helping you choose hardware. This goes well beyond showing you which graphics cards are Certified like with AutoCAD. They go so far as to test specific configurations from major manufacturers that are currently available for Graphics Cards, Workstations/Laptops and Tablets. Since 3ds MAX Design is likely to place the most burden on your system, choosing products from the list in here will likely provide you with a system that will meet your needs for a long time to come.
3ds MAX Design Certified Hardware

Then of course there are specific requirements for running Autodesk Inventor and the other products it works with. Please check out the following link for a well put together site to help you choose the correct setup for working with Inventor.
Inventor Hardware Website

What's New in AutoCAD Architecture 2011 Webcast

2010-05-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Amy Fietkau will be presenting the new product features of AutoCAD Architecture tomorrow at 10am PDT. Here is the link for more info and sign up details if you are interested in attending.

Webcast info

Again, ACA 2011 and AMEP 2011 missing menus and toolbars

2010-05-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

I made a post last year about the menus and toolbars missing in ACA and AMEP.

Again, Autodesk has done the same to the 2011 versions of these products. While it doesn't bother me that they are trying to get people to use the ribbon, it bothers a lot of the customers I work with. I am fine with using the ribbon even though many users are not. The official response from Autodesk support is that they have not built menus and toolbars yet for 2011. Then they said, the ones for 2010 still work, here they are, but you have to manually perform the process to add them to your CUI. While I know how to do that, I am guessing a large number of customers I work with will not be happy with this.

Is it just me or am I crazy to think Autodesk should continue to supply current CUI files containing menu's and toolbars? I'd love to see some comments on this.

Update for the FBX plugin for 2011 products

2010-05-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

I only installed the new 2011 products a few weeks ago and already there is an update to the FBX plugin.

Get it here! www.autodesk.com/fbx

Did someone say 2D???

2010-04-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well not me. The next 3 days I will be taking a deeper look into
MachStudio Pro to really see how this thing ticks

Earth Day 2010!!!

2010-04-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day! In honor of Earth Day and a more sustainable future, join U.S. CAD and IES-VE for a webinar on April 30th to see how you can help design a more sustainable future! Some of the topics covered will be:
***Analysis using the toolkits showing assessments of climate, water use, energy, loads, solar shading and daylighting.
***Early stage compliance with LEED rating systems including NC V3 2009, schools and Core and Shell for water use, daylighting, comfort and LZCT
***VE Pro – including the Arch suites – our most detailed level of software, allowing for the highest level of customisation on the inputs and graphic rich on the outputs – includes capability for model building, solar shading, electric and daylighting design and analysis and overall energy performance integrating daylight dimming, loads, energy, natural ventilation, HVAC system modelling, and CFD of both mechanical and passive systems.

For more info, please contact U.S. CAD at info@uscad.com as seating is limited!

View the Autodesk 2011 Software Solutions

2010-04-09T14:37:00.001-07:00

Please be sure to sign up for the upcoming virtual launch of Autodesk 2011 products!

Sign up here

Downloading Autodesk 2011 products

2010-04-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing multiple reports of Internet Explorer 8 preventing individuals from downloading 2011 products from Autodesk's website using the download manager. I have not had any issues downloading. I use the latest version of Mozilla's Firefox. I have also heard many others have had success with Firefox and a few other open source browsers such as Chrome or Safari. I haven't tested with these other apps though. The problem seems to be tied to Windows 7 and 32 or 64 bit OS platforms, however it's likely to be affected in other OS platforms too. So if you have only used IE up to this point, consider this motivation to try another browser out. If your IT department prevents you from installing other software, you have my deepest sympathies!

AutoCAD 2011 - Installed and running on Window's 7 64bit OS

2010-03-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

Finally! First 2011 product downloaded and installed. The better products release in a couple weeks, but for now I'll have to make do with AutoCAD. Also, for those on subscription, you can download AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP and a few other AutoCAD based products from within the subscription center.

My first observation - Autodesk must have listened to the users and turned the drawing window back to a dark color instead of that off white they have been doing for the past few releases. Anyways, I'm off to the South Coast Revit User Group to see Scott Davis present the new features of Revit 2011. It should be a record turnout - over 130 individuals have confirmed their attendance!

Another way to do hardware rendering

2010-03-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well, looks like Autodesk has been cooking with a new way to produce renderings using 3ds MAX 2011 much faster than with the current mental ray engine afterall...
Ken's blog on Area

I highly recommend reading the full post - its very insightful and informative!

3ds MAX 2011 and other M&E products talked about on the "area"

2010-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

So, somehow M&E products don't fit into the March 25th embargo date...
http://area.autodesk.com/products

March South Coast Revit User Group

2010-03-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

Next week’s South Coast Revit User Group (SCRUG) will be one that many individuals should be interested in attending. First off, its March, secondly new products are about to be released and third, Scott Davis from Autodesk will be presenting a “fresh Revit topic”. Last year around this same time for a SCRUG, they did a preview showing of Revit 2010 - even though it had yet to be released. Hmm... I plan to go - will you be going? Anyone that wants to go should view and respond to the Evite below.

Evite Invitation!

Did someone sign me up for a webcast?

2010-03-16T16:33:00.001-07:00

I must have missed the memo...
Autodesk Webcast

Ocean's 7

2010-03-04T14:12:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I upgraded my work laptop OS to Windows 7 64bit. So far its been alright. Found my printer drivers fine - including my home printer. I was able to install most Autodesk 2010 applications and just finished installing AutoCAD Architecture 2009. So far that list includes AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP, Revit Arch/Struct/MEP, Navisworks, Maya, Motion Builder, Mudbox and of course Design Review. Also just installed the latest version of MachStudio Pro (v1.4), Photoshop Elements 7.0 some Google apps and a slew of other unrelated apps. So far the only bust was trying to install Star Wars: Empire at War. It didn't like the key I input. It could be I've installed it too many times with that key or a problem with the OS. I'll research that later - I don't play it that much anymore so its not that important. But for now I'm rather happy.

Startup times for my laptop before ran in the 10 minute range before I could sit down and start opening apps and working. Now its booted, logged on and ready to go in well under 5 minutes. Plus everything just seems so much snappier - windows open/close faster, etc. A couple programs toss up an error message upon launch, but they don't seem to affect things so far. We will see how they go. The real test will be to see if I can install AutoCAD Architecture 2008. For now I'm going to save that for another day...

Autodesk Aquires Dynamite VSP & Dynamite SIM from 3AM Solutions

2010-01-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know the press release is from a few days ago but I've been busy teaching in Los Angeles for the past few days.

Official press release
Posted to the area discussion group blog

Back when U.S. CAD became a reseller in July of 2009, I knew that DVSP & DSIM had great potential and was a great solution for our civil engineering customers. Even before that arrangement - as early as 2008 I was looking at these tools as being the next place to work with your civil design for visualization. I'm sure some will say boo-hiss for Autodesk aquiring yet another company - but to be honest its a perfect fit for existing Autodesk customers. For those already using DVSP & other Autodesk products, it will simplify their purchasing orders, give them a central location for support and give them access to a larger pool of R&D resources. Anyways, I look forward to the possibilities that this will open up.

Missing menu files for AutoCAD Architecture and MEP?

2009-12-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

For those that still use AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) or AutoCAD MEP (AMEP) - you will find this of great interest. I suppose its about time I tracked this issue down. Back when I installed ACA earlier this year, I noticed there were no pulldown menu's. It didn't bother me much as I was so focused on assimilating the new ribbon. One of our customers finally came across the same issue which forced me to track it down.

After trying a reinstall of the product, looking in the Doc&Settings UserDataCache folder, and reloading CUI files to rebuild them, verifying I had the latest product version, nothing worked. I went on a week and a half long quest with Autodesk support. They told me to try all the things I had already done and then some, but none of their suggestions addressed the fact that the menus were completely missing from the CUI file. In the process of this quest, I also noticed there were no toolbars in the default ACA CUI file.

I asked Autodesk to send me their default ACA CUI file so I could try and load the menus from theirs. It too was blank as was another CUI file I got from a colleague 10 states away that worked at a different company altogether. When I posted this info back to Autodesk support I was getting rather unsettled to put it mildly.

Today they finally sent me a zip file containing all menus and toolbars that I was looking for along with instructions on how to integrate them with ACA. This left me with several questions unanswered that I'm sure you are thinking as well. Why were these not included by default with ACA 2010? Why did they not release a product update to fix this? Why did they assume we would not want these toolbars and menus in 2010? Why did it take a week and a half for them to figure out they needed to send me these files? Oh well - at least I have them now. If you are running ACA or AMEP 2010 you will likely need these files at some point. Rather than re-host them somewhere else, I found they are already posted to AUGI.

Download from this AUGI post

Bright Side of News Award given to Studio GPU

2009-12-28T09:17:00.001-08:00

Looks like more and more people are finding words of praise for Studio GPU's release of MachStudio Pro!

BSN Review

What a week!

2009-12-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Last week saw the birth of my first son! Less sleep, less time and a bundle of joy. What can I say? I couldn't ask for anything better.

Autodesk Product Survey

2009-11-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

Not happy with the products your are getting from Autodesk? Well here is your chance to make your voice heard!

Product Survey

2009 Visualization Industry Survey

2009-11-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

It looks like things are picking up a bit. I just finished reading up on an interesting survey on the design visualization industry and it has some very interesting insights.

Survey Results

MachStudio Pro is the real deal

2009-11-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I have to say that I'm thoroughly impressed with MachStudio Pro (or MSP for short). I made a previous post about this technology on my blog earlier this year and got some great feedback via the comments. One blogger (tomacmuni) made a very interesting comment about MSP and other technologies that I wanted to address.

Quote from tomacuni: "Machstudio is graphics card based and you get the so-called partnership ATI provided card to make sure that it works well.
You can't buy the software without the card - I asked. They said no.
Presumably your computer itself will also contribute to how well that performs.

I asked myself, to what extent might it be the graphics card that boosts the render time, as opposed to the software?

Vray RT is CPU based -- without a networked suite of *up to to 10* slave processors for instance, from what I can tell it's not going to be that helpful for acceleration.
....
I'm not sure, but Artlantis seems to be a kind of intentionally optimised renderer, using simple material presets and simple render settings that look at best adequate ... a bit like Vray with 'low' quality sampling. I haven't seen high quality rendering from it."

The ATI card (or GPU for short) does all the heavy lifting when it comes to rendering the image. Your computer specs need to be able to support the ATI card, but do little else when it comes to pushing the limits of MSP. MSP is coded/written to take advantage of the processing power of the GPU. None of the other softwares you mentioned do that to my knowledge. The ATI V8750 has 800 cores to process data. 800!!! The unfortunate reality is that most applications today have not been written to take advantage of the GPU and its processing power. How many CPU's can you link together for VRAY's RT technology - ten? Alright, so then what? After you link them together and preview your render in the viewport, are you able to save that image or can you output it to a full HD image plate without having to render and use a render farm? As for Artlantis, I have yet to see high quality renders, much less renders completed as fast as what MSP can do set to full high quality.

Quote from tomacuni: "For actually rendering, Maxwell and Machstudio Pro send out content for rendering to an external application."

Vray and Mental ray do this too - its just transparent to the user. As far as I have been able to tell, MSP does not send anything out to an external application for rendering - it is all done in the same interface with the same program and nothing needs to be translated (another one of the problems with mental ray or vray).

Quote from tomacuni: "It seems to be that these render 'solutions' may mark the fin de siècle of standard renderer software given they're based on technology that's aging fast. It seems there's a looming shift in approaches to rendering. I wonder in two or so years which of these 'new' renderers will attract the larger user base.
...
I'm a 3DSMax user mainly, so
I wonder if, at some point, 3DSMax itself may ship with some kind of 'real time' rendering technology which simply eclipses all the tools commented on here. A few years ago I guess that's what the incorporation of mentalray aimed to do."

I come from a background mostly utilizing 3ds MAX too. I look forward to seeing which technology will attract a larger user base as well. If Autodesk has an ounce of smarts in their R&D team, they are already looking at how their products can take advantage of the GPU to increase render times. I know a couple products already do but it will likely take time for a company the size of Autodesk to move it into production for 3ds MAX and Maya (I hope I'm wrong on that though).

3D World magazine recently had a review from Dan Alban of AGA Studios published and gives yet another testimony to MSP. I personally am just starting to get my feet wet with MSP and how it can integrate with Architectural Design Visualization workflows. There have been some great studies done already on StudioGPU's website. In the image that was posted to this blog post, can you tell which was done with MSP or VRAY? There are some great examples done on their site as well that incorporate Architectural Design Visualization use of MSP. If you want to get more discussion on what MSP can do in this regards, there is a great discussion thread already unfolding on their forums.

Yes, this might be a brand new technology, but the potential is so big, I can't imagine this technology sitting idle - I see it advancing further very rapidly. I love the feedback this technology has prompted - I hope this post will spark further interest!

Video Cards - Can you help me pick one?

2009-11-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

No!

I can however equip you with a great article to help you better understand the market and better select one for yourself. I just finished reading a very insightful and well put together article in the latest AUGI World magazine.

Click me for a link to a low-res version of AUGI World!

Setting up a render farm

2009-09-28T13:35:00.001-07:00

I found a great topic that has been getting some attention on LinkedIn recently. Thought I would share in case you didn't happen to see it.

Building a render farm link

How a golf cart ride can change your world

2009-09-21T21:00:00.001-07:00

I think this website lies. It says July 13th was my last post. It just can't be. 21st of September already you say? More than 2 months without a post? Well, I guess I could just go edit the time of the last posting, but that wouldn't be fair now, would it? Anyways, my apologies for being distracted this summer. Between kids, work, moving and other activities, I just haven't had the time I usually do.

Earlier this month I had a little dream fulfilled - working behind the scenes at Disneyland resort in Anaheim, CA. Call it childish if you want, but I have always been fascinated with what lies on the "other" side of the fence. Cast members walk in and out like there is nothing special about it. The thing is, growing up as a kid, there were always all these stories of what "might" happen if you went and explored the other side without invitation. Well, now I've finally seen the other side and somehow, even the other side is magical. It will be a day looong remembered in the empire...

New Webcast for 3ds MAX and Civil Engineers

2009-07-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

There will be a new webcast in the Design Visualization series on Wednesday July 15th at 10am Pacific. It will feature a workflow for the civil engineering industry and how 3ds MAX can be used for these types of projects.

Edit: The link stopped working and I have replaced it with a link to all Design Visualization webcasts presented by Autodesk.

Alternate link

AutoCAD Malware

2009-07-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

This blog post was forwarded to me from my colleague Jay Zallan of Gensler. Watch out!

AutoCAD Malware

Dynamite VSP 4.0

2009-07-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

Double news bulletin:

3am Solutions has released their latest version of their flagship product - Dynamite VSP 4.0.

Full compatibility with 3ds MAX Design 2010 & AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010
Full 64bit support

In addition, U.S. CAD has become authorized to sell Dynamite-VSP within the United States. I hope to give you more info as we become deeply involved with this product.

Simple Scene, Deep Impact

2009-06-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

Just a great little article I came across on a scene done in 3ds MAX. I loved the simplicity the artist took at developing it, yet used his tools to convey a sense that the image was far more complex than it really was.

Command Trends

2009-06-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been a trainer? Have you ever developed additional tools for software?

If so, you may have come across a few things I've observed in these environments. Sometimes in a classroom training environment, you come across someone who says they are having a problem with completing an exercise. They have gotten the screen all rearranged and buried 5 levels deep in some remote command, yet they swear up and down that they didn't do anything wrong and followed the exercise steps "word for word". Perhaps you've developed a set of tools or custom add on tools for CAD software and wonder if the users that requested it are really using it to its full potential. They might not even be using the tools, but you have no way to validate whether or not they are.

What if you could track these things? What if you could understand what led the person to take a wrong turn in the exercise and use that to avoid potential problems in future training environments? What if you could use feedback on how your custom tools were being used (or not)? Having all this info could lead you to provide better training in the future. Better tools, more refined, based on user actions would help fine your tools & make happy users of the software.

A good friend of mine is currently looking into the possibility of creating a program that would allow you to do just that. He is currently doing some market research for the value of user data and would like your feedback. The survey only takes about ten minutes and it would help a ton if you provided some feedback.

Here is the link to the survey - http://tr.im/jJ8f

If you know of anyone that manages, develops, or trains AutoCAD software, please feel free to send this on to them. For questions, feel free to drop a note to:

contact AT commandtrends DOT com

BIM City Comes to Life

2009-05-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

This week we replicated... err... printed BIM City on our Z-Corp Z-Printer 450. Needless to say, it was a learning experience. We have plans for a larger version of the model showcasing the buildings better and allowing a better view of the city.

Real Time Rendering - is it possible?

2009-05-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

What if I told you it were possible to have instantaneous feedback on changes made to your rendering? What if individual frames could be rendered in sub-seconds instead of 20-40 minutes a piece? What if you could work with your animated content from any program and render out Beauty, AO, DOF, etc. passes for editing in post - still in sub-seconds? What if poly count was no longer something you needed to worry about and could deal with scenes in the billions of polygon range? What if I could do this all on ONE desktop computer and ditch my hoard of render farms?

Would you think I'm on crack? Probably. I thought the people telling me about this were too - until I saw it with my own eyes.

I visited a company called Studio GPU this week. I can't tell you how incredible it was to see this first hand! Whether tuning your AO pass or playing with lighting conditions or camera bloom effects or scrubbing through the fully rendered animation - it's real! The DoF pass was so easy to tune and you could do it real time as if you were in post! You can even generate volumetric lighting in real time. HDR lighting is supported too for matching existing environments. It was so sweet it almost made me break down and cry. Pure joy!

Check it out!

Let the voting for AU Classes begin!

2009-05-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hey all! In a shameless bit of advertising, AU is looking to have the general public vote to see which classes they want to make the slate in December. Don't forget to vote for your favorite speaker!

I've submitted 2 topics this year. One will be an encore presentation of "Implementation Tools and Techniques That No CAD Manager Can Live Without" and the other will be "Making Autodesk Products Sing the Interoperability Highway Song".

The second class I mentioned will have Melanie Santer, Tod Wallace, Carlos Orona and myself as co-speakers. Your vote can help make these classes happen! Use this link to go vote for a class! All you need is an AU Online account. Look for other U.S. CAD instructors listed in the speaker list – vote for them! Get their classes approved!

Looking for Informational Resources?

2009-05-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Whether you use AutoCAD or 3ds MAX, Revit or Civil 3d - you'll find something for you at the Autodesk Resource Center. Check it out! http://resources.autodesk.com/ You'll find webcasts, tutorials white papers and more. Finally they have consolidated everything in a one stop shop!

BIM City

2009-04-29T18:44:00.000-07:00

This was a group effort by U.S. CAD Technical Specialists showcasing how Autodesk 2010 software solutions can help improve your business and add value to your existing workflow. The software used to complete the demo reel is: Revit Architecture 2010, Revit Structure 2010, 3ds MAX Design 2010 and Adobe After Affects CS4. Each of these help bring the latest value to your workflow and help in designing projects which are geared towards Building Information Modeling (BIM), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and Sustainable Design (SD) initiatives. To learn more please visit www.uscadbim.com

P.S.- The embedded video is not! the special project I mentioned in a previous post - that is still in the works.

3ds MAX Design 2010

2009-04-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

So after having played around with max for a few weeks now I'm beyond words with excitement for the potential of this release. To mark the occasion I have a special project planned to celebrate. Here is a little clue to what it involves...

AutoCAD 2010 Tips & Tricks by Lynn Allen

2009-04-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

An exclusive for AUGI members only, you can now download Lynn Allen's AutoCAD 2010 Tips & Tricks book well in advance of any other Autodesk product user. Check it out!

3ds MAX 2010 Viewport Shading

2009-04-01T14:49:00.001-07:00

Here is a couple of screen captures I took of a scene I opened on my computer of an interior house with artificial lights. Both shots were taken on the same laptop with a Nvidia Quadro FX 1600M. 2009 is significantly darker, less shadow pronouncement and generally low in graphic quality. 2010 is brighter, smoother, better all around. Click one of the image previews for a larger version...

AutoCAD on a Mac?

2009-04-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

If you had just about given up hope that Autodesk would release AutoCAD for the MAC OS platform, think again. This recent survey shows Autodesk is researching market interest. If you've ever wanted to see it on a MAC OS, fill out this survey!

Well that's just great

2009-03-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

DVMC has been canceled. I knew I should of waited a bit longer to buy that airline ticket! While they are considering a virtual conference, I don't feel I would pay the $299 they quoted me.

Your support for AUGI

2009-03-17T08:23:00.001-07:00

Your support for AUGI is needed. There is a survey of particular importance currently open for vote. Please take 2 minutes from your day and complete this survey! Survey link

There will also be an upcoming special session vote to elect new Board of Directors who help run the organization. Some may think that this does not affect them since they only visit the forums once in a while to ask questions only they need answered. However, if there is no Board of Directors functioning for AUGI it puts the whole organization at risk of ceasing to exist. That means the forums which we all value so dearly could go away completely. ~Poof~ Vanish into thin air. What would you do without such a valuable resource as AUGI? I'll post back later when the special session opens.

Design Modeling and Visualization Conference (DVMC)

2009-03-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

Its official! This year marks my first trip to the DVMC. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this conference offers. I'll be sure to report back on how it goes.

3ds MAX Design 2010

2009-02-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

Holy Osnap! This next release of 3ds MAX Design could be a huge leap if this stuff comes to fruition!
Area Blog Post

3ds Max Lighting Analysis called 'Gold Standard'

2009-02-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

Well, many people I've talked to over the past year have asked just how accurate the lighting system in 3ds MAX Design. I haven't been able to give a great answer to that question until now. As reported on by Ten Links, a joint venture between the National Research Council Canada (NRC), Harvard University and Autodesk. Their test results and published white paper can be found here: 3ds Max Design Exposure feature is as good as gold
Needless to say, Autodesk got it right for once!

Full speed ahead

2009-02-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

Well, If you've been wondering about my lack of posts lately, I've been busy in other avenues of life. I married a very special woman on Jan 23, 2009. Leslie has brought me great joy, passion & hope. On another front, I've recently been promoted to the position of Technical Manager for our Building Solutions Division at U.S. CAD. The future is bright indeed! I'm looking forward to continuing to blog on our industry as things progress rapidly in 2009.

Link an FBX file like a DWG file in 3ds MAX Design 2009

2009-01-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

Like most of the stuff Autodesk takes a first stab at, there is usually more to be desired. The best I can offer for a temporary workaround is the following:

Export from revit to fbx.
Import fbx into max scene A and save
Create a second file in 3ds max - we can call it scene B
Use the option File-> Xref Objects to bring the 3ds max file scene A into scene b. Bring all objects in - filter out unneeded ones
While they are selected create either a group or selection set for control later on
Add all entourage to scene B, change colors or materials as well if needed in MAX.
If the design of the building changes in revit, follow steps 1 & 2 again only erase the existing geometry before re-importing the model.

I know its not ideal, but better than nothing and sets it up like a linked autocad file. If you are looking for changes made in max to go back to revit you will have to wait. If you recall, this was not possible with autocad files that were linked either.

Lighting Analysis in 3ds MAX Design 2009

2008-12-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

Since its release, many have asked me what level of accuracy the Lighting Analysis tool in 3ds Max Design can be held to. The most comprehensive documents I've seen recently are a couple white papers posted to Autodesk's Design Visualization webpage. Autodesk worked with BNIM Architects to develop a workflow based white paper which thoroughly describes the process to effectively use this tool.

Daylight Simulation Basic's
Daylight Simulation Advanced

AU Online and Classes from AU 2008

2008-12-10T10:32:00.001-08:00

Well, Autodesk has finally gotten AU Online back up and running. If you missed my CAD Management class and were looking to view the recording of it or grab the class materials, click here to view it on AU Online. For a little info on the unplugged session, click here to view it. Again, thanks to all those who gave help and support to me to get this class out there to you.

ACA Usuabilty Session

2008-12-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

This morning I attended an ACA Usuabilty session which was a first for me. I finally was able to talk with a couple individuals who actually work on customizing and writing new code. It felt so good to explain some of things that so many of us fret about on a day to day basis. Of course an hour and a half was not enough time to go into everything I've got to share with them so my hope is that I will be able to continue to share with them now that I have direct contacts.

Also if any of you are interested in participating in these in the future then go sign up for the aca customer council as that is the first list they pull from for names to do this with. They can even do them remotely if you are unable to travel.