The Benefits of Working with an Architectural Visualization Firm

The Benefits of Working with an Architectural Visualization Firm

by | Sep 5, 2023 | architectural rendering, Radical Galaxy Studio

In the multifaceted realm of architecture and design, effectively communicating a vision poses a distinct challenge. While traditional tools like sketches and CAD files hold value, turning a design concept into a tangible, easily understood visual for clients, municipalities, or stakeholders often necessitates photorealistic renderings. This is precisely the niche filled by architectural visualization firms. While architects and designers possess some visualization capabilities, the nuanced expertise of specialized firms offers significant advantages.

Harnessing Specialized Knowledge in Architectural Visualization:

Visualization firms consist of professionals who’ve dedicated their careers to mastering both the art and science of visualization. Their comprehensive grasp on lighting, texturing, and rendering ensures visuals not only capture design intentions but also resonate with unparalleled realism and evocativeness. Many of these professionals began their journeys in architectural and design roles, with some having honed their skills at premier global firms. Others might have transitioned directly from architectural schools to visualization. Alongside these architectural virtuosos, firms often employ experts in post-production and other visualization facets, ensuring a holistic approach.

In contrast, While there are members at the architectural firms that may have some of the same abilities as a visualization firm, often they are either overwhelmed with projects from multiple internal teams or focusing on the architectural design of the project and often don’t want to be involved in the rendering component.

Crafting Photorealistic Details: The Pinnacle of Visualization:

The objective of architectural visualization transcends merely generating images; it’s about crafting a digital reflection of reality. These specialists wield cutting-edge 3D modeling and rendering tools, resulting in renderings teeming with precise textures, impeccable lighting, and ambiance virtually indistinguishable from real-life photos.

Efficiency and Focus: The Time-Saving Advantage of Visualization Firms:

Designing architectural marvels demands time, unwavering focus, and dedication. When this intense process is compounded with producing intricate renderings, architects might find themselves stretched thin. Delegating visualization tasks to specialized firms permits architects and designers to invest their efforts in their primary passion: design. Concurrently, visualization firms can take the time to do what they do best perfect the renderings.

Visual Narratives: Bridging Design Concepts and Audiences:

Renderings serve as the bridge, connecting intricate design blueprints with a broader audience. Expertly crafted visuals translate complex design nuances, ensuring clients, investors, or regulatory bodies grasp the vision. Collaborating with expert firms guarantees not just images, but narratives that engage and enlighten.

Rendering Radical Galaxy Studio Ottawa

Bespoke Visualization: Tailoring to Unique Architectural Needs:

Each architectural project boasts its uniqueness, mirrored in its visualization demands. Be it for promotional campaigns, regulatory submissions, client presentations, or virtual walkthroughs, specialized firms provide tailored visualization solutions. Their extensive portfolio across varied projects bestows them with a foresight to discern specific needs and cater accordingly.

Forefront of Technological Evolution:

The architectural visualization field is in a perpetual state of evolution, propelled by technological breakthroughs. Visualization firms remain pioneers, perpetually updating their arsenal, be it experimenting with real-time modeling in Unreal Engine or innovating texture creation methods. This commitment translates to clients receiving visuals enriched by the latest technology, ensuring unmatched authenticity.

Rendering of a masterplan single family development

Long-Term Cost Efficacy:

A prevalent myth suggests that enlisting a visualization expert is costlier than entrusting the task to architects or designers. However, the market offers visualization options catering to varied budgets, from economical overseas solutions to premium studios that offer more than just images – they narrate stories. The time saved by architects, the enhanced potential to allure clients with captivating visuals, or expedited regulatory approvals often validate the investment in expert visualization, underscoring its business prudence.

The Transformative Role of Visualization Experts in Modern Architecture:

Architects and designers undeniably lay the foundational blueprint of any architectural endeavor. However, visualization firms turn these blueprints into vivid, comprehensible, and marketable masterpieces. Their unparalleled skill set, vast experience, and relentless pursuit of perfection ensure each project is presented in its optimal maner. For those seeking to elevate their architectural narratives, an architectural visualization expert might be the secret ingredient. For further insights or inquiries, our team is always at your disposal.

Real Estate Animation Flythrough Costs Guide

Real Estate Animation Flythrough Costs Guide

by | Aug 29, 2023 | animation, architectural rendering, Radical Galaxy Studio

Real estate animation flythrough videos are increasingly becoming a necessity for property developers, brokers and agents during the pre-development and lease-up of a property. These videos provide a realistic and engaging way to showcase new developments to potential buyers, giving them a virtual tour of the property even before it is built. But how much does it actually cost to create a real estate animation flythrough video ? Let’s break down the cost factors involved in creating a captivating animation flythrough video. 

Factors Influencing the Animation Cost

 

Quality and Complexity: The level of detail and complexity involved in the animation greatly impacts the cost. High-quality animations with intricate details, complex textures, and realistic lighting require more time and effort to create. For instance, a single-family home may require fewer details, making it relatively straightforward to animate. However, a mixed-use development with retail, residential, and office spaces, would necessitate a higher level of detail and complexity. This would involve animating various types of spaces, each with its own set of furnishings, lighting, and textures. Additionally, the inclusion of dynamic elements, such as people, vehicles, and landscaping, further adds to the complexity and, therefore, the cost. The animation of each space needs to be meticulously planned and executed, with careful attention paid to the lighting, textures, and camera movements to ensure a seamless and engaging viewer experience. This level of detail and complexity requires a higher level of skill and expertise, as well as more advanced software and hardware, all of which contribute to the increased cost. Moreover, the creation of multiple scenes for both interior and exterior spaces necessitates more rendering time, which, as previously discussed, is a significant cost factor.

 

Technology Used: A crucial early factor in determining the cost of a video is the engine in which it is modeled and rendered. Basic animations can be created using  rendering engines like Lumion, Enscape, Twinmotion, and Unreal Engine. While these engines are capable of creating animations, they come with certain limitations. For higher-end animations, the industry standard involves using 3ds Max and V-Ray. V-Ray offers a lot more control over the animation, enabling the creation of more detailed and realistic scenes. However, this greater control and quality come at a cost. The machine time required to render the animation can be extensive. The machine time cost to render could range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the length and priority of the video. This range considers factors such as the complexity of the scenes, the level of detail required, and the speed at which the render needs to be completed. Additionally, the use of advanced features in V-Ray, such as global illumination, detailed shadows, and complex materials, can further increase the rendering time and, consequently, the cost. Therefore, while using 3ds Max and V-Ray can result in a superior final product, it is important to carefully consider the increased costs and time requirements involved.

Length of the Video: The length of the video plays a significant role in determining the cost. Usually, the length of a real estate flythrough video ranges from 1 to 3 minutes. If V-Ray is used the longer videos require more computer resources to render which leads to a higher cost.

Experience of the Service Provider: The experience and expertise of the animation studio you choose to work with will also influence the cost. Experienced professionals usually charge higher fees but also deliver higher quality work.

 

Real Estate Animation Process and Cost 

 

Now that we have discussed the factors that influence the cost let’s break down the cost of creating a real estate animation flythrough video.

Pre-production: This is the initial phase of the project where the concept and storyboard are developed. It involves planning, scripting, and creating a rough sketch or storyboard of the animation. This part of the project differs from client to client. For some, we are creating more basic paths touring a project, and for others, we are telling a story using B-roll and actors to enhance the animation video.

The complexity of the concept and storyboard can significantly impact the time and effort required in this phase. For instance, creating a basic path touring a project involves plotting the camera paths, defining the key areas to be highlighted, and developing a rough outline of the animation. This is relatively straightforward and involves fewer complexities. However, if the client wants to tell a story using B-roll and actors, it requires a more detailed and intricate planning process. This involves developing a narrative, creating a script, planning the shots and camera angles, and deciding on the location and actions of the actors. All these additional elements add a layer of complexity to the project and require more time and effort to plan and execute. Moreover, the inclusion of actors may also involve casting, directing, and coordinating with a film crew, all of which contribute to the overall cost of the project.

Therefore, while creating a detailed and engaging narrative with B-roll and actors can greatly enhance the impact and appeal of the animation video, it is important to consider the additional time, effort, and cost involved in this process. Careful planning and coordination with the client and other stakeholders are essential to ensure a successful outcome and to manage the budget effectively.

 

Production: A significant part of the cost will depend on the starting point of the project. If we are provided with a 3ds Max model in excellent condition, it will save us a considerable amount of time and, consequently, reduce the overall cost. This is because a well-prepared 3ds Max model will already have many of the necessary elements for the animation, such as the 3D geometry, materials, and textures, requiring less time for preparation and optimization. On the other hand, if we start with CAD files and need to model everything from scratch, the cost would be higher. CAD files usually contain only the basic geometric information of the structure, and converting these into a fully detailed 3D model suitable for animation involves a lot of additional work. This includes creating the 3D geometry, adding materials and textures, setting up the lighting, and optimizing the model for animation. Additionally, creating the environment around the property, such as landscaping, roads, and neighboring buildings, will also add to the cost. All these additional steps require a higher level of skill and expertise, as well as more time and effort, which ultimately increases the overall cost of the production. Therefore, it is important to consider the starting point of the project and plan the budget accordingly. Providing the animation studio with the most detailed and well-prepared files available can significantly reduce the production time and cost.

Post-production: This is the final phase of the project where the animation is edited, sound and music are added, and any final adjustments are made. For a video including B-roll shots, the post-production is often more time-consuming. The inclusion of B-roll shots adds an extra layer of complexity to the editing process as they need to be seamlessly integrated into the main animation. This involves carefully selecting the appropriate shots, editing them to the correct length, and synchronizing them with the main animation and audio. Additionally, color correction, sound mixing, and adding special effects or graphics are also part of this phase. All these additional steps require a higher level of skill and expertise, as well as more time and effort, which ultimately increases the overall cost of the post-production. 

Adding sound and music is a crucial part of the post-production process. The sound and music need to be carefully selected and edited to match the pace and mood of the animation. This may involve creating a custom soundtrack or selecting and licensing music from a library. Adding voiceovers, sound effects, and ambient sounds are also part of this process. All these audio elements need to be carefully mixed and balanced to create a cohesive and engaging audio experience.

Finally, any final adjustments to the animation, such as tweaking the lighting, adjusting the camera movements, or making last-minute changes to the 3D models, are made during this phase. This may also involve rendering the final animation in the desired format and resolution.

Conclusion

Creating a real estate animation flythrough video for is an excellent way to showcase the property to potential buyers. However, the cost of creating such a video can vary widely based on several factors, including the length of the video, the quality and complexity of the animation, the level of customization required, the number of revisions requested, the technology and software used, and the experience of the service provider.

For animation videos created by top studios without actors, the cost typically will be $15,000+, although some can command higher prices depending on the size of the property, its complexity, and the project deadline. Adding actors to animation videos from top studios can easily increase the cost by an additional $25,000 to $50,000, depending on the complexity of the shoots and the size of the crew and equipment needed.

For videos produced using some of the lower tier rendering engines and by less experienced teams, costs can be below $15,000. If cost is the most important factor, this is often the way to go. However, for clients looking to sell, market, or get approval for their projects, it is recommended not to take this route.

While cost is an important consideration, it is also crucial to focus on the quality of the animation. A high-quality, engaging animation can greatly enhance the appeal of the property and help attract potential buyers. Therefore, it is worth investing in a professional, high-quality real estate animation flythrough video to showcase your new developments in the best possible light.

Additionally, it’s important to choose a studio with a proven track record and expertise. Our team at Radical Galaxy Studio has worked on animations across various sectors, from hospitality, working with brands such as Hyatt, to multi-use animations for Brookfield. We have also collaborated with major real estate players on both office and residential properties for the likes of Oxford, Hines, JLL, Cushman, Stream, and Sterling Bay, to name a few. Our experience extends to residential developers on condo, multifamily, and single-family animation projects, ranging from basic pan shots to more involved and intricate videos. With a vast portfolio spanning different types of properties and animations, we are well-equipped to handle your animation needs. If you have any questions about animations, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Advancing Architectural Realism with Lumen and Nanite in UE5

Advancing Architectural Realism with Lumen and Nanite in UE5

by | Aug 25, 2023 | architectural rendering, Radical Galaxy Studio

Advancing Architectural Realism with Lumen and Nanite in Unreal Engine 5

In the ever-evolving realm of architectural visualization, a shift is occurring with the continued advancements in Unreal Engine. In this blog, we delve into Lumen and Nanite, understanding their expected profound impact on the landscape of architectural visualization. Lumen and Nanite, each embodying a significant leap in the pursuit of architectural realism but also still limited in it’s use case.

Lumen: Illuminating Reality

Lumen, the global illumination and reflection system integrated within Unreal Engine 5, stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of realism. Its significance extends beyond its feature-rich capabilities, finding its place in high-end visualizations. Fully dynamic, Lumen removes the burden of intricate setup, a historical challenge in real-time global illumination. Computational demands have often led to compromises in design, as rendering complex lighting interactions in real time seemed unattainable. Lumen challenges this notion, simulating light interactions on-the-fly. The result? A symphony of light that mirrors reality. Shadows dance authentically, light rebounds from surfaces, and environments are bathed in a luminous embrace. The outcome are visualizations that not only mimics reality but immerses users in a hyper-realistic experience. Architects can actively fine-tune lighting parameters and witness the environment transform before their eyes, empowering designers to experiment with various lighting schemes, assessing their impact on mood and aesthetics. Lumen represents a leap in not only realism but also the entire design process.

Lumen’s global illumination prowess seamlessly integrates with Nanite’s precision, ushering architectural spaces to life. The era of static lighting recedes, replaced by a dynamic interplay that mimics natural light dynamics. Architects possess the power to metamorphose spaces with the manipulation of lighting parameters. From the tender embrace of sunrise to the dramatic twilight shadows, Lumen reflects the passage of time. The result is a canvas that architects can infuse with life’s hues. Lighting schemes can be customized not solely for aesthetics but also to accentuate specific design elements. The interplay of light and surfaces, enabled by Lumen, enriches experiential depth, allowing spaces to evolve throughout the day.

Nanite: Precision Craftsmanship

At the core of architectural design lies geometry. Nanite, an innovative object visualization method within Unreal Engine, will help streamline the rendering of complex objects. Traditionally, objects were rendered with polygons and textures, but intricacy often forced designers into trade-offs. Nanite erases these boundaries, enabling architects to unveil intricate objects with unwavering precision, without compromising overall scene geometry. This technological improvement grants architects the ability to manifest visions with an unprecedented level of detail. Imagine a world where ornate ornaments, intricate sculptures, and delicate embellishments can be showcased without compromise. Nanite is the key to unlocking this realm of design fidelity. Even at a granular level, elements like bricks, tiles, and wall textures can be rendered with photorealistic precision. This opens the door for designs to incorporate a diverse array of materials and textures without overwhelming the visual senses. By harnessing Nanite, architects can translate their vision into a tactile experience, enriching the visual narrative.

Architectural endeavors often demand meticulous representation, capturing the essence of intricate elements that define the built environment. Nanite eradicates the limitations imposed by traditional polygonal rendering. Architects can embrace intricacy without hesitation. The fusion of Nanite’s precision and architectural intricacies creates a visual symphony, inviting observers to delve into the minutiae. Ornate facades, intricate sculptures, and delicate embellishments stand unveiled, each contributing to the narrative of architectural design. By harnessing Nanite’s capabilities, architects can incorporate a diverse palette of materials, patterns, and textures while upholding clarity and realism. This avenue enables design philosophies to materialize into tangible and believable experiences.

Architectural Imagination Unleashed

Lumen and Nanite are not mere tools; they are catalysts that unchain architectural imagination. Designers will be unburdened by compromises, liberated from the constraints of traditional visualization. The synergy of Lumen and Nanite fosters innovation, nurturing an environment where designs stretch the boundaries, where creativity knows no bounds. Unbound by technical limitations, architects will be able to truly focus on creative expression, crafting digital worlds that capture a mood, an emotion, or a philosophy. This creative liberation expands the horizons of design thinking itself.

The Ongoing Advancements and Challenges

While Lumen and Nanite represent significant advancements in visualization technology, these tools still face certain limitations and challenges that over time we believe will be worked out both with improvements made by Epic Games and computing advancements. 

Lumen’s real-time global illumination, while striking, can strain performance and lead to reduced frame rates based on scene complexity. When using these tools for VR getting limited on FPS creates usability issues. Reports of visual anomalies like light streaks and blotches that compromise image quality in specific situations have also surfaced. These issues are particularly noticeable in darker scenes, where Lumen intensively calculates bounce lighting. Achieving the right balance between visual fidelity and performance might require some trial and error.

Nanite, too, can push modern GPUs to their limits. Rendering extensive geometric detail might result in sluggish interaction when manipulating complex Nanite-powered assets. Memory usage is another concern, as Nanite’s uncapped geometry consumes valuable VRAM. Developers may need to strategically optimize and allocate resources for Nanite objects.

While these solutions strive for real-time photorealism, current hardware struggles to meet their formidable demands. Lumen and Nanite offer a glimpse into a future where lighting and geometry are simulated seamlessly, even though this future might not be entirely realized just yet. As GPU capabilities inevitably expand, so will the prevalence of real-time ray tracing and intricate geometric detail. Epic Games has set an ambitious trajectory with Unreal Engine 5’s cutting-edge rendering—a future that inches closer with each passing year.

Conclusion: The Luminous Horizon

In the intricate dance of light and design, Radical Galaxy Studio brings dreams to life. Within the evolving landscape of architectural visualization, Lumen and Nanite mark the juncture where realistic illumination and intricate precision propel architectural designs into an era of immersive depth. As these tools progress and computing power amplifies, we foresee a future where every curve, shadow, and play of light isn’t just observed, but is profoundly experienced. At Radical Galaxy Studio, our team consists of architects, interior designers, and gaming professionals. We’ve harnessed the power of the Unreal Engine since our company’s inception in 2017. While Unreal Engine can be demanding to navigate, the results and deliverables we create are truly stunning, and we anticipate further enhancements in our offerings. For those who’ve stumbled upon this blog and read up to this point, we are always eager to engage in discussions with peers, be it architects, designers, real estate developers, or other visualization firms, about the advancements and challenges we encounter with various tools we all use.

Architectural Visualization V-Ray or Corona

Architectural Visualization V-Ray or Corona

by | Aug 17, 2023 | architectural rendering, Radical Galaxy Studio

In the architectural visualization industry, the essence of a project is captured not only by its design but also by how it’s visualized and presented to the public. We are often asked about the rendering software we use, and the answer varies based on the project requirements. For virtual reality or real-time work, we use Unreal Engine. For still imagery, we primarily use 3ds Max and employ both V-Ray and Corona, in conjunction with other tools like Substance Painter, Photoshop, After Effects, Houdini, and Nuke, to name a few. The rendering software we choose becomes an extension of our creative expression.

A frequent topic of discussion when interacting with architectural firms or interior designers is whether we use V-Ray or Corona. For us, it’s less about the tool and more about the artist’s comfort and proficiency with it (expect for animations). For still renderings we have team members who are adept with V-Ray, and others who excel with Corona. Both can produce remarkable results. In this blog, we will delve into some of the differences between these two tools.

Hardware Needs: GPU and CPU Considerations

The rendering process is often hardware-intensive. Often a firm’s investment in CPU or GPU will likely influence your software choice.

– CPU-centric Firms: Both Corona and V-Ray are adept at leveraging the full prowess of your CPUs, ensuring detailed and swift renders.

– GPU-focused Firms: If your firm is moving towards a GPU-centric model, V-Ray is the go-to, given that Corona hasn’t ventured into GPU rendering as of now.

Some believe rendering exclusively with the CPU helps avoid some common challenges associated with GPU rendering. These challenges range from GPU architectures not being ideal for comprehensive global illumination, to memory constraints some machines have. Undoubtedly, both GPU and CPU methods come with their respective strengths and weaknesses. This is evident from the robust products being developed and employed in professional settings from both spectrums.

Host Software Compatibility

Your primary design software plays a pivotal role in your rendering software choice.

For firms using 3ds Max or Cinema 4D, either V-Ray or Corona would integrate seamlessly.

If tools like Maya, SketchUp, or Revit are part of your firm’s arsenal, V-Ray offers exclusive support in these realms, a feature Corona hasn’t fully embraced yet. While that could change in the future capatiability with the other tools you use is an important factor in deciding which to use. 

Crafting Your Style: Workflow Dynamics in Rendering

Every architectural visualization firm has its signature style, often reflected in their rendering approach.

For firms that prioritize quick, photorealistic outputs without delving deep into parameters, Corona is the prime choice. It’s built for intuitiveness, enabling lifelike results with minimal tweaks.

V-Ray is the canvas for firms that prefer customizability. Its extensive toolkit offers granularity, from shadow-casting nuances to object-specific rendering adjustments.

Project Scope – Stills vs. Animated Sequences

Your firm’s project deliverables – whether high-res stills or detailed animated sequences – can dictate your rendering software preference.

Both V-Ray and Corona are adept at crafting pristine still renders. However, for animated walkthroughs or sequences, V-Ray’s granular controls offer an edge.

V-Ray is laden with features and provides extra control that are tailor-made for animated scenes. For example, the nuances of motion blur and depth of field in V-Ray give animations a more natural, cinematic feel. Performance optimization is another feather in V-Ray’s cap. Even in scenes teeming with assets, V-Ray demonstrates admirable stability and efficiency, a quality indispensable for rendering sequences frame by frame. Additionally, its seamless integration with leading animation software ensures a fluid workflow, a vital attribute for animators often racing against the clock. While Corona indeed has its strengths and is the go-to for certain projects, V-Ray’s comprehensive features, stability, and adaptability make it a frontrunner for architectural animation videos.

Drawing the Conclusion: Which Rendering Tool Triumphs?

While Corona is perceived as the more beginner-friendly option, in the hands of a skilled artist, it can produce still renderings that rival those created with V-Ray. V-Ray’s extensive feature set requires a deeper commitment to learning and, in many cases, a higher investment in equipment. In the realm of architectural visualization, the choice of software is merely the brush, while the true magic for stills lies in the artist’s hands. Both V-Ray and Corona are remarkable tools, adept at transforming a firm’s vision into vivid, awe-inspiring visuals. However, the true essence of a render is determined not just by the software but by the expertise and imagination of the artist operating it. As your firm assesses these tools, it’s vital to recognize that while they facilitate and enhance, it’s the artist’s touch that genuinely illuminates architectural wonders on the screen. At Radial Galaxy Studio, we employ both tools and are happy to talk with those interested in greater depth about our experiences with other industry professionals about our experiences with both tools.

 

About Radical Galaxy Studio

Radical Galaxy Studio, an award-winning top visualization studio with offices in New York City and the Seattle area. Their accolades are a testament to their unparalleled prowess in translating intricate design concepts into tangible, resonant visuals. Serving a diverse clientele exposes them to a rich tapestry of architectural styles and challenges. Their unwavering commitment to authenticity is apparent in every project. The studio’s dynamic synergy – a blend of tech enthusiasts and artistic visionaries, ensures that each creation embodies precision and aesthetic excellence. As the architectural landscape continues its relentless evolution, Radical Galaxy Studio, fortified by its blend of technology, artistry, is positioned to remain at the forefront, continually redefining industry standards.

Unlock Photorealistic Architectural Visuals with Unreal Engine

Unlock Photorealistic Architectural Visuals with Unreal Engine

by | Aug 14, 2023 | architectural rendering, Radical Galaxy Studio, unreal engine

 

Unlock Photorealistic Architectural Visuals with Unreal Engine

 
Architectural visualization is crucial for bringing building and interior designs to life. Real-time 3D rendering engines like Unreal Engine provide architects, designers, and visualization artists with the tools to create strikingly realistic and interactive architectural visualizations. We’ll explore the key benefits of using Unreal Engine for architectural visualization and explain why more architecture studios are adopting it into their workflows.
 
Architectural visualization involves creating lifelike renderings, animations, and interactive 3D experiences to showcase the architectural detail of a project. These visual materials allow clients and stakeholders to fully experience the spaces before construction even begins which is a game changer for the industry.
 
Traditionally, architectural visualizations were created with rendering programs like 3ds Max, Lumion, SketchUp, Corona, V-Ray. But real-time 3D engines like Unreal Engine are revolutionizing architectural visualization with their speed, interactivity, and photorealistic rendering capabilities.
 
Unreal Engine is a game development platform created by Epic Games. Given the original tool was meant for building video games it allows artists the ability to add interaction into the former static universe of real estate renderings.

 

Benefits of Unreal Engine for Architectural Visualization

 

Faster Iteration and Updates

 
One of the biggest advantages of real-time 3D engines like Unreal Engine is speed. There is no waiting hours or days for scenes to render like with Vray rendering. Changes and updates to materials, lighting, and geometry appear instantly in-engine for quick .This enables faster iteration, allowing visualization artists to quickly implement changes based on client feedback and sharing with the client right away. Previously in some of the other workflows you would need to rerender an image or animation overnight before sharing with the client.
 

True-to-Life Real-Time Rendering

 
Unreal Engine features real-time based rendering simulates realistic light behaviors’ and materials. Advanced rendering features like ray tracing and global illumination create true-to-life lighting, reflections, and shadows. The engine can render photorealistic human skin, fabric, metal, glass, liquids, and other materials that react to virtual lights and environments. Every material can have customized textures along with other adjustable parameters.
 
This photorealism brings architectural designs to life in a way that feels immersive and tangible for clients viewing the visuals. The realism achieved in Unreal Engine is on par with or exceeds offline rendering.
 

Interactive Experiences

 
Unlike traditional still renderings, Unreal Engine enables interactive architectural visualizations. Clients can freely navigate through 3D spaces, open doors, turn lights on and off, and dynamically adjust materials and textures. This interactivity provides an experiential understanding of the design. Clients can get a first-person view of what it would actually feel like inside the space once constructed.
 

VR/AR Capabilities

 
Unreal Engine integrates seamlessly with VR and AR hardware like Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Microsoft HoloLens. Architectural visualizations can be experienced in virtual or augmented reality for next-level immersion. Virtual reality allows clients to be fully immersed within spaces to perceive accurate scale, materials, lighting, and design intent. AR overlays 3D models directly into real-world environments for contextualized visualization.
 

Animation and Cinema-Quality Content

 
In addition to interactive experiences, Unreal Engine includes powerful tools for high-end cinematics and animations. This makes it possible to produce high-quality architectural animations. Architects can use the UE to create polished design overview videos, animated walkthroughs, VR content, marketing materials, and other animated assets. Features like sequencer timeline editing and keyframe animation enable complex animations.
 

Scalable Project

 
Unreal Engine is built to handle large open world environments capable of AAA game development. This makes it great for visualizing expansive architectural spaces like stadiums, airports, and cityscapes. Massive datasets with billions of polygons and 8k textures can be imported and optimized efficiently in Unreal. Level streaming allows optimization and rendering of huge worlds.
 

Customized Shaders and Materials

 
Unreal provides a node-based shader editor for creating specialized material shaders. Technical artists can build custom shaders and material functions to achieve highly specific architectural materials. Custom shaders can be created for surfaces like concrete, water, windows, weathered metals, curtains, granite, brick, wood, and anything else an architectural firm needs to convey their design intent.
 

Team Collaboration

 
Unreal Engine enables real-time collaboration for architectural visualization teams. Multiple artists can work simultaneously in the same Unreal project via source control like Perforce. The entire team can see changes and updates as they are made. This allows better communication, progress tracking, and coordination among team members.
 

Photogrammetry Integration

 
Photogrammetry involves generating 3D models from photographs of real-world objects and environments. Unreal integrates well with photogrammetry tools like RealityCapture or Metashape. Architectural visualization artists can scan real-world textures, materials, objects, and environments to produce highly accurate assets for scenes. This enhances realism by using real-world data.
 

Wide Industry Adoption

 
Unreal Engine has become an industry standard tool used in many architecture and construction firms including Foster + Partners, Populous, KPF, and HKS among others. It is a proven technology with lots of community support, tutorials, and learning resources available. Architectural teams can leverage the experience of industry leaders to implement best practices for Unreal Engine workflows.
 
Radical Galaxy is a leading visualization firm pushing the boundaries of architectural visualization with Unreal Engine. They work with top real estate developers and brands like Hyatt, Marriott, and Disney to create next-level experiences. Their work showcases the potential of Unreal Engine for architectural visualization in both sales centers and marketing materials. Radical Galaxy leverages the engine’s real-time rendering, VR/AR capabilities, and interactivity to immerse clients in designs before construction. This has enabled developers to accelerate sales cycles and make more informed design decisions. Unreal Engine empowers Radical Galaxy to deliver visualization solutions that give their clients an experiential edge over the competition.
 
Unreal Engine brings real-time photorealistic rendering, interactivity, VR/AR capabilities, animation tools, scalability, customization, and collaboration for architectural visualization firms. The key benefits like speed, realism, and immersive experiences are driving more architects and designers to adopt Unreal Engine into their workflows. It empowers firms to showcase designs in new engaging ways and enables more efficient iteration and feedback loops with stakeholders. Unreal Engine facilitates visual storytelling that brings building plans to life.
 
Ready to take your architectural visualizations to the next level? Reach out to our team of Unreal Engine experts to discuss how we can partner with you.
The Transformative Power of Creativity in Architectural Renderings

The Transformative Power of Creativity in Architectural Renderings

by | Aug 8, 2023 | architectural rendering, Radical Galaxy Studio

For architects, designers and real estate developers, renderings bring visions to life from as little as a sketch to a full 3D textured rendering. But taking renderings beyond ordinary imagery you often see being used for marketing collateral or city meetings requires embracing creativity. When originality and artistry are applied, renderings can unlock remarkable potential to engage, inspire and transform a real estate development in ways that words often can’t.

In a competitive real estate space, creative renderings provide crucial visual intrigue that piques interest for potential buyers, tenants, stakeholders and the community. Employing an imaginative style with compositions and techniques that reflect the project’s vision is an important aspect that’s often overlooked. Clients are often more focused on showing as much as possible in one rendering instead of creating a mood or feeling that fits in with the brand.

 

Captivating Attention Through Artistic Style

Introducing artistic flair, whether it’s steam coming out of a coffee mug on a cool morning as the sun rises or a rendering vignette using depth of field to make the viewer feel they are at that location, adds emotion to the image. Making a rendering feel original and convey feeling is not a simple task of just hitting a button. It takes thought, effort and really understanding the brand, asset and market position to take it to the next level.

Clients often get caught up on small architectural details in the imagery, but as artists we look to leverage lighting, motion, flow and thoughtful use of focus to craft compositions that pull viewers in, that tell a story that inspires. Yes, getting the architectural detail correct is important but equally or more important is what the image is conveying to viewers. Often less seen in an image has a larger impact versus a wide-angle shot that shows every detail in a room with a slightly distorted focal length.

 

Reinforcing Brand Identity Through Visual Cohesion

Impactful renderings should align with the properties brand identity. Maintain stylistic cohesion across projects and mediums to create familiarity. Carry over thematic elements that communicate your ethos. Sustaining a unified creative direction distinguishes your property from competitors. Little things like the color of the clothes the people in the renderings wear should align with the colors seen on the development’s logos and website. Having full design cohesion is important.
 

Optimizing Renderings for Audience and Purpose

Truly effective renderings stem from creativity tailored to target use cases. Renderings for investors warrant a different vision than those used for billboards and websites. Think about viewer sensibilities and goals, then customize aesthetics and techniques accordingly. Match imaginative direction to the purpose behind each rendering.
 

Finding the Right Visualization Partner

At Radical Galaxy Studio we combine creative prowess with technical expertise to flawlessly execute ambitious concepts. We create custom-tailored vision aligned to your brand needs through robust communication. We see ourselves as future-forward partners eager to pioneer ideas that propel your brand forward, whether it’s to work with emerging technologies like augmented reality or mixed reality in Unreal Engine.

Above all, we are passionate about visualization as an expressive art form, leveraging creativity’s power to take your architectural renderings to extraordinary new heights. The potential of imagination-fueled renderings is limitless. By embracing inventive perspectives, we can create visuals that captivate audiences and position your project at the forefront of your industry.