Product Spotlight: Our In-House Rendering Process

Every rendering starts with a floor plan. Just like any other project, the bones of the building are needed to create an accurate and realistic rendering. Next, it is up to the designer to select which program they would like to build the 3D model in. The most often used programs are Sketchup and Revit. After quite a bit of time and coordination, the designer will finally have the 3D model of the client’s building put into the program. Once that is done- the creative part begins! The designer inputs images of all the finish selections into the program and makes any necessary edits to ensure that an accurate representation in the rendering is achieved. Then, the designer applies the finish selections to all applicable surfaces such as walls, floors, architectural elements, and furniture. The next step is to see how the rendering looks. There are a variety of programs that will render an image for you. In our office, we use Enscape. Enscape takes the 3D model with the applied finish images and makes a realistic snapshot of what the client’s space will look like. The designer continues to apply edits to the finish images until the rendering looks as close to the real thing as possible. Once this is achieved, the designer will edit the rendering settings to create a crisp image that is ready to be sent to the client.

Renderings can often be a game changer for clients. While nothing can replace seeing finish samples in real life, renderings help the client visualize how those finishes work together in the space. When the client may have liked two finishes together before, they could change their mind once they see how each is used in comparison to one another. Renderings prevent many future issues as designers and clients alike can see how the furniture interacts with the space, or how several objects may conflict with each other. For example, a designer may not notice how a ceiling element such as HVAC interacts with built-in elements such as a nook until they see it in 3D form.

We used renderings to our advantage in a project we are working on in Orlando. The client was able to select finishes to use on the columns based on options we showed in a rendering. We were also able to create this built-in nook in conjunction with existing elements in the ceiling based off what we saw in the 3D model as well as the rendering.

1: The initial rendering of the space. Note how the columns on the right are wood, and the glass windows to the left still exist.

2: This is the view of the model in Sketchup. Here, the designer can see the finishes on a more basic level.

3: This is the final rendering of the space. Here you can see where the columns have changed to concrete, the nook now takes up the entire left wall, and the ceiling elements are interacting with the nook.