Architectural Computer Graphics

Tool Library for RhinoCAM

2008-04-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

Let's look at how to define tools. We can save them to a library and then load that library when we open other files. At left are the router bits that we'll be using for Spring'08. We either need to Create/Select Tools OR load a library to see the list of tools.

Rhino 3.0 demos

2007-10-11T07:16:00.001-07:00

Here are two basic Rhino video demos - the first shows you how to select objects by type and then hide them, the second shows how to set a construction plane.

Online Portfolio Prep - Video Demos

2007-09-19T10:09:00.001-07:00

Every artist and design needs to record their work in a portfolio. A simple way to do this is to prepare pages as images in Photoshop, save them as Adobe PDF format, then use Adobe Acrobat Professional to put the pages together and add links. Text directions complement the video explanations below.

Photoshop:

1. Adjusting warped photos (14MB, 2min) OR
YouTube version

2. Correcting poor lighting (22MB, 3min)

Adobe Acrobat Professional PDF

1. Adding pages (10MB, 2 min)

2. Linking Pages (20 MB, 4 min)

I've experimented with making these video demos using Camtasia software. It lets you record the screen and then edit it and add titles, etc. To get a useful result takes a lot of practice and still there are little audio blips that I'm having trouble editing out.

Space Planning Sketches - Comparison

2007-02-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

How do different designers approach space planning? Try this exercise, then look at how others have approached it. See more info in Assignment 6 and the Logitech Pen infosheet.

Designing a graphic design firm
The clients are considering renovating a free-standing building approximately 40’ x 64’ with street access along the 40’ eastern exposure. The building has 3 columns 16’ apart along the center line of the building and a floor to ceiling height of 20’. Show how the following spaces with necessary circulation could be arranged in plan within those dimensions.

Program areas and square footages

Receptionist’s area 100
Lobby waiting area 150
Mailroom / photocopy / coffee 150
4 private offices at 150 each
Open workspace 750 min
Conference Room 250
Restroom 100
Storage: 7’ high x 50 linear ft

The waiting area, restroom and mailroom/photocopy/coffee area should be close to the receptionist’s area. Circulation space can be additional to the required program.

Browse alternate presentations
1. Annotated slideshow
2. Audio/video explanation
3. Matrix of animated solutions (view with Mozilla Firefox)
4. Original author explaining (6 min, 20 MB on Andromeda)
5. Use IoReader 1.0 to interactively view animated drawings (7.3 MB .ZIP archive). Download & install the software on a Windows machine.

Share your drawings online
Draw and download IoReader 1.0 .PEN files, then upload them and browse classmates' work here. (note this only works with Logitech IoReader 1.0 .PEN files & Mozilla Firefox browser).

Digital Fabrication Links

2007-02-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

FORM EXPLORATION

Pavel Hladik http://www.movingstructure.info/ & http://nolimat.com
University of Kassel - see Building the IsoCurve Rhino tutorial http://www.uni-kassel.de/fb12/wwtwl/projekte/SmartStructures/index.html
Axel Killian, MIT Post Doctoral Student, http://destech.mit.edu/akilian/
Fun Palace in Berlin: http://project-mla.medialabarquitectos.com/
Emergent Technologies & Design, AA http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/et/

LASERCUTTING

Furnishings: http://www.bility.is/
Screens: Forte Air Factory Design Studio http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/icff/icff-2006-faf-artwork-panels-009268
Lamp by Toor Bootje: http://www.artecnicainc.com/
Skins: http://laminadesign.com

PAPER SCULPTURE

FABRICATION BOOKS & LINIKS

Digital Design & Manufacturing, Daniel Schodek et. al.
Architecture in the Digital Age by Branko Kolarevic, NA2543.T43 A724 2003
Fabrication: the Digital Practice of Architecture by Philip Beesley, Nancy Cheng, & Williamson [CHENG 21] http://www.fabrication.ald.utoronto.ca
Digital Fabricators by Michael Stacey [CHENG 22]
FEIDAD competition http://www.feidad.org/
2003 FEIDAD winners http://www.feidad.org/homepage/award_winners.htm
Thaleck Engineering http://www.clarolon.de/_sgt/m2_1.htm
Front’s 3D Drawing http://blog.pcnews.ro/2006/10/28/sketch-your-furniture-in-the-air/

Texture maps

2007-01-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

Click image to get animation showing how moving a shade can make a dramatic difference in the cast shadow. The curved background distorts the shadow as the shade gets closer to it.

Some notes on texture maps:

1) Using texture maps
Images can be used in place of modeling: as surface textures and as transparency filters.

>> Apply a texture to geometric objects such as a sphere, a curved surface, a dish, change the type of texture map from Cubic to Cylindrical or Spherical. Resize and place the texture to fit the geometry. Use an image as a transparency to create screens.

For the advanced: can you place a decal onto a wall? See graffiti tutorial in FormZ

2) Control Light Settings
Types of lights:
Directional light: parallel rays
Point / Omni light: radiating from a point
Cone light: casts within a cone - can regulate
Area or Rectangular lights: assign to a polygon
Projection: using an image as a slide (see http://www.lightart.nl/)

Glow for lights & materials (can set falloff & radius for point lighit)
Soft shadows

Display Options > Renderzone Options: Shadows on
Scene: Background, Fog

2006 New Year's Card

2006-09-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm usually busy in December and only manage to get a New Year's card out. This year's card features plants from a botanical garden in Sweden.

Rendering

2006-09-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

I tested two files with the Kerkythea renderer and found the program quite easy to use. The software allows you to place simple lights, adjust views and materials and then it creates nice quality renderings. The top images are from a Rhino model I made this summer and the bottom is their demo file that I altered a bit.

I need to explore how to organize the model for most successful control of material assignments. For the models that I tested without clear object labels, it was hard to find parts to texture.

You can download Kerkythea free and it works with many kinds of 3D models. Perhaps next I will try the Blender 3D modeler.