1. What is a rendering?
2. What are renderings used for?
3. How much does a rendering cost?
4. How do you make a rendering?
5. What information do I need to provide?
6. Can a rendering be revised if there is a design change?
7. Who are your clients?
8. Can you create brochures, billboards or websites?
9. Can I get a free quote and consultation?
10.) Why do some of your images look realistic while others look traditionally painted or sketched?
11. What is an animation?
12. What do you mean by interactive content?
13. Can you help with my design
14.) Do you keep my design and drawings confidential?
15. Why will I love working with you?
1.) What is a rendering?
Renderings are artist renditions. Conceptual illustrations of a design that has not yet been built. They serve the purpose of communicating ideas that cannot be easily described in words. The old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words" very much applies to renderings.
2.) What are renderings used for?
Renderings are mostly sought after for marketing and project promotion purposes and as a visualization tool for the design team to accurately see and communicate their ideas beyond 2 dimensions. They are also useful for securing building permits, sun/shadow studies, comparing multiple schemes, simulations, instructional textbooks, and any other purpose where an unrealized design needs to be visualized. It is my hope that my renderings are useful for all these purposes and maximally utilized.
3.) How much does a rendering cost?
Instead of charging a flat rate per rendering, my fees are based on an hourly fee of $50/hr. So in my mind the question is translated to "how long will it take?" The answer to that (in simple terms) depends on complexity of the design and the design information provided to me. Also the number of renderings, animations etc. desired. If I'm asked to bid on a project, I quote a conservative figure and submit a detailed proposal explaining that figure. To give a general ballpark, the projects featured on my website range from approximately $500 - $3500.
4.) How do you make a rendering?
I create a 3d digital model of the project. The digital model starts out as a mass model of the 2 major components; walls and roofs extruded from floor plans and elevations. This is when I start sending my clients preliminary b&w images of the model for immediate form study and progress tracking. Then I refine the model with openings followed by fenestration. From there it really depends on the building but commonly entrances, columns, posts, beams, fascia and soffit detail, decks, railings, etc. are introduced next. A site model is also generated starting with the terrain surface derived from contours unless the site is flat. Sidewalks, curbs, streets, etc. are built onto the terrain surface. An alternative to modeling the site is to superimpose the building into a site photo which may or may not be faster or more desirable than modeling the site in 3d. Regardless, using the photo option (while being the most photo realistic) limits the viewpoint to that photo where a 3d site can be viewed from any viewpoint making it the most flexible option. At this point colors, textures, and lighting are commonly introduced and the model evolves into a more complete scene. Detailing continues until the desired level of detail is reached. Meanwhile viewpoints for still renderings or animation camera paths are explored and the scene is populated with entourage, the most important being landscaping which is often extremely key to a nice finished rendering. I cannot stress enough that a steady stream of progress imagery is sent to the client throughout every process and a clear communication path is always open for feedback, direction, and progress.
5.) What information do I need to provide?
The more design information you can provide, the faster I can work which directly translates to cost savings for you. Drawings are the most valuable form of information you can provide, they can range from sketches to electronic CAD files 2D or 3D. The more complete the drawings, the easier and faster I can produce renderings. However I have a strong understanding that renderings are often desired during the earlier stages of a project which means that drawings are very much a work in progress and are not complete and/or subject to change. I big part of my job is to roll with these changes and I appreciate that what I do is helping the design process evolve. I will bring to attention any mismatches between drawings further helping the design evolution.
Site photos, verbal descriptions, sketchup or any other 3d files, desired viewpoints, material specifications, paint manufacturer numbers etc. all very useful.
6.) Can a rendering be revised if there is a design change?
Yes. However keep in mind that change orders do apply to my time and therefore your cost. A least a few design changes are expected in any project and I do factor a reasonable amount of design change into my quotes.
7.) Who are your clients?
I have successfully worked with architects, engineers, and other designers, developers, planners, builders, realtors, owners, cities, and marketing agencies.
8.) Can you create brochures, billboards or websites?
Yes I have done all of these things and can show you examples. This website is my own creation. However creating renderings is my specialty and focus so I sometimes consult with a talented group of graphic designers and website gurus to offer more comprehensive media creation.
9.) Can I get a free quote and consultation?
Absolutely. I would be happy to discuss any project with you large or small and at any budget. My system for quoting is to compare your project description with comparable past projects and see what the total was on those projects. Every project is unique and has many unpredictable variables, for example I never know how many design changes will occur. Chances are you don't either so I'm a firm believer in keeping communication lines open alerting you of any issue that may affect cost. I am very careful not to under quote and am happy to submit a detailed proposal giving you options to choose from.
10.) Why do some of your images look realistic while others look traditionally painted or sketched?
All of my renderings are created digitally with great respect to those that create renderings using traditional methods. The renderings that look "sketchy" are digital renderings that are purposely manipulated with software to look that way. Why? Style is a choice that I give my clients and I strive to offer a variety of choices from conceptual to realistic to surrealistic. Usually it's merely a matter of personal taste. Often realism is the objective for anyone using the renderings as a design tool (also it's what rendering software is designed to do). Can a rendering look too real? I think it's possible if you don't want you're design to appear too set in stone. In other words, will the end client feel like they've been left out of the design process when they see a polished realistic rendering early on? Will the rendering get misinterpreted as a photo on a subconscious level? I think it depends on whether your trying to market a complete design, a concept, or just a feeling. As you've probably noticed most of my renderings are on the surreal side. Partially because of my own personal taste but also because they get attention. People look twice when they can't figure it out, then they are suddenly immersed and taking a few moments to study the image.
11.) What is an animation?
An animation is a moving rendering. The same process goes into making a digital 3d scene for still renderings, only the camera moves around the scene creating virtual walkthroughs and flyarounds. In addition, scene objects can also be animated; such as a closing door, moving car, walking person, falling snow, flying flag, setting sun etc.
12.) What do you mean by interactive web content?
Interactive content refers to renderings that you can interact with on a website. Such as rotating a building with your mouse in real time for examination. Or rotating your view inside a scene in real time (instead of rendering to a flat plane, I render to the inside of a virtual sphere), a truly immersive experience! I can also create websites such as this one or more advanced websites with the help of a talanted team of consultants.
13.) Can you help me with my design?
My hope is that by providing visualization material, I am helping the design process. However I am not an architect though I worked for a major architectural firm as an illustrator and CAD manager for 11 years prior to starting by own business. I am happy to consult with you about design issues in all my capacity. For issues beyond my expertise I have consultants that I routinely consult with particularly with residential construction.
14.) Do you keep my design and drawings confidential?
Yes. I am very strict about keeping my client's information confidential and I'm more than happy to sign a confidentiality agreement.
15.) Why will I love working with you?
Personal service - I'm am the sole proprietor of my business. When you call my number, you will only get me on the other end and I will personally be with you throughout the process.
Experience - I spent 11 years working at a major architectural office as an illustrator and CAD manager prior to starting my business and I understand the challenges of successfully communicating and marketing a design. I have a B.S. in Design Drafting from MSU Northern along with several years of residential building experience.
Artistic talent - Creative imagery is and always will be my passion. My heart and sole goes into every image I produce and I want your design to be a success as much as you do.
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