After reading the previous blog about how to get additional income in this 3D Architectural Visualization world, well now the question is what the steps that need to be prepared by a beginner to start being able to get additional income are?
Step 1: Studying
Well, If this is it, everyone also knows. Yes, yes, If you want to start but you don't want to learn, then what? Now, the most important thing is to know where to start and what to learn first, right?
There are many softwares that can be used to make good visualizations, but not all of the software can be used for Architectural Visualization. At least, softwares can be divided into 4 categories, which are:
Base Software
Render Engine
Plugin Software
Software post-production
Note: The reviews about the softwares above will be discussed on a different blog.
Base Software
This basic software is software that will be your platform for working, especially modelling and texturing. Some basic software commonly used by 3D artist in Architectural Visualization world are:
Blender
Trimble Sketchup
Autodesk 3DS MAX
Autodesk Maya
Cinema4D
Rhino
Z Brush
Render Engine Render engine is software used to produce photorealistic visuals. Some rendering engines that are widely used by 3D artists in the world of Architectural Visualization are:
Blender cycles
VRay
Corona Renderer
Octane Render
Plugins Software Plugin software is software that needs to be installed separately because it was developed by a third party, to simplify and speed up our work, some of the most famous and powerful plugins are on the 3DSMAX platform, including:
Advanced Painter
CG Source Floor Generator
Itoo Software Forest Pack Pro
Itoo Software Railclone
Vizpark Wall & Tiles
Exlevel Grow Fx
Post Production Software
The last software is post-production software. This software is used to improve the quality of rendering results and can be used to make revisions without having to be rendered again. Popular software includes:
Adobe Light Room
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effect
Affinity
After determining the platform, I suggest learning according to this stage, because this is what we have practiced at 2G Studio, namely:
Basic modeling such as making walls, doors, which can be categorized as the basic box shape first. Train until you can really do it quickly and efficiently.
Basic texturing because this is an important point to make a realistic result, the wrong size will certainly look unnatural, and everyone who sees will know that it is wrong. It can be started by learning the basic UVW map first.
Shaders/materials, you must often practice until the results can look natural, no need to be too advanced first, use the simple method first, as long as it looks natural it is ok.
Basic lighting, using sky and sun first, understand the character of the sky and sun correctly then learn about other forms of lighting.
Modeling environment such as ground, contour land, road, pedestrian, because this is the basic form and they're in almost every architectural rendering project.
Organic modeling like chairs, sofas, because organic objects like these can be our added value so that others choose us.
Landscape (arrangement of plants and tree environments), At the time being, you can use a pre-made model. What needs to be trained is how to arrange the plants so that they don't look repetitive, and arrange the trees to make them look attractive, not all trees can look good from one side, you must try to rotate it so that it looks good.
Post Production such as brightness & contrast, curve, level, color balance, is a basic technique that really needs to be learned. It looks simple but is very powerful to make our work look better.
Langkah 2: Practicing
After you determine the platform, the next step is to practice, the challenges here are at the beginning, like playing a game, in the beginning, you must be still trying to adapt to all the menus and ways to play and it must be difficult, still, because you really want to play, then you study all the menus and continue to practice so that you are used to it all and can do it by heart.
Likewise with 3D, in the beginning, we've experienced many challenges. Look for videos on YouTube about basic modeling using the platform you have chosen. Keep practicing, don't give up easily. When you are frustrated and want to give up, always remember your dreams and why you started choosing to develop in this 3D Archviz world. The more often you're wrong when learning, the better, because we always learn from mistakes, when you've experienced errors and have found a solution, this will be useful later on when encountering the same case, you've already known what the solution is. Remember that even diamonds must undergo an excruciating process. Every great person before becomes a professional must have been an amateur who made many mistakes. The point is, making mistakes is mandatory so that we can know the best solution. It's better to do something wrong but then we find a solution, rather than be quiet for fear of doing wrong because you will never do anything.
Langkah 3: Creating Portfolio
This portfolio is like your business card, because everyone who contacts you, most of them must already see your work. Portfolios should not be arbitrary, the quality must be ok, at least according to your target market, if the target market is students, adjust it to the quality of students. But don't do it bad either. As a beginner, what I can suggest is don't always upload your work which is too basic unless you want to ask opinions in the 3D lovers group on Facebook. Not in other groups. After getting lots of input, try fixing it again and uploading it again to ask for the following input. After it considers good, then we put that in a portfolio.
Langkah 4: Take Action!
After having a good portfolio, start become active in the architect or interior design groups to be known, as well as if on campus, you can socialize with campus friends, and can spread flyers to be known. And make sure you can do it quickly and responsibly, respect deadlines. From there you will be increasingly known among students. Remember "Done is better than perfect". Although the quality is still mediocre, at least you have to start moving so that you can start getting acquainted with people because no matter how good your work, but if no one knows, no one will contact you. Finally, always spirited and keep practicing!