Chapter 13 Visual Communication: Drawings, Renderings, and Models 479 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. The designer draws the building in three dimensions using icons of walls, floors, roofs, structure, and windows. A central file stores a master copy of the model. The designer can import the work created in AutoCAD and SketchUp into in the model. ■ 3ds Max (Autodesk). This software is standard for many design-related industries that use models, animation, and photorealism. Animation for motion graphics, visual effects, and design visualization are its strengths. Where Revit® can be used to construct and maintain a building, 3ds Max is software a designer uses for hypothetical or conceptual work. It is effective software for creating a walk-through of an interior. It is compatible with AutoCAD. Such models make great sales tools. ■ Form-Z (AutoDesSys). Developed as CAD software, Form-Z is a three-dimensional modeler used by architects, interior designers, illustrators, and product designers. It is very good at developing photorealistic images and models. It is not used as frequently as 3ds Max therefore, it is not an industry standard. ■ SketchUp. This software is a modeling program that creates drawings resembling hand-drawn sketches. Owing to its quick learning curve and quickly generated three-dimensional models, SketchUp is an effective tool to use during the ideation. However, its rendering capabilities are somewhat limited. SketchUp is the free version of the software and is intuitive—easy to learn and use. Designers can share work through SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse, a website for storing the artists’ SketchUp work. A designer can import two-dimensional drawings done by hand or CAD files into SketchUp. See Figure 13-49. ■ Rhino. Primarily used for commercial design work, Rhinoceros® 6, nicknamed Rhino, has become one of the standard 3D-modeling tools for designers and architects. The software was developed by Robert McNeel & Associates. It is also a CAD software primarily used in architectural and industrial design. Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate and translate NURBS curves, surfaces, and solids. It also supports polygon meshes and point clouds. Starting with a sketch, drawing, or physical model, Rhino offers tools to accurately model and document designs reading for drafting, rendering, and animation. Any geometry created in Rhino can be exported to laser cutters or 3D printers. There are many “plug-ins” for Rhino that designers often use for rendering and animation. BIM works with Rhino. The benefits of digital modeling are many. Clients and team members appreciate the ability to explore, experi- ment, and view different interior configurations. Viewing an interior from different angles—from the air, ground, or in between—is helpful to understand spatial relation- ships, adjacencies, and proportion or scale. In some cases, a computer model can mathematically calculate how to construct a building or space. Frank Gehry, a well-known architect, mentioned in an interview that sometimes he can see the design of the building, but he and his team of experts cannot figure out how to build it. Computer modeling helps take inno- vative ideas to reality, Figure 13-50. Three-dimensional Kia Weatherspoon, Allied ASID/Determined by Design Figure 13-49 An interior designer can import hand or CAD drawings into SketchUp to create quick three-dimensional models to use during ideation.