A Strange Request Has Been Given To Me

KentWhitten

This has kind of fallen into my lap and I honestly don't know what to do now that it has. I have been training myself with an exterior modeling software program for quite some time now and I'm getting damn good at it and I'm just skimming the surface of being dangerous to myself in the 3d Viz department. It is used by architects to draw our pretty pictures.

Lately I have been getting more and more frequent requests from people just entering the scene of this new and up and coming software. They email me more and more as time passes. I'm one of the bigger contributors and posters on a few forums which is where I get emailed from. This software has been predicted to surpass all other CAD software out there and is heading in that direction right now.

Up until now, I have politely and graciously given people help and they are grateful for it. Today has been one of the opportunity knocking days.

Someone wants me to set up a template file for them from the modeling program to the rendering program. They say they don't know very much about the rendering program, they just have it sitting there on the shelf and don't have time to do training to learn, which for rendering photorealism is quite understandable. They just need something to export from then import to.

This guy wants to know how much to charge for a template setup. Usually I would just give him something that would get him close. I mean really a template isn't anything. Also depends on what you're rendering, inside, outside,, what engine he has, on and on.

I mean would you guys just send him a general exterior rendering template? What about future email stuff. Am I too conscientious about charging people for what I would consider simple items? This would be similar to giving advice to someone over the phone.

And what about private help for people who email me about the software? I surely can help people with that.

There was one website I use to frequent quite alot a few years back I remember was a completely 100% help forum for 3d software. All kinds, not just any one in particular. One day the head guy thinks of something that might just work. He goes commercial and starts doing things differently. Overnight the guy was able to quit his daytime job and commit his work time to his site. He might not be wealthy, but sure has a better job.

Cole

Lets see some of your work!

What software are you using?

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lukachuki

yeah what he said

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Timberland

Revit?

KentWhitten

Yessir Revit. I'll post some pics soon. I'm rendering as I speak and it's been a day already. Looks like it might be tomorrow.

Cole

lol, I figured it was Revit.

Me and you could have a showdown.

I use ArchiCAD and it is BIM as well.

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Timberland

We just had a lunch-in on this at work a couple weeks ago......seems like it'll take over autocad soon. Pretty impressive. Looking forward to seeing your pics....

KentWhitten

OK, I'm crying now, LOL. I just spent the last 2 DAYS rendering this model. I've been having severe problems with awful shadows showing up. I finally had a breakthrough with a new rendering plug-in. I didn't tweak settings around to my time favor, and I just let it run....for 2 days!

When I exited photoshop to fix a little something, I clicked the yes button to save changes. I was supposed to click NO! LOL. Anyway, still not bad. Much, much smaller jpeg file.

There has been fun jabbing going back and forth between the ArchiCAD people and Revit for quite awhile now. It's all for fun. All programs have their pluses and minuses. I just enjoy the modeling capabilities in Revit and I am able to use it to my advantage when it comes to visualization. It imports into Max quite easily. I can't say anything good or bad about ArchiCAD. I have never used it. Show me some stuff you've done!

The recent AutoCAD release I hear has improved greatly. I honestly don't think Autodesk is ever going to get rid of acad, ADT, or Revit or combine all them together. They all have their own benefits.

I'll be posting more in a few minutes. Got to dig everything out. So unorganized!



http://www.whittendesigns.com/pdf/50...heet_%20A0.pdf

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dirt diggler

WOW!

KentWhitten

Another pdf. This is one of my favorites.

If you didn't see, there was a pdf file under the model rendering above. Same drawing except from Revit. The model was rendered in Max using fR plug-in

http://www.whittendesigns.com/pdf/51...heet_%20A0.pdf

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

KentWhitten

Revit model, render Max/fR



LARGER IMAGE

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

KentWhitten

Smaller Ranch



LARGER IMAGE

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Cole

Beautiful Work, my friend!

You have talent sir, real talent.

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KentWhitten

Thank You dirt and Cole. I appreciate your compliments.

Another one I've had shelved because of my rendering problem.



LARGER IMAGE

And bonus rendering toys! Kinda like Sketchup.



Few more around here somewhere, you want me to keep going?

You got any to show Cole? Love to see ArchiCAD in action

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Wolverine-Eric

Framer,

If I were asking you for information and e-mailing or calling... I would expect to pay you for your time.

Timberland

Wow Framerman, nice stuff!
I would also like to see a combination of autocad and revit.....because as you said, each program has it's own pro's and cons.

KentWhitten

Oh, I don't use AutoCAD.

Revit is a full CAD (BIM) program. Actually does quite well with takeoffs, etc. Are you talking CD stuff, like prints?

These are older ones. Kinda messy, but still good.

http://www.whittendesigns.com/pdf/In...0Elevatons.pdf.

http://www.whittendesigns.com/pdf/Front%20Elevation.pdf

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

theartisan

I think you should definetly charge for your work. In the end doing favors doesnt put food on the table for you or your family.

I have 12 years experience in Autodesk design, modeling, rendering, visulization software. I am extremely effecient and charge a minimum of $40 per hour for any work I do.

The only exception is when I am occassionally asked to do small projects for long time friends. Usually these are simple site plan layouts for permits. I do not charge them but more often than not are trades people and are willing to help me if i find myself in a pinch.

I do have extensive formal training, and I need to recoup some type of return on my investment. If you are picking this up as a "hobby" you have still devoted alot of time to get to the level you are at. You my not feel qualified to charge a professional rate, but you are certainly entitled to a reduced "hobby" rate for your work.

If a client were to undertake the task of trying to learn what they are asking you to do, the would surely invest a significant amount of time , that time has value to them. Your time has value to you, I dont think you should give it away to random people.

just my $0.02