Best rendering program for objects created with Autocad?

[Norsak]

Hi,

I never had much need to render anything, so I'm not upto date on the
latest software.

I currently use AutoCAD 2005, and the camera controls look like they
haven't changed for 4-5 product revisions.

If I wanted to use another software package to create photo-realistic
renderings, which one should I go for? 3DS MAX? Maya?
Which one is suitable for importing AutoCAD files, has intuitive
controls and a reasonable learning curve? Which one do you use?

Thanks in advance

[Michael \(LS\)]

"Norsak" <martin@customplanets.com> wrote in message
news:eb2b1058.0410280658.30e86237@posting.google.com... Hi, I never had much need to render anything, so I'm not upto date on the latest software. I currently use AutoCAD 2005, and the camera controls look like they haven't changed for 4-5 product revisions. If I wanted to use another software package to create photo-realistic renderings, which one should I go for? 3DS MAX? Maya? Which one is suitable for importing AutoCAD files, has intuitive controls and a reasonable learning curve? Which one do you use? Thanks in advance

FWIW, I use 3DViz. I don't do a lot of rendering but have found Viz to be
relatively easy to learn (at least the basics). Viz (& it's "big brother"
Max) allow you to link dwg files to the rendering file so that updates to
the dwg will be reflected in the rendering. You can do real nice
photo-realistic renderings with either Viz/Max, the quality of output is
more dependent upon you skill with the software and the timeframe (i.e.
number of hours of work you put into it). Take at look at the "Visions"
newsgroup (autodesk.viz.visions) on the Autodesk server
(discussion.autodesk.com) to see a bunch or work done with Viz.

3DViz used to be a "stripped down" version of Max and geared more towards
architectural renderings than Max. Nowadays, Max includes all the features
of Viz plus some added stuff (i.e. particle animation, etc.). Viz is about
half the price of Max but also has a slightly unsettled future (there was
talk awhile back of Autodesk discontinuing Viz).

Another viable option for you might be to get ADT (Architectural Desktop)
the next time you upgrade your AutoCad. ADT includes VizRender (which is
3DViz, modified and meshed more with ADT, to make it easier for beginners).

If you don't need photo-realistic renderings you can get some real nice
stuff from SketchUp. However, SketchUp is really best at a an
"artistic/handdrawn" look. It touted as very easy to learn and quick to
generate models for people with no modeling experience. Since you're
modeling in AutoCad already you probably don't want to switch modelers, in
which case, you might have a look at something like Penguin3D if you don't
need photo-realistic output.

HTH,

Michael (LS)