Best programs to build concepts with

System · Apr 2010

Hi peeps, I'm looking to make an architectural concept of a building interior, 3 wall sections (one basic, one + door, one + window)

Using Photoshop shapes for walls isn't working very well and rendering a blank mesh in max to paint over in ps seems excessive. Is there a specific program that allows you to make straight lines and alter surfaces so that they meet a vanishing point?

SyncViewS · Apr 2010

SketchBook Pro 2010 seems to be a good choice. Take a look at its awesome straight edge ruler:

http://area.autodesk.com/sketchbook/sketch2010prv

Eric Chadwick · Apr 2010

You could also just overlay a perspective grid as a painting guide. Like Feng Zhu...
http://i35.tinypic.com/9ld2s9.jpg

System · Apr 2010

SyncViewS, that looks quite nice, I had heard of Sketchbook before but never checked it out! Pretty cheap too on Amazon. I wonder though if it could replace Photoshop entirely in the production of concepts, Do you rely on this program?

Eric, wish I had thought of something like that, I think I'm getting too reliant on technology to do the job for me these days, I will give this a go.

Thanks guys

SyncViewS · Apr 2010

SketchBook Pro seems to be a quite specific application for design concepts, from automotive to environments, maybe characters too. I don't think it can entirely replace Photoshop in this because it lacks the huge amount of instruments you got from Adobe, you may miss a very specific tool you cannot replace. On top of that you need to try it yourself because like in PS/Painter the drawing feel could be different, that's the reason why some hardcore users cannot switch between the two applications, only one "feels right". There is a 15 days trial, I guess it's best way to find out if it suits you.

EmAr · May 2010

I almost cried while watching that elliptical ruler video. I can't draw nice ellipses freehand. Anyone has any comments on the mobile version?

r_fletch_r · May 2010

+1 for sketch book pro. take a look at the AD store as well its quite alot cheaper than Amazon
amazon €140
Autodesk €110

elte · May 2010

This is what you need, haven't seen any other software with capability like this before.

http://www.illuststudio.net/

http://denkikoiji.deviantart.com/art/Illust-Studio-1-0-9-eng-patch-141766399

r_fletch_r · May 2010

looks a bit like open canvas? what is the brushing like. I used OC for a while but gave up because I found the quality of the brushes was much nicer in SBP

renderhjs · May 2010

Why do so many initial question ask for 'best' !? Why not ask 'what is a good...' as there is no such thing as a best, anyway my push in this thread:

Alchemy:
http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=52370
http://al.chemy.org/
[ame]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYYSxZZzgjc[/ame]

Is in my opinion a good path because it is not 100% predictable and therefore ideal for conceptual stuff because all the other apps mentioned here are primarily good at execution especially Photoshop.
If you are looking for fresh shapes and designs give it a go, you can always drop it into Photoshop or other painting apps anytime and tune it.

Photoshop:

Using Photoshop shapes for walls isn't working very well and rendering a blank mesh in max to paint over in ps seems excessive. Is there a specific program that allows you to make straight lines and alter surfaces so that they meet a vanishing point?

In Photoshop you can hold down the shift key and then click once with the brush to draw straight lines. Most concept artists use this to quickly setup a perspective grid.
Also in Photoshop there is a filter called vanishing point which lets you do exactly what you described - shifting and panting clone stamps into perspective.
For re-targeting surfaces into the opposite direction (extracting textures) maybe check out texRipper a adobe air app that can be usefull for extracting textures:
http://boards.polycount.net/showpost.php?p=1117551&postcount=63

Sketchup:
If you are looking for tools to concept in 3D space, Sketchup is a nice tool to just draw in a very easy geometric way and push elements into 3d space. It has for example a library tool which is a great tool to save and reuse assets. If you know Flash for example you might find some of the drawing tools very intuitive to use as it merges and intersects shapes automatically if they are trimmed or intersected by other lines.
Here is a nice massive Black user case video of using Sketchup:
[ame]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlgtLXhwJSM[/ame]

System · May 2010

Gave the Feng Zhu method a go, I'm finding it still leaves some gaps with aligning perspective.

A yet to be touched variation on Feng Zhu's theme...

SyncViewS, the sketch book trial seems like a good idea, I'll see if I can get anywhere with max first and then give it a go.

elte, haven't seen that one before, the ui makes it look like a Photoshop clone:shifty:

renderhjs, I tried Alchemy a while back during the start of the last Dom war and found it nice for organic thumbnails, never checked out Google SketchUp before. If Massive Black recommend this I'll try it out before downloading the Autodesk software trial to maybe save some beans.

Thanks all

Best programs to build concepts with

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