The Digital Architect

The Digital Architect - free video podcast - Scott Onstott hosts The Digital Architect video podcast, bringing you screen-captured tips and tricks demonstrating a wide variety of the digital tools used by architects, engineers, and builders. I'll demonstrate techniques I find especially helpful using the following programs: AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, Revit, Photoshop, Sketchup, Google Earth, 3ds max, VIZ, Mental Ray, V-Ray, and podcasting itself. The Digital Architect episodes are available for viewing in two forms. Click a video flash or mp4 link to view a single episode, or subscribe to the video podcast with a feed reader (bottom of page) and get future episodes delivered automatically via the magic of syndication. Many of the episodes are snippets from my video products. This vodcast is recorded in high resolution (1024x768) and is designed to be viewed on a computer monitor. You can also view episodes on video iPods by converting the episodes to a smaller size with iTunes. Right click the movie files in iTunes and choose Convert Selection for iPod. Enjoy!
Episode 23: Rounding Edges at Render Time		2 min 50 sec
Learn how to use a 3D rendering trick to give hard edges and corners a smooth filleted appearance, all without increasing the poly count or render time. This episode features 3ds Max 9 and the arch+design material within the mental ray renderer.
Episode 22: Illustrating with Photoshop Art History Brush		12 min 24 sec
The art history brush has been a part of Photoshop for years but few understand it or realize how useful it is in transforming 3D renderings or photos into handmade illustrations. This episode shows you how to transform run-of-the-mill scanline renderings into works of art. The technique is easy and a lot of fun too!
Episode 21: Top 10 AEC Photoshop Techniques		25 min 3 sec
This video podcast is a recap of my talk at the "Birds of a Feather" presentation at Photoshop World, which took place in Las Vegas on September 6th, 2007. Watch me demo my favorite Photoshop CS3 Extended techniques for use in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction markets.
Episode 20: Compositing in 3ds Max & Photoshop		22 min 23 sec
3D compositing is the art of assembling a presentation image from multiple image components rendered out of a 3D application. In this project, I will be rendering multiple images in Autodesk 3ds Max 9 and compositing the results in a new presentation image using Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended.
Episode 19: Shadows with Negative Light		7 min 7 sec
Learn how to project efficient shadows using negative light in 3ds Max 9. Using a negative multiplier actually removes virtual light, and by using a projector map you can effectively mask this "light" to create detailed shadows. This efficient technique can save you loads of time by avoiding rendering complex shadow-casting geometry.
Episode 18: Measurement and Photomodeling		10 min 31 sec
Explore the new Vanishing Point filter in Photoshop CS3 Extended. Learn how to extract measurement estimates from building photos. Create a 3D model from a photo and return it to Ps as a 3D layer. See how the technique allows text to retain editability in perspective and how you can alter an image's perspective without reshooting any photos.
Episode 17: Perspective Matching		12 min 17 sec
Matching the perspective of a virtual 3D building model with a real site photo using Photoshop CS3 Extended. See how masking a 3D layer can bring portions of the site in front of the building. Adjust textures on the 3D model all within Ps. Smart objects and smart filters aid in creating editable, almost real-time rendered lighting.
Episode 16: 3D Entourage in Ps CS3 Extended		12 min 29 sec
Learn how to add, position, light, and mask a refrigerator 3D model into a kitchen photo using the new 3D layer feature inside Photoshop CS3 Extended. This technique takes traditional architectural entourage to the next level.
Episode 15: Simulating Realistic Curtains		16 min 55 sec
3D drapery fabrics that hang and fold naturally is simulated in 3ds Max 9 using a combination of the Edit Spline, Garment Maker, Cloth, and HSDS modifiers. I show how to sew seams on fabric loops and pull back the curtains to induce realistic folds.
Episode 14: Adv NURBS Walls	18 min 59 sec
Using 3ds Max 9, I show how to model precise and highly organized wall systems entirely with NURBS. Imported instanced splines offer amazing editing power and flexibility for positioning and sizing multiple window openings.
Episode 13: NURBS Walls	14 min 1 sec
This tutorial shows you how to make walls with dependent door and window openings using Non-Uniform Rational Basis Splines. It's a great technique offering you tons of editing flexibility (video from my 3ds Max and VIZ for Architects Module 3).
Episode 12: References and Instanced Modifiers	5 min 32 sec
Learn why reference clones are so powerful in all versions of 3ds Max and Autodesk VIZ. See what you can do with references and instanced modifiers and how the typography of the stack tells a story (video from my 3ds Max and VIZ for Architects - Module 2).
Episode 11: Clone and Align	6 min 40 sec
Learn how to efficiently populate a 2D architectural plan with 3D furniture model clones using the Clone and Align tool in 3ds Max 8 or Autodesk VIZ 2007. Clone and Align is a powerful tool that is more than the sum of its parts.
Episode 10: WalkThrough in Max 9 & VIZ 2007	3 min 11 sec
Learn how to fluidly walk through interior spaces in 3ds Max 9 and VIZ 2007. WalkThrough mode is a powerful first-person viewport navigation system that operates much like a gaming environment, but is also great for architectural visualizations.
Episode 9: Hardwood Floor in 3ds Max 5	5 min 40 sec
This tutorial shows you how to make a professional quality hardwood floor material. I show how to use the bricks map in conjunction with multiple map scalers and mapping channels. In addition, a falloff map with nested flat mirror map makes a realistic reflection.
Episode 8: Patterns in Photoshop	20 min 10 sec
In this tutorial, I show you how to create custom patterns and pattern libraries using Photoshop 7. Then you'll learn three different methods for applying and controlling patterns to simulate real world textures in a kitchen plan.
Episode 7: Walls and Roofs in Revit	13 min 01 sec
This tutorial shows how to model a complex tower roof in Revit 5. It then moves on to wall editing tricks including trimming and changing base constraints in the town hall model's courtyard.
Episode 6: Radiosity in VIZ Render 2006	8 min 49 sec
Here I give tips and tricks on generating a radiosity solution in ADT's companion rendering program. Filtering, reusing direct illumination, and region rendering are some of the topics covered.
Episode 5: Patch Displacement Modeling in VIZ	3 min 32 sec
In 3D modeling a landscape, I demonstrate both manual and displacement techniques. Using an image to displace geometry is an extremely powerful technique that produces natural looking landforms.
Episode 4: AutoCAD 3D Modeling	31 min 18 sec
Using AutoCAD 2002, I take cleaned up 2D plans as my starting point, and then show numerous tips and tricks for generating 3D geometry. An entire floor of a high rise building is the subject for this tutorial (from my AutoCAD Level 2 course).
Episode 3: Golden Rectangle in ADT	16 min 45 sec
The golden rectangle is the secret of proportion in much great art and architecture. In this episode I reveal not only how to geometrically derive the golden rectangle, but how to turn it into a super-useful dynamic block in Architectural Desktop 2006 (works the same in AutoCAD).
Episode 2: Google Earth/Web3D Mashup	7 min 55 sec
Here I show how amazing Google Earth 4 beta is as a hybrid 3D visualization tool. The Google Earth Community and 3D Warehouse are explored, along with their corresponding Info layer and Network links. The Web3D flux player is used within Google Earth's browser to provide walkthrough functionality, perfectly suited to interactive architectural visualizations. Google Sketchup and Autodesk VIZ are also discussed.
Episode 1: Bitmaps	12 min 27 sec
In this first episode I'm talking about bitmaps: what they are and how to use them in 3D programs. I demonstrate the issues using Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Autodesk VIZ 2007. Image modes, bitmaps, multi/sub-object materials, mapping coordinates, map channels, the bevel profile modifier, and much more is discussed.

Please contact me with any comments you have about this video podcast and/or any suggestions for topics you'd like me to cover in upcoming episodes.