Vayersoft Blog

Festive Night - Top-Notch Exterior 3D Rendering

2011-10-10T08:48:00.002-05:00

Client has asked Vayersoft's team to make an evening-time exterior 3D rendering of an object they were redesigning. This time I won't tell you, who the client is and what object is visualized. Possibly, you will recognize it :)
We've put a lot of efforts in true-to-life visualization of existing objects and details molding it with all the renovations at the same time. Artists here are really proud of themselves due to all the trees and greens they've managed to embellish the scene with. And, as a result, you're welcome to dive into festive atmosphere of a holiday night.

click the image to view full size

Scandinavian Design or Scandinavian Interiors?

2011-09-30T04:57:00.001-05:00

Today, we'd like to share a few residential interior renderings with you: they are pure creativity of our artists. So, in your opinion, how Scandinavian are these?

Realtime Architectural Visualization with Unity 3D

2011-07-04T04:47:00.000-05:00

Nobody will argue that architectural presentation can be made far more informative and fascinating when utilizing interactive technologies. Vayersoft was one of the first in the market to work with Quest3D; later we have been modeling for GameBryo engine; now, the time for Unity 3D has come.

Here's one of our first tries to present architecture with Unity3d: http://www.vayersoft.com/Stadium/

"Celebrity Eclipse" Cruise Ship Cutaway

2010-06-17T06:07:00.005-05:00

She's already sailing the seas, but you won't see her like that unless you have a built-in x-ray J

Celebrity Eclipse' official maiden voyage was on April 29th, 2010, departing Southampton to Cobh, Ireland. In nine days she's setting on a 14-days journey paying visits to Belgium, Sweden, Russia, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Germany. So, if you haven't yet had a chance to go onboard Eclipse, you're welcome for a tour inside her:

Yeap, this is new cruise ship digital 3D cutaway rendering produced by Vayersoft. However, when I say 'new', I don't mean we've modeled everything from scratch. We took the cutaway rendering of Celebrity Solstice and, with the guidance from 5+DESIGN, New building and Fleet Design, Tillberg Design U.S., and of course Celebrity Cruises, updated the 3D models of the following venues: Sky Lounge, Eclipse Theater, Main Dining Room, Qsine, iLounge, Cellarmasters, Fortunes Casino, Blu, and Tuscan Grille. Here are some of them zoomed in:

And yes, we love cruise ship modeling! J

The new boat of Ibero Cruceros fleet and new 3D renderings by Vayersoft

2010-04-20T05:27:00.002-05:00

Recently, Vayersoft has completed a new collection of 3D renderings of another cruise vessel. She will be the fourth ship of Ibero Cruceros fleet and should start on May 2010 under the name Grand Holiday. The boat is completely renovated and adapted. New designs were created by AMK Architects and Designers, a Greek company who can boast designing 50 cruise vessels for over 20 different shipping lines. Here is how Grand Holiday venues will appear to the public:

Grand Holiday Technical Information
Length: 222 meters
Speed: 21 knots
Total Passengers: 1,848
Crew: 680
Number of cabins: 726
Tonnage: 46,052 tons

Ibero Cruceros http://www.iberocruceros.com/
AMK Architects and Designers http://www.amk.gr/
Vayersoft, 3D rendering company http://vayersoft.com/

12 Reasons to Refuse to Render

2010-04-18T08:18:00.002-05:00

Yeap, you are right - I'm re-posting. You might have seen this article. You might have even commented on it. But it's so much contraversial that not even all professional 3D artists would totally agree with it. I wonder, what you think.

There are tasks that you cannot avoid doing in practice that will cause you to hate your job. And then there are tasks that you can pleasantly avoid in order to make your life a lot easier. One of these tasks that you should try to avoid at all costs is 3D rendering.

It sounds like blasphemy really. Most people these days will graduate from their university with a greater knowledge of 3D modeling software than their knowledge of AutoCAD. I really didn’t believe that this could ever be the case but its true. I can say first hand that some friends straight out of such schools as Yale, Princeton, Columbia and SciArc knew nothing about AutoCAD. While this may give you a heads up at Gehry’s office, it doesn’t help you in the overwhelming majority of firms that you will work in.

Here are 12 Reasons why your should avoid rendering in your office at all costs:

1. You Will Lose Track of Time:

You can really get lost in your modeling. A whole work day can go by without you even realizing it. Worst of all, you can spend hours on a task that you expected to take a half an hour. In the end, you will find yourself staying later into the night while your coworkers punch out at 6.

2. More Demands on Your Time

There seems to be a very unfair expectation that employers have on the amount of time that it takes to complete a digital model. I have seen employers consistently assign a brand new 3D model to be completed and rendered for print in a two day period. While that may not seem like a short amount of time, we can easily forget that a considerable amount of time is going to be spent tweaking the vantage points and materials. Also, the employer will inevitably be requesting changes to the design or look once they see your progress prints.

3. The Employer Doesn’t Have Knowledge of the Software

There in lies maybe the biggest problem. Most of your supervisors will be older and have not been personally exposed to modeling software. They often feel as though computers have made things more instant or automated, when the truth of the matter is that computers have really just complicated things.

So as mentioned above, the employer will give you these assignments and constantly make changes to the model before you are done. Often times, the changes that they request will require near full remodels, so they can really be detrimental to getting renderings complete. This brings me to my next point

4. You Will Find Yourself Re-doing Things Over and Over

As you present various schemes and changes to your clients, you will find that you will have to model the same things over and over again. It is not unusual to have to go through 3-5 different drawing files in one day.

5. You Have to Sweat the Details

Aside from actually constructing the forms that make up the building massing, you also need to concentrate on those tedious details. Reflections, shading, material colors, mullions… you name it, are all items that must be coordinated into your rendering in order for it to come off as a believable form. Clients have little capacity for imagination and you really need to paint as clear of a picture as possible. The details are going to take up most of your time.

6. You Are On Your Own: No One Else Can Help You

Unfortunately, digital models practically have individual signatures embedded into them. What I mean is that it is easy to tell that one person modeled one drawing and another person was the author of another. When you are presenting multiple schemes, the same person really needs to be developing each one. It is the only way to deliver a professional presentation to a client. This means that none of your colleagues can help you out with the work load.

7. You May Have Knowledge in One Software But Not Another

There are so many different 3D software out there. I could name nearly ten of them but there are constantly new programs coming out that trump the others. I personally was used to using Formz when I came out of school. My first firm used 3D Studio Max and expected me to hit the ground running. I ended up having to learn the new interface while trying to keep up with my assignments. This led to longer nights at work that I would have rather spent back home of at happy hour.

8. You Lose Your Personal Space

Because your boss will be wanting to make those changes, he is basically going to be sitting on your lap and punching holes in your LCD screen. They just get sucked into your computer screen while you are still sitting at your desk! They will be putting their faces 3 inches away from your screen so they can inspect your work and you will most likely get familiar with the smell of their breath. To make matters worst, they will just stand there while you are frantically making their changes, even though it may take you 10 minutes to do so. You really just have to sit there and take it because its hard to tell your boss to buzz off.

9. You Won’t Be Working on Important Tasks

So while you are making pretty pictures, your friends in the office will be doing real work. Creating presentation images is indeed important and you will still be a valuable member of the team, but, in the end this won’t amount to anything more than an image that makes your client “oooh and ahh.”

10. You Will Learn Less

This is similar to the last point. While you are modeling, you won’t be doing any detailing, space planning, or structural coordination. Really, you are going to be missing out on all of those “important tasks” that will make you a more complete architect. There is no 3d Modeling section on the exams.

11. You Will Be Under-Appreciated
Because you won’t be involved in those other tasks that really result in a final set of working documents, your contribution won’t be recognized as much. 3D modeling is expected to be a simple automated process and the crazy amount of time you pour into your assignments will be diminished by your employers high expectations.
12. Professionals Do It Better

Seriously, they do. You could spend a solid month on a model and it won’t look as good as when a professional renderer works a day or two on the project. You don’t have the skill-set or the digital library to trump the professionals. From personal experience, I have seen a professional rendering firm model the entire Dubai Waterfront Development overnight…from scratch. These are the images that you have probably seen for a few years now, including the early images of the new world’s tallest building. That’s right, they were done in a span of one night! Could you possibly compete with that?

If rendering is something that you enjoy and you want to spend your days doing so, then go into rendering professionally. You will probably get paid more and you will be much more appreciated for your work. The illustrator that my firm uses, who I talk to once or twice a week, was once an architect. He has enough knowledge about architecture that I can use industry terminology to convey my ideas. He also can work on projects from afar and can continually be challenged by different projects week after week.

The article was taken from Young Architect Blog: http://www.youngarchitect.net/12-reasons-to-refuse-to-render/

Rendering Retail Environments

2009-09-03T05:26:00.005-05:00

It was in 1820 when the first retail outlet started in UK. Since then a lot of professionals have been working on making the retail environment comfortable and attractive for the consumer.

The roots of the industry in the United States go back to itinerant peddlers, small shopkeepers, and merchant importers that began in the early days of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Thousands of men walked the countryside selling the goods they could carry on their back. When profits permitted, they purchased horses and carts and expanded their assortments of goods. Later the development of the railroads, waterways, roads, and towns engendered stores put the retail industry a step further.
Three new forms of retailing that would dominate sales for the next century began in the second half of the nineteenth century: the modern department store, and the chain store. Department stores evolved from dry goods and clothing stores as the owners expanded their operations by adding new classifications of merchandise, while chain stores preached mass purchasing and low operating costs.
The 1930s witnessed the movement to self-service food supermarkets. The first self-service stores started in 1911, being followed with innovations such as shopping baskets and carts, open shelving, no clerks, and store layouts that led to the first self-service stores.
Private car ownership stimulated the development of supermarkets and hypermarkets from the late 1950s, adding to the retail competition in food, home improvement equipment, and household goods and furniture. Since the early 1980s some stores have been relocated in large purpose-built shopping malls. The modern U.S. retail industry is dominated by huge retail giants owning thousands of stores in the United States and in other countries.

The primary purpose of retail space is to stock and sell product to consumers, so the spaces must be designed in a way that promotes an enjoyable and hassle-free shopping experience for the consumer. Retail spaces must also be designed to draw people into the space to shop. The storefront must act as a bllboard for the store, often employing large display windows that allow shoppers to see into the space and the product inside.

Retail designers often face a challenge of showcasing not only the product of their customer, but their own product, i.e. the design of a store, mall, or a cafe. Here is where 3D rendering comes in allowing anyone to see the empty space already living and working. By the way, why wouldn't you attract a prospective tenant, the business owner, with a 3D rendering showing how the empty premises can look like after he rents that space?

Sources:
1. Renderings by www.vayersoft.com
2. Brisco, Jerry. "Retailing Industry." Dictionary of American History. The Gale Group Inc. 2003.
3. www.wikipedia.com

How do I work with 3D renderers?

2009-04-21T05:33:00.006-05:00

It often seems much easier to guess the weirdest client's wish than to get those guys in 3D do the right thing... What's more, they sometimes forget to surprise you with the possibilities 3D offers, where you could have got 2 renderings instead of 1 for almost the same cost.
So, dear designers, if you feel like having a look at the cooperation process with 3D guys, and the possibilities 3D can give you, scan through the following presentation.

3D Game Art

2009-04-10T04:53:00.005-05:00

At last! The 3D Game Art webpage is on!

There you can get aquainted with Vayersoft's game art protfolio!

Didn't you know we are doing 3D art for games? Wow! Maybe you also didn't know we've done a whole on-line world www.chobots.com!? The gossipers must have gone lazy...J

Got interested? Visit our website at http://vayersoft.com/graphics-games.html

Workplace Renderings

2009-04-08T06:25:00.003-05:00

...Well, it's not that I discovered that technically it makes difference for a 3D artist to produce a rendering of commerial or residential venue. It's only the quality of materials and the amount of changes that influence the 3D aritst's work process greately.

Anyway, since this differentiation is important to you, designers and architects, I decided to start publishing a 'typological portfolio'. And here's the first robin, workplace renderings.

Ireland in 3D: Welcome In

2009-04-03T06:25:00.005-05:00

This time I finally saw it there! The entry building that welcomes you in indeed!

The sea, the palms, the boats... It only lacks visitors... but.. it's still being modeled, isn't it? J

Surely, I'm welcoming your comments, and in the search of them I visited the Ireland in the Sun website. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any photos of the islands but I dared publish here another rendering of a bit different style that was not made by Vayersoft:

See those buildings at the entry? Recognize them? I know that tastes differ... but which is more appealing to you? J

Ireland in 3D: Textures or Textures

2009-03-19T08:43:00.006-05:00

This non-commercial project appeared to have pretty loose rules, which our team isn't used to.

Usually, an architect or designer doesn't leave his job for us - you must know how it is: specifying every minutest detail and shade of color at the site-to-be. The artist follows these specifications and drawigns through thick and thin (btw the accuracy often helps find deviations in the drawings themselves). What's more, the artist craves for feedbacks and comments from the client. In his turn the client can't wait for the final feel and look created by the professional touch of a digital artist.

What do we have now? The loose rules allow for experiementing. And we do experiement. This time with textures:

So, how do these feel?

Keep Up With Us

2009-03-17T07:45:00.003-05:00

Here's a piece of news everyone must know!

Since now and on Vayersoft blog is easier to keep track of! Just click the "FOLLOW" button at the right (below categories)!

What's more, you can show off your face on our blog (and link it to your own blog) by choosing the option to follow Vayersoft blog publicly!

C'mon, my dear readers, show up! J

We Are the Gamers!

2009-03-16T07:52:00.008-05:00

During a recent meeting of our visualization team we've decided to speak up! We are the gamers! We are game art developers!!!
Vayersoft has been involved in numerous projects, while the main public focus has always been on architectural visualization. 'Why don't we show our game art portfolio to the world?!' we thought.
And here is the first robin - just have a look at a few low-poly works by Vayersoft team (click on the image below):

Game Art / Low-Poly

I've also added a few hi-poly works and I'm looking forward to your feedback!

Game Art / High-Poly

Celebrity Solstice Cutaway 3D

2009-03-07T09:12:00.000-06:00

Celebrity Solstice, the maiden ship of the Solstice class, is debuting in November 2008. Almost 3000 guests will have a chance to feast their eyes on the rich color palettes illuminated by beautiful natural light and revel in the extensive amenities. All of these can be first experienced in 3D.

Challenge

Our goal was to show a lifelike ship cut away, which resulted in one of the world’s biggest renderings.
This ‘super’ cutaway rendering summarized the 2-year work of Vayersoft 3D professionals and remote designer teams.

Cutaway 3D Rendering

Venues – over 20 public spaces
Print format – up to 166 inches
Implementation time – 3 months

Click on the image to view in detail.

Vayersoft expects Solstice Cutaway to set a new standards in cruise ships visualization.

Celebrity Solstice Interiors

2009-01-27T08:09:00.005-06:00

Celebrity Solstice, the project we've been working on for over 2 years, she's now sailing the seas. And we are gathering the portfolio of 3d renderings produced over this time. Click on the image below to see the collection of interior 3D renderings done for Celebrity Solstice:

Celebrity Solstice Interiors

I can't but express our gratitude to all those working on this marvellous cruise ship: Wilson Butler Architects, RTKL (Miami), BG Studios, New Build and Design, and Celebrity Cruises marketing department. We really appreciate the possibility of working with all of you, your patience and consistency in explaining your ideas to the Vayersoft team so that we could communicate the designs visually. Moreover, it was an honor for us to become the major visualization team working on Celebrity Solstice project.

Ireland in 3D: Moving Forward

2009-01-20T09:41:00.009-06:00

Step by step we're moving forward. Though all the work is done in "free time spells" when there are no commercial projects, some progress can be already seen.

So, here are some of the textures:

What about the roof? It should be thatch!

Hey, they've modeled it!

And this is how it looks like now:

Hope, you like it J

Ireland in 3D: First Steps

2008-12-23T05:46:00.009-06:00

Our trip to Ireland has begun. Come on, join us!

Either on a travel or at a construction place, we need some tools. Artist's main tool is 3Ds max. Of course, we won't be able to do without V-Ray and PhotoShop. So, we are equipped. Now, where are we heading for?

After some arguments it was decided that the first destination and the central piece should be an awesome animation reel, Ireland from Dubai World being the featured star. Yeah, that simple... Any other ideas?

Anyway, let me boast some of the first results. As the initial step is always modeling, we've set on it. Everyone's got a building to create in 3D and here's what we already have:
This is only one of up to 25 builings, some of which are very much alike thought (7-8 types). We took the shots from different sides to let you see how it looks like now. The next step for this one will be texturing. And here's where the first challenge comes: the building should have thatch roof and the artist needs to make it look real. What would be the ways out?

I'm sure, we'll see what our artists came up with very soon. Of course, I'm looking forward to seeing some of your ideas here, either as to the technical issues like modeling, texturing and lighting or as to what you'd like to see as the final result.

Have you ever been to Ireland?

2008-12-11T10:23:00.005-06:00

Unfortunately, we haven't.

So, what if we create the Ireland for ourselves like they do it in Dubai:
http://www.irelandinthesun.com/index.html

Just imagine, how much efforts and cost it would take to build the "third Ireland". Still, it will be geographically bound and you'll have to take airplane to get there. Do you say that it would be absolutely useless? You have the point!

Still, we WILL build the Ireland. How come? Just try a few guesses! :)

PS ..Well, I can't but prompt you: we are in 3D :)

Interactive 3D: Emergency Evacuation Simulation

2008-11-19T08:36:00.008-06:00

What do you think about flash-based education applications? Lots of such applications are used by the U.S. government or big companies for training their employees. Here are some screenshots of a similar application (Emergency training about Obstructed airway):

What can you find there? Simple flash animations, some text and maybe some sort of final tests for checking knowledge gained… Don’t you think it’s a bit errrr… boring ? Don’t you think it could be much more interesting and fun? The answer is – YES it can!

That’s why Vayersoft team has decided to develop Vayersoft Emergency Evacuation Simulation.

The idea is very simple. We used some basic learning techniques, such as:

Animation

Text

Voice

It is a well-known fact that the more sources of gathering information (seeing , hearing etc…) you have, the more efficient learning it will be. We do know that fact, and that’s why added more of interactivity to our simulation. That’s right, after you see the animation, after you read the text and hear what host/tutor says to you, you must repeat every action by yourself like in any computer game. Here you can find some screenshots taken from Vayersoft’s Emergency Evacuation Simulation (startscreen , main menu and application interface):

To develop our Emergency Evacuation Simulator we used Quest3D. All modeling work was done in 3Ds Max and then exported into Quest3D. We used very efficient technique of lighting called light-mapping. In fact, there are no light sources in our Quest3D scene. All lighting of the scene is done by using light-map textures. This is how it is done:

So, basically we have 2 textures – texture of light (showing how light affects surface) and diffuse texture (in this example it is the texture of wooden floor). By mixing them using Quest3D techniques we get fine lighted floor in an interactive application that is also not as “heavy” as it would be normally. So, the application runs smooth and faster.

Our Emergency Evacuation Simulation can be used in big companies that want to train their employees how to react in case of fire emergency. We only need the plans or drawings of your office, your special wishes and some comparably short time – and you have the product done and running. With the technology used during development of our Emergency Evacuation Simulator it’s very easy and fast to create similar training , educational and entertainment interactive applications.

Here is a video presentation of Vayersoft’s Emergency Evacuation Simulation:

Taras Onyskiv,
3D Artist
Quest Developer

Interactive Simulation - Gas Conversion Station

2008-11-17T03:09:00.010-06:00

Do you know YIT? YIT was our client when Vayersoft was at the very beginnings. It is a diversified Finnish-based company that does property maintenance and management services, builds housing, large-scale infrastructure and amenities, provides construction and maintenance of physical plants, telecommunications and electrical power networks. Also, YIT Environment has built several plants where biogas energy is utilized. The last needed an elaborate presentation of its functionality and operation.

Here was where YIT came to Vayersoft for assistance. Vayersoft produced a complex Quest-based presentation of the Gas Conversion Station. It's an interactive simulation that lets you see the plant with all the buildings and equipment, demonstrates its operation including the resource traffic order and testing points. Actually, we had to learn how the Gas Conversion Station works, that is how vastage is transformed into gas, and realized it in an interactive virtual model of the plant.

In terms of technology, Quest3D engine and low-poly modeling in 3Ds Max were used. With it a user can choose viewing mode: top-view, walk thru, fly by, animation; or start from preset points, look through techincal specifications and photos of the plant. What is more, all the work - from the receipt of materials till the final delivery to the client - was done in extremely tight terms, only 7 days.

Do you agree that one eye-witness is better than two hear-so's? Then download the Gas Conversion Station presentation here.

Don't be out of the woods yet! Have a look at the customization ability of interactive simulations. Would you like to make the graphics more appealing? No problem. Do you want the ability to change interior materials or furniture? You'll get it. Not to mention different viewing modes, integration with other visual products and so on.

http://www.yitgroup.com/
http://www.vayersoft.com/

Modeling for SST - Tracked Vehicle Simulator

2008-11-07T04:33:00.008-06:00

Our client, Sightline (Sweden), in cooperation with Banverket (The Swedish National Rail Administration), Bombardier, Uppsala University and VTI has developed the 3D graphics engine and the presentation graphics for the train simulator SST. Almost all the low-poly modeling was done by Vayersoft. Our team has modeled the train and a part of the railways with surroundings, including terrain with vegetation, embankments with contact lines, signal systems and infrastructure.

Open national platform

The initiative for the project to create a national platform for simulation of rail traffic came from VTI and Banverket. VINNOVA were co-sponsors of the project.

The goal of the project was to develop a common platform for railway simulation for several different application areas. Examples of these areas include research of the locomotive engineer’s information environment, education and continued training of engineers, evaluation of new technologies and support for railway planning.

SST is licensed under the framework for BSD licenses, which means that the source code is free and open.

The system

The system allows automatic generation of railways from the XML basic data retrieved from BIS (Banverket's Rail Information System). 3D models of railways with their surroundings can be generated procedurally. Terrain with vegetation, embankments with contact lines, signal systems and infrastructure is generated using basic data from BIS.

Detailed railways

Extensive, detailed and still low-poly 3D models of railways can be generated on the fly from prepared basic data. This allows for quick planning and visualization of new rail expansions. The graphics system uses the 3D technology OpenSceneGraph.

http://www.sightline.se/
http://www.vayersoft.com/

Find Five Differences - 2

2008-11-05T07:49:00.006-06:00

Want to get your client to a venue but the venue exists only in drawings and plans? Want to share the atmosphere and not only the technical details? Want them to really feel the venue, not just to see it? Here is where 3D animation comes in. We can flash out your drawings and specifications and you invite there your clients even before the object has been built.

This is how we saw the Quasar night club on Celebrity Solstice years ago:

This is how the Quasar night club on Celebrity Solstice looks now (be patient to watch till the end):

She is Real OR Find Five Differences

2008-10-30T03:37:00.020-05:00

Though we have never seen Celebrity Solstice in reality, we know it as if we were born there. Each lamp or chandellier, their minutest details, each table or chair, even sockets and hull details are familiar to us. Are we telepathists? Nope :) We are 3D artists, who spent the last two years working hard together with designer teams and Celebrity marketing team to flash out the Solstice ship on the screens of your computers and on the pages of magazines and brochures. We really enjoyed "picturing" our model because she is beautiful. Don't you agree? :)
Just watch, listen, and compare:

Lawn Club

Hot Glass Show and Fountains on the Pool

Pool Deck and Swimming Pool

Pool Bar and Sky Observation Lounge

Solarium

Aqua Class Guestroom and Blu (in the cutaway)

Oceanview Cafe

Main Dining Room

Atrium (view from different decks)

Casino and Quasar

Quasar

Celebrity Central and Solstice Theater

Solstice Theater

And this is not all, folks :)

Story of a Green Fellow from ZBrush

2008-10-22T07:57:00.009-05:00

The frog was born in a fierce discussion: what frog is the cutest one. Tree frog won the prize and the work on its creation began.

In order to do anything I had to look through a pile of different materials, the most useful being tutorial dvd’s from Gnomone workshop.
First, I tried to model in Z-Brush with the help of a computer mouse. It was a real pain. I can remember my happiness when I got hold of a Stylus and speeded the work with it. Thanks to its sensitivity to pressure modeling became a real fun.
This inspired me and I continued working with rendering settings, lighting, camera and postproduction.

A few weeks of work and the little green creature is looking at me with its wet frog eyes. And it is not alone - the second prize in ZBrush contest is its company J

Viktor Pavlovich
3D Aritist
www.vayersoft.com

Architectural 3D Renderings

2008-10-08T06:07:00.024-05:00

Photorealistic 3D renderings are perfect marketing materials representing a pre-construcion building. They make your presentations bright; they substantiate your portfolios; they materialize your designs on the pages of magazines; they serve as a welcoming sign on your websites.

Architect, designer or builer - whoever you are - display cozy apartments, deluxe office interiors, luxurious restaurant halls, sleek hotel suits by means of photorealistic 3D visuals. Choose an appropriate view that meets your needs:

perspective to grasp the set-up top-view to get the whole picture

And 360 degree panoramic rendering will help to scrutinize all the venue round.

Exhibit the exterior of a country house, the façade of a new office, front elevation of a condo, or just cast a glance at a ship lying at anchor.

Have aerial view renderings done for you to see a place from a bird’s view.

Take a look at a city after a new construction completion. Observe it as if flying over in a plane to view the site over.

Each rendering not only depicts a yet nonexistent place, it fleshes it out. Experienced 3D artists pay attention to every detail of the image. Each color and its shades are carefully calculated. Polished background contributes to staging true-to-life scenes. Thanks to the elaborate reproduction of lighting one can hardly tell a 3D rendering from an authentic photo. Such minute details as a cup of coffee waiting for you on the table or flock of birds flying over add up to the terrific impression. To crown it all you may choose to showcase the site either by daylight or in the last glow of sunset.

Vayersoft at Kyiv Casual Connect

2008-10-03T15:43:00.004-05:00

Vayersoft is going to participate in Kyiv Casual Connect where we will continue explaining unique concept of family play that our virtual world offers.

Taking advantage of casual gaming concept Chobots.com will use it to train kids erudition, team working and social skills. I am happy about the conference is taking a place in the capital of Ukraine.

Send me a note, if you would like to schedule a meeting at the conference. v.y [at] vayersoft.com

Virtual Worlds Industy in Charts

2008-10-03T14:21:00.001-05:00

Virtual world charts

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: 2l)

11 venues for 10 days

2008-10-01T09:08:00.016-05:00

Curiously enough, the most urgent project turned out to be one of the most beautiful. I mean Oasis Palmilla, visualization and animation of a well-known hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico, which was done for RTKL Associates Inc.

Project in a nutshell:

11 different interiors - bedrooms, bathrooms, living-rooms, dining room, spa, verandas, restaurants, reception, and various lounge rooms – complex visualization of a luxurious hotel. On top of that, the renderings were meant for printing and needed to have high resolution.
Interior animation of one of the luxurious suites.

The project began as usually: one morning a new request from our respected client was received. We were glad to start work on these visuals as they were extraordinary and exciting, interiors were in colonial style with lots of wood, ceramics, luxury fabrics, contrasting colors. At that time it was a godsend since we were tired of common white walls and ceilings.

But our happiness broke up soon, the smiles left our faces and we hanged the heads after we heard about the deadline:"We need all the images ready in the middle of the next week! The presentation is on Wednesday!"

The term was fixed: no postpones, no delays. Just 10 days including week-ends, and a couple of intermediate deliveries for one venue. And there were only 4 artists available.Most possibly the request would have been denied. But not by Vayersoft. We believe anything is feasible as soon as you have an interesting project, if you envisage textures and lightening beforehand, if you can visualize the result. Huge amount of work was done in a burst of inspiration.

It was the project Oasis Palmilla. We came up with nice 3D visuals, vivid impressions, and pride for the work done.

Oleg Ovcharenko,
3D Artist, PM
www.vayersoft.com

Avatar-based Internet

2008-09-26T09:10:00.007-05:00

I saw a number of avatar-based startups at Virtual World Expo. There were avatar "factories" for your virtual world, avatar-based browser, avatar designer from your pictures and even some standardization efforts for your avatar, so it can travel between virtual worlds.

I had to disappoint owners of such start-ups with my vision that Internet will not be avatar-based and this is why.

Avatars came from gaming. And this is where they bring the value by taking you outside of reality. And the more photo-realistic a game is, the better it takes you out.

Avatar innovation is leaded by technicians and it is natural that they try to apply the same technology and approaches to serious gaming and Internet. But when you want to have a corporate interactive meeting you do not need to be outside of reality, because you need to resolve real problems. Therefore, you need to make things fast and easy what avatars can't help you with. Entertainment is important part of Internet, but it's not the only. And there are multi-million game projects which always will be ahead of 3D worlds where you can buy and sell goods.

What people actually need at this stage is more interactive environment that classic social networks cannot deliver. And visual level must be added only to increase interactivity and usability.

I do not say that there is no spot for avatars in-between games and social networks, it is like electro cars before hydrogen technology is there.

3D Renderings and Animation of Marriott Marco Island Renovations

2008-09-23T09:04:00.055-05:00

A world of paradise opens at Marriott's exclusive Marco Island hotel and resort. This world-class Florida Gulf Coast resort situated on three miles of pristine beach front property is now fresh from an extraordinary $187 million makeover.

Vayersoft is proud to have touched it up by making 3D visuals of the renovated Quinn's Pool, 400 Pazzi's, Cafe' San Marco, Guestroom Suite, Fitness Room, and a couple of stores at their design stage. Actually, we are always happy to cooperate with the designers from RTKL Associates and to flesh out their ideas in 3d. Now, that the renovations are complete, you can have a look at the photos that followed in tracks of our 3D renderings.

Guestroom balconies were refreshed with new store fronts, tinted glass windows, framework, railings and tile flooring. The interior of the accommodations received a facelift as well, boasting new high-definition plasma televisions and incorporating the new Marriott Bedding Package: a washable duvet with 300-thread count, triple-sheeted linens, topped with a decorative bed scarf. Vayersoft 3D renderings were meant to depict these changes mostly. Now, we can compare the real photos with the initial idea.

The South Tower was outfitted with 400 Pazzi’s, an indoor/outdoor brick-oven pizzeria featuring café-style seating overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Now, that we have the 'real place', the 3d rendering also looks 'true'.

Quinn’s Pool was transformed into a free-form fantasy pool boasting two Jacuzzis and was relocated closer to the beach to offer guests a superior view of the Gulf of Mexico. Six private cabanas now circle the edge offering guests additional privacy while fully-equipped with plasma televisions and butler service. And this major change was showed in Vayersoft's 3D animation.

*The information and photos of Marco Island Marriott are taken from http://www.marcoislandmarriott.com/

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked by Fortune magazine as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best places to work for. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

Technical Illustration

2008-09-18T09:12:00.012-05:00

Cutaway, Ghosting, Section View and Top View, Product Illustration, Process Illustration

Words were and remain the most widely spread way of sharing information. However, in the age of technology and communication people are looking for simple, concise and informative ways to expose data. Technical illustration is now becoming a primary means to demonstrate new products, designs and ideas, and Vayersoft has mastered this means together with its clients from deifferent industries. Get visual! Communicate better!

Use-Cases

The usage of technical illustration is not limited to specialized engineering or scientific communication, like product specifications, schemes, etc. It’s also used to explain product details to the general public, for example in the illustrated instructions found in the manuals for automobiles and consumer electronics. Moreover, technical illustration has taken its honorable place in marketing due to its ability to nicely and clearly present information about a product like a web-cam or car, oil rig or production line, aircraft or train, hotel or condo.

Types of product

Cutaway and Ghosting – a visual where parts of product exterior are removed in order to show the inside. We may take a condo and remove some of the exterior walls to let you in the appartment; or remove the cover of a car to show the mechanism.

Section View and Top View – showing the inside of an object by cutting it in parts or entirely removing an outer surface. Most often the top is removed.

Product Illustration – a technically precise visual featuring any product/object.

Process Illustration – a technically precise animation or visual featuring any part of a production process. It can also help you showcase the history of construction, the ways of operation, practically any actions.

Why 3D?

Technically accurate. 3D modelers with technical background work with drawings and engeneering specifications in order to precisely reproduce the concept into a 3D visual.
Artistic look and photo-realism. 3D also allows to make the technical illustration look photoreal and appealing. However, you may choose to leave it more scematic.
Reusability. Whenever you have a model made in 3D, you can use it to time- and cost- effectively visualize product options e.g. show it with different colors/materials, or re-use them to create other 3D products.

Vayersoft has long been in the market for technical illustration and prooved to be sucessful due to the ability to understand the client’s need. The team of experts and 3D artists have combined their efforts to let you share your ideas, desings and knowledge by means of informative and true 3D illustrations.

Vayersoft Meets Royal Caribbean International

2008-09-01T15:50:00.006-05:00

Vayersoft team had a chance to introduce virtual worlds technology to the world 2nd biggest cruise line - Royal Caribbean International in their Miami offices.

We had a number of productive meetings where we demonstrated advanced 3D renderings produced in the past and also the prototype of the virtual world for cruisers based on Celebrity Solstice 3D model.

I was happy to see complete understanding of the technology and benefits that virtual worlds may bring to corporate clients. I do expect that this project will have follow-up and millions of people all over the world will be able to try a virtual cruise ! ;)

Magic of Three

2008-08-24T01:56:00.001-05:00

After reading the book by 37 Signals called "Getting Real" I realized the power of digit 3.

My explanation is that 3 is the border of simple things.

Making a choice from 1 option is the simplest, because you can't even do a mistake ;)

Making a choice from 2 options is simple.

Making a choice from 3 options is still quite simple.

Making a choice from 4 or more options gets difficult for the most of people.

It can be easily applied to web-design, interfaces, core team roles and even businesses.

Each business is operations, marketing and finances.

Blog is a header, a content page and a right bar. 90% of people do not look at a footer, right?

Interface is the best when you make a choice from 3, because you still can do it fast. If it's just from 2, you need to have too many steps, therefore 3 is just perfect.

Many of famous business trainers also believe in magic of digit 3.

So I am going to do some tests of this theory at our new startup ;)

Difference between classic and visual social networks

2008-08-01T16:43:00.003-05:00

I categorize two common types of social networks.

Classic social networks (Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, etc) and visual social networks (Second Life, Clubpenguin, etc) also called Virtual Worlds.

(Note: I do not pretend to categorize all social networks and perhaps technological aspect is not the main one to group them up, but still, it was something important for me as for a CEO of Vayersoft, the company that develops and manages virtual words.

One of our projects is the virtual browser-based world for kids called Chobots. While another project will be a try to attract people of all ages)

The first type of social networks (classic) does not have age or auditorium limitations.

There are successful Linkedin for business and gaiaonline for kids running.

The second (visual) type has age limitations and highly appreciated by kids playing Clubpenguin and another 100 virtual worlds for kids and youth.

Business related or corporate virtual worlds feel difficulties and a the most of them fail.

So why virtual worlds are limited?

One reason is technological limitations what results in lower distribution ratio. Even a requirement of supporting flash plug-in may cut off a part of auditorium. I am not talking about 3D Worlds usually working only for Windows, what is completely unacceptable for any corporate virtual world.

But the main issue is that they are slower. I am not talking about technological slowness of Flash or 3D in comparison to pure HTML, but more about conceptual slowness of virtual worlds.

If you need to find information that you need, you would not want to create a character, dressing him up and buying virtual home first. You just need to know it fast!

And the older you are, the faster you need it.

Do virtual worlds have any benefits in comparison with classic social networks?

Yes, they are more interactive and visual, therefore more dedicated to fun. However, there are now plenty of games on Facebook and more to come. Gaiaonline which is entertaining social network is still classic and also doing great.

They won't become World of Warcraft of course, but that's another story for hardcore gamers.

But the main difference between those types of networks is in how people act in these networks. Classic social networks are still dedicated to people you know in real life, not the new ones. They are great for sharing the information between them.

But what's about making new friends? Groups of interests do not resolve the issue completely.

Interactive and visual social networks are making new people closer much faster. People see the character, how person acts and chat in real-time.

So I do believe that there is a gap virtual worlds can close.

KRI Game Conference 2008 Review: From Russia with Love

2008-05-02T07:30:00.005-05:00

I was able to participate in KRI Conference 2008, Russian Game Developer's Conference taking place in Moscow in 18-20 of April.

Me and my partner had a goal to learn more about gaming industry and see how it's doing in Russia. We had an alpha version ready of our virtual world for kids, Chobots and also wanted to receive some feedback from potential publishers.

The first impression was "Wow", how big it is. Nowadays, russian game development is a mature industry with strong companies and support from authority.

I saw many talented people, a couple of really good projects and I had many useful and interesting meetings with professionals from Russia and Germany. I was happy to see the stand of Ukrainian game development company GCS-game with their add-on to Stalker.

The second impression was about mentality.

Starting from the hotel called "Kosmos" (Space) which was really big and made in old "luxury" soviet style of 80's. Since I was in space, it was impossible to order some water after 10 PM in my room, because their bar was closed. As a compensation I was offered to visit a strip bar on my way downstairs. It was a hotel with the most expensive Wi-Fi ever. It was not free even for conference members and even some companies having a booth on exhibition told us that they can't show their project completely, because there is no internet!

But even more interesting things I've heard from speakers. People from US and Europe were called by the most of speakers as "the bourgeois" as if Russian people are still "soviets". Russian 1C game publisher reported about acquisition of Polish game publisher and somehow connected the date of acquisition with the date from World War 2. How patriotic :)

So it seems they are still fighting in their minds. And this "Empire strikes back" vision was installed even among Russian IT professionals.

How this influences the business traditions? Publishers want 51% of startups. There is no spot for new publishers, there is monopoly on the market of online gaming...

But what is the next step for russian game development?

My opinion is that Russian game industry leaders such as Nival and 1C know where to go, but their plan has some gaps. Their plans are ambitious and they definitely will come up with a number of great products. The good thing is that Russian gamers start buying games and Russian market becoming really attractive for game publishing.

But will we see Russian AAA-titles developed and published by Russian publishers soon with such approach? Will they try not only following modern trends, but creating them?

This is what we will see soon.

As for us, we are going to LA, to participate in Virtual Worlds Conference this autumn.