I just uploaded a couple of architectural animations that I created to YouTube. These videos represent APMA's vision for the redecoration of an existing structure in Omaha NE.  Please take a moment to check them out :^) First Video, Second Video

     The image below was created to show potential renters what the updated space would look like when completed. In this situation it was important to render the space with realism in mind while at the same time avoiding the "sterile" look that computer renderings can so often have, most importantly of course it had to be finished immediately. I added some noise to the rendering and included trees, buildings, etc.. outside to add realism and warmth to the white and gray palette. The lights in Lumion work quite well I think.

Apartments at 1316 Jones Street Omaha, NE

     I love my job. A very large part of the reason I love my job is because of the software I use to do my job. Lumion renders so quickly (under a minute for each still image and usually under 30 seconds) that it allows me time to create a multitude of images with various effects, lighting, and angles. With this much freedom I can play with my models and come up with many different styles and options, of which many will be sure to please my clients and others I  create just to please my own visual curiosity.
     I used to do a lot of airbrush work with acrylics on canvas; I loved painting because I could make mistakes (learning opportunities :^) and build off of them. These mistakes allowed me the freedom to try anything I wanted on my canvas because I could manipulate the results until I found something that I really liked. I have been creating computer models and rendering images and videos for almost 15 years now with various levels of success and ease. I have finally hit upon a software and method that allows me to create great results in a significantly smaller time frame and, like with airbrushing and many other forms of art, I have the flexibility to play with the software and create beautiful unexpected results without making huge demands on my time.
     I love my job. :^)

This one was just for fun.

A recent video I created to show the landscaping concept for the new One World buildings at the historic Stockyards in Omaha, NE.

Using Normal Maps in Lumion

     I learned early on, as I'm sure most of you did as well, that it is not always necessary to do a lot of hard work to get good results. When my mother asked me to clean my room the first thing I would do is make my bed and close all of the drawers and closet doors because these three things instantly made a huge difference in the way my room looked without taking a lot of time or requiring a lot of effort. Similarly, there are simple actions that can be taken when creating a rendering or video with Lumion that greatly improve your results with very little effort or time; such as using Normal Maps to add depth and realism to your textures.

     For those of you that don't know; Normal Maps are a great way to add the illusion of texture to a model without adding to your polygon count there-by keeping the model size down. Compare the brick pavers in the  two images below to get a better understanding of what I am talking about.

In this image the bricks look pretty good but they lack definition and have a certain resemblance to wallpaper, there is no real depth between the bricks and the texture lacks "roughness".

For this image I have created a Normal Map (using freeware called Smart Normal which is very easy to use, works well, and is FREE which is always good) and applied it in Lumion along with the UV Map (Jpeg in this case) making a dramatic difference in the believability of the texture.

The process of creating a normal map with Smart Normal software is very short. With Smart Normal you can download the software from the above link or create your normal maps online without downloading the software, once you have opened the software you simply select an image from its residing source such as this image on the left and the normal map is instantly generated on the right. Using the sliders you can easily adjust the Map to your specifications then just save the image. It's very intuitive. When in Lumion, place the normal map beside the UV Map (just as is shown in the Smart Normal image above) and make any final adjustments to your bump slider, etc. to tweak the image. It's simple, fast, free, and effective.

-Let me know if you have any questions :^)

This week I rendered APMA's most current design of the Stephen Center, an emergency shelter for families and individuals. I have received a lot of positive feedback on this style of rendering and it has now become my "go to" style for it's flexibility of representation, vivid colors and artistic style. Me Like-y :^)



This is another image I created for the Red Oak Iowa downtown master plan highlighting new corner nodes at the intersections and a concept for a large sign at the main entry point of the business district containing Fountain Square Park. I created several versions of this rendering with different lighting, some may work better to show off the design intention but I put this one on this blog because I like the aesthetics of it.

This is a quick video I made using Lumion, there are some issues with it that I would fix if I wanted to spend more time on it but I made this on my own time just so I could get a video on my blog. It does however do a pretty good job at creating a sense of space that individual images alone can't portray as well.





Fountain Square Park



One of our pet projects at APMA is working on improvements to the downtown area of beautiful historic Red Oak Iowa. I've been lucky enough to be involved in the redesign of the Fountain Square Park at the center of the downtown business district. In this image I am showcasing the new stage which could be used for plays and musical presentations amongst other social interests.



The most current option we are proposing for the park is to add an "infinity" path with brick pavers and integrated seating and flower gardens around the existing water fountain, this area includes a "timeline" that the visitor can walk along and learn about the fascinating history of Red Oak.



The "infinity" path gracefully connects the tranquil water fountain to the North-East corner of the park where we showcase the monuments documenting and commemorating those who've fought in the battles of several wars that create a proud and fascinating history for Red Oak Iowa.