Exterior Rendering with Lumion Pro: Creating Realistic and Visually Appealing Visualizations

The architecture industry has significantly benefited from exterior rendering, and the use of 3D rendering software has enabled architects to showcase their designs in a realistic and visually appealing manner. Lumion Pro version 12 software has made exterior rendering simpler and more efficient. This article will discuss the materials, lighting, and composition techniques used to create realistic and visually striking visualizations.

To create a realistic rendering of a villa located in a forest environment, a 3D model was created, and four exterior renders were produced using Lumion Pro version 12 software. This project focused on the materials used in rendering, especially the cement facade, concrete parking walls, glass, and grass.

For the cement facade, the look of actual cement was replicated by selecting a real texture and color. The texture was added to the model using Lumion's internal material library, and the color was adjusted using Lumion's color editor to match the desired shade of gray. Similarly, the concrete parking walls were created using a process similar to that used for the cement facade, and a concrete texture from Lumion's material library was selected and applied to the model.

To create realistic glass materials, Lumion's internal glass materials were used. The glass was adjusted to be slightly reflective and to allow the surrounding forest environment to be reflected. The thickness of the glass was also adjusted to create a more realistic appearance.

The grass material was created by combining internal Lumion materials with custom textures created by the author. A realistic grass texture was used as the base layer, and custom textures were added on top of the base layer to add variety and depth to the grass. These custom textures included variations in color, height, and density and were carefully placed to create a natural and organic appearance.

Lighting and composition played a crucial role in creating an attractive and realistic visual rendering of the villa in a forest environment. Lumion Pro version 12 was used to adjust lighting settings such as sunlight intensity, color, and the position of different light sources. Various composition techniques were also employed, such as selecting the right camera angle and adjusting the depth of field, to create a realistic and visually appealing rendering.

The positioning of the sun, shadow positions, sky addition, glass reflections, and vegetation were all considered during the rendering process. The sun's exact position in 3D exterior rendering adds to the realism of the final project draft. It is essential to align everything according to the sun's light and its shadows. Adding a sky to 3D architectural exterior rendering projects can be challenging, but when done correctly, it can create wonders for the project. Reflections make the renderings particularly realistic, and adding vegetation elements to the foreground and background creates depth and definition for the entire project.

In conclusion, this project aimed to create a realistic and visually appealing rendering of a villa in a forest environment, with a focus on the materials used in rendering, lighting, and composition techniques. Lumion Pro version 12 software allowed for easy adjustment of lighting and materials to create a more realistic and visually appealing rendering. The resulting renders showcase a beautiful villa that fits perfectly in its natural surroundings. By following the tips mentioned in this article, you can create your own visually striking and realistic exterior renderings using Lumion Pro.