Real estate and architecture design are one thing that affects our daily lives. A better place and a healthy environment bring more happiness and comfort to the people. Usually, we don’t notice that the place we are living in is very important for our peace of mind, We care more about drastic and impulsive changes in your life and we just get used where we are living. Architects are always challenging themselves to give a modern, smart and healthy environment for us to live in. Constructing a large compound costs a lot of money, efforts and time so it has to be studied well before that.

In this project, SimLab Composer was used In order to study the design prior to the construction and mimic a real-life experience. many visualizations techniques were used to give the most realistic feedback and testing for the project.

But what really makes a huge improvement in the design process is finding a smart way to interchange notes and suggestions between people in that VR environment.

SimLab VR Viewer has its own tools and systems that provide the users with an ultimate procedure for communicating their ideas and comments in VR. It Can take several types of notes directly in the VR Session such as voice notes, text notes and even drawing on objects.

All these notes can be saved and shared between others in the most comprehensive ways

EXE

Furthermore, The user can save it as a .exe file so it can be shared with who even don’t have the viewer, it will automatically install the viewer and opens the VR scene.

Watch SimLab VR Notes in Actions

Embed VR Gallery technology in a website

In this step we will copy the jQuery Plugin link and paste it in the header tag of the webpage

	  
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-2.2.4.min.js" integrity="sha256-BbhdlvQf/xTY9gja0Dq3HiwQF8LaCRTXxZKRutelT44=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

A. In this step choose the element shape whether it is button or image or URL and copy the code where you desire, and change the URL https://s3.amazonaws.com/web-material/vr_viewer/Yacht.vrpackage to the URL of the package

B. If Viewer is not downloaded this message box will handle it and give the user a popup to download the viewer.

	
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://www.simlab-soft.com/vrPack/test_files/vrCatalog.css?x52295" >
<div id="container_large">
 <div class="alert" id="panel"> <br> <span  class="closebtn" onclick="document.getElementById('container_large').style.display = 'none';">× </span>  <span id="changable_text" class="text-center center-block"> Try Again Please </span>  <br> 
 </div>
</div>

In this step copy the script link that improves the protocol concept in the footer

	  
<script src="https://www.simlab-soft.com/vrPack/test_files/vrCatalog.js?x52295"></script>

AMD Radeon™ ProRender is a powerful physically-based rendering engine that enables creative professionals to produce stunningly photorealistic images.

SimLab Composer makes it easy to experiment with the new GPU renderer from AMD. You can now utilize SimLab Composer’s large number of supported formats, and material assignment capabilities. 

To experiment with the AMD GPU renderer please do the following:

• Download the AMD GPU render from the following link
• Unzip the file
• Double click on the file Baikal-Environment-Variable.cmd to set up the render

Now you are ready to utilize SimLab Composer to test the new renderer, the process is shown in the following video.

Note: currently SimLab Composer’s support of AMD Radeon™ ProRender in only available on Windows

SimLab Composer is integrated with Xbox and PlayStation controllers to give the ability of having an interactive simulation for your 3D designs.

SimLab Composer known for it’s simulation capabilities such it have all the links and tools that you need to bring your 3D mechanical design to life.

With SimLab Interactive simulation you can map significant digital/analog inputs to control position, velocity, torque, force or statues for any link or solid interactively while running the simulation.

You can control your simulation directly in the view port or even by running the experience on SimLab’s VR Viewer through SimLab Composer.

Mac os x

– Keyboard, Mouse

However with the variant CAD applications available these days we can provide a design with realistic rendered stills, 3D models or even a video without hammering a nail!

SimLab’s vision is to provide the perfect communication 3D tool that will help connecting your design ideas with others in a very efficient and unique ways to ensure that everyone in the process gets the whole idea without any glitch.

SimLab Composer is our tool that takes this further and offering the most technologies available for 3D communication that you need such as realistic rendering, interactive VR, AR, 360 images, 3D PDF documents exporting, assembly solutions and much more.

SimLab Composer is a very handy product for Furniture design and it used buy a large number of furniture and interior designers and companies.

The beauty thing about the Composer is the integrity of all features with all types of outputs. Once you built your scene on SimLab Composer, you can have all types of outputs without needing any further process.

SimLab Integration

SimLab Composer has many features that complete the visualization experience. One useful feature is SimLab Dynamic Linking with other 3D CAD applications feature, such as SketchUp Integration; It is convenient for direct 3D export and editing without going back and forth or exporting and importing each time.

A realistic video rendering also can be achieved easily by SimLab Composer, and it could be so useful as in the video example here which shows an assembly instructions in a beautiful and simple animation

Making 360 images for an interior design that can be viewed as the person standing and looking around in any direction(first person point of view) could be very useful for feeling the space and the visibility along with the usability of the design. Learn more.

Scene building mode in SimLab’s Free VR viewer is a very useful mode which gives the ability to build the scene in VR! It has many useful tools ; scale, rotate, copy, transform and even hide or delete.

The example in the video at the left shows how this feature is used for kitchen design in a strait-forward manner, by just choosing the part you want to add then grab it and put it where and how you want.

With Augmented Reality provided by SimLab Soft you can try all furniture alternatives inside your house by your smartphone or tablet.

By selecting the piece that you want to try and then choose where you want it to be. Also, you can scale, move and rotate it as you want.
Furthermore, you have the ability to open and close drawers and change materials.

Assembly documents

360 Grid Technology is a smart and simple way to show the most of the design with multiple 360 renders connected to each other which allows moving between them to insure full coverage for the whole design.

A 360/Panorama is an image rendered in a special way that makes it ready to be shared on Facebook, a webpage, a mobile, or a desktop viewer. It actually comes in normal picture formats such as JPG, PNG or BMB. 360 image can be opened with normal photo viewers however to see the real benefit of a 360 image, it should be opened with a 360 viewer.

Using a 360 viewer where the magic happens. It gets the feeling of being located at the center of the image, with the ability to rotate head to get the view in all possible directions, sample 360 images can be found here.

360 images are very handy, they make it possible to get great view of the scene in very high quality even on low end devices, however their is a problem! A 360 image does not allow you to move in the space, or to view the back of an object, you can only view the object from the perspective or the used camera. so you can pan around but you cant move around.

360 Grid Technology from SimLab removes this limitation, it makes it possible to easily generate and render a set of multiple 360 cameras, to allows the user to move in the scene and to view objects from different sides.

A 360 Grid sample can be found here.

But the question now is how to create a 360 Grid view?! SimLab Composer VR provides a very simple technique to do that. The following tutorial shows how the user can create a 360 grid using SimLab Composer.

Architecture is identified by the Art & Science of designing buildings. A successful architectural design must satisfy three key elements; It has to be Functional, Structurally  working, and Aesthetically Appealing.

Type of Users from the Architecture Background

Architecture is a broad field with many sub practices, these practices have different types of design requirements and design outputs.
Each user will need different tools to develop their work to its final image, the more specified tools are there the richer the design output content.

Research & Graduate Studies

Researchers or students from the architecture field study the art, history, science and practice of
designing buildings from scratch. They are required to either create original designs and structures, or analyze existing projects. Besides 3D design tools, providing a 3D analysis tools to create full diagrammatic architectural documentations is one of the most desired tools. Simlab has some useful features such as (Sun analysis and easy key animation navigation)

3D Artists

3D artists in architectural firms are in charge of creating realistic images and renders of the
designed projects. One point to mention here is that Simlab Composer allows architects to play the role of 3D artists ! It’s is a friendly , and an easy-touse software that allow architects to present their work professionally and very fast without going through technicallities, at the same time saving budget by excluding hiring external 3D help.

Clients

With the development of VR and AR , clients became part of the equation here. Some users
might have a little or absolute no knowledge of how to navigate through 3D software and AR/VR
Application. Simlab Showroom and VR mobile application are free to download and provide
easy-to-learn navigation tutorials.

Creating 3D Experience in SimLab Composer

Simlab Composer has many features that complete the visualization experience. One useful feature is Sketchup/Simlab linking feature, it is convenient for direct 3D export and editing without going back and forth. We would like to test out such features and their contribution in the architectural design phases.

Architectural Design Process

Any architectural design project starts with a client or a project owner approaching an architectural office with an idea for a new building.
Architects then transform the client’s idea into a complete design with architectural and engineering documents that meet the local codes and regulations.

Test Project: ” Simlab future HQ offices”

We need a test project to go through the design project one by one. The proposed project should be of a sufficient space area, with variety of functions and details to test out the full potential of SimLab Composer. The chosen project is to design a ” SimLab Future Headquarter Office”. In this document, we will walk through the design process from the early concept stage till the final architectural design outputs. Simlab can be integrated with the first three steps of design while other are more into technical details.

Outline Specification
Interior Elevations
Reflected Ceiling plans
Details
System Consultants’ documents

Arrangements and Circulation elements
Doors, Windows & Partitions Assembly
Fixtures and Fittings
Interior Finishes
Materials and building envelope

Concept Design is the very first phase of the architectural design process. Based on the complexity of the assigned project, an analaysis and a research will be required to conclude the project’s requirement and design expectations.

Space programming includes researching, documenting, and analysing Space information based on the client’s needs and budget. A Developed Space program should define the main design objectives, lists spaces, functions, dimensions, minimum floor area calculations, spaces relations, spaces relation to the site, type of accessibility and other special considerations.

Many design phases require good documentations of the out come. Concept Design phase includes creating analysis figures and initial documentation of the design variables. SimLab Composer has many features for a presentable architectural analysis.

This stage allows exploring different design alternatives to narrow them down into one. It is the ideas that will suggest the overall arrangement, the form and the spaces. The main goal of this phase is to evolve and develop a defined concepts in a presentable manner to clients.

Concept Design : The chosen design concept is inspired by the geometry of SimLab Logo design.

Initial Documentation is required in this stage with little details for clients to review and feedback. The image of the projects starts to take a direction with a concrete overall form.

In this stage, the schematic design outputs are developed further to include greater levels of details, such as ; fully developed floor plans, site plan, elevations , sections and roof plan.

Other type of details include 3D sectional drawings and rendering . These type of documents and renders allow understanding major construction needs of the site, space leveling and relation to site plan.

Other design refinmenets and major design decisions are finalized in this stage, such as material selection, doors and windows types, Interior furniture alocation and engineering details.

Design Outputs

In addition to architectural documentation, SimLab Composer offers a wide range of valuable design outputs that enhance the overall visualization experience of any architectural project.

Various types of exterior rendering is achieved easily by using Simlab Composer’s material library. Exterior rendering of different time of the day is also achievable through different lighting ready-presets and IES lights available to use directly from the main library.

Simlab Composer provide various ready to import interior furniture models from the library that enhance the overall image of any interior space. Also, a ready Interior rendering mode is available to use directly without going though editing complicated presets.

Different types of artifical and IES lights are also available to be directly imported in model for night scenes.

3D sectional views can be achieved through creating Sectional Planes on the 3D model in Simlab Composer. These type of renders show the interior structure of the building, the vertical and horizontal spatial relations, and the building relation to the surrounding site.

Another type of camera render in Simlab Composer is  the 360 degree cameras, these type of cameras render a panorama view allowing users to experience being in a 3D scene. Clients can upload these images and view them on mobile phones, facebook 360 upload or other type of viewers.

Multiple 360s feature is also available to render multiple scenes in the interior and combine them together for a full experience within the interior space .

One powerful feature in Simlab Composer is VR creation. Creating VR experiences for architectural models allows clients & designers to have a sense of the designed space prior to construction. They can be created easily in Simlab Composer and viewed though Simlab Showroom viewer free application.

SimLab Composer’s 3D PDF export feature allows exporting 3D models with their actions, materials, and animation sequences. The 3D PDF can be shared to clients for review and navigation through different design stages. It’s also useful to present simple architectural viewports with different styles.

SimLab Composer is the complete 3D communication solution, SimLab Composer Lite is the free edition of SimLab Composer.  Rendering capabilities in SimLab Composer Lite are free for hobbyist and commercial usage, they allow generating rendering images up to full HD (1920 * 1080).

SimLab real time on screen rendering is easily enabled by clicking Real time under the Render menu (or using the F4 shortcut) as shown in the following tutorial.

But what can you do if you need a specific render size for example 800 * 600?

You can render a larger size image and crop the large image to the needed size, but this solution does not give you a good understanding of the final image, and makes you waste time rendering pixels that you will through a way.

You can use the following simple trick:

• From File -> Preference go to the Appearance tab
• Set fixed view size to the image size you are looking for (in this case 800 * 600 )
• Click OK

• Now from the accessibility tool bar, change view type to Fixed View, Click F4 to start real time rendering.

• Save the output image by clicking Save Viewer Image button in the accessibility tool bar