Arch Viz Biz – Say what?

by Steven Greco on 03/22/10 at 11:42 am

I was meeting with a new client the other day and was reminded that people outside of the Architectural Visualization business (Arch Viz Biz) are not very familiar with the terminology, acronyms and jargon we tend to use.

I am usually pretty good about getting a feel for my client’s awareness of such terms and use them carefully when communicating or presenting.

During our meeting I explained to my client that we could add ‘CG people’ or ‘green screen people’ to an animated scene to help enhance the lifestyle aspects of the project.

It was then that I realized I slipped up and had lost her. Just moments after using the phrase “CG People” she tilted her head as if on queue, and gave me that curious puppy dog look.

So I took a step back and explained that CG people are ‘computer generated’ people that our computer modelers create, animate and bring to life in a scene and ‘green screen people’ are live actors captured with video and then inserted into an animation.

My client was thankful and relieved that I took the time to explain these terms so I thought it could be useful to post some of the commonly used terms/jargon and their definitions as they relate to our business:

2D
Two-dimensional. Something with two dimensions, e.g. height and width e.g. floor plans, site plans colorized elevations

3D
Three-dimensional. Something having three dimensions e.g. width, length, and depth e.g. a measure of space

3D Animation
The art of creating moving images with the use of computers

3D Modeling
The process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface or object (either inanimate or living) via specialized software

3DS, a.ka. 3D Studio, a.k.a. MAX
3D Studio Max is 3D modeling, rendering and animation software

Animatic
A simplified mock-up of an animation to give a better idea of how the scene will look and feel with motion and timing

Animator
An artist who creates multiple images called frames and key frames that form an illusion of movement called animation when rapidly displayed

Arch Viz
Architectural Visualization

BIM
Building Information Modeling which allows the user to design with parametric modeling and drafting elements

CAD
Computer Aided Design

Camera Path
The path that a viewer will see in an animation

CG People
Computer generated or animated people

DWG
Database of 2D or 3D drawings created with AutoCAD

Green Screen People
Usually video capture of live people that can be inserted into animation or still renderings.

HD
High definition video – can be 720p or 1080i

Fly-through
Animation that simulates moving through or around a 3D environment

JPEG a.k.a JPG
Joint Photographic Experts Group

MAP, Mapping or Texture Mapping
An image file used in computer modeling and animation to create the illusion of realistic textures on 3D rendered surfaces

Motion Graphics
Graphics that use video and/or animation technology to create the illusion of motion or a transforming appearance

PDF
Portable Document Format usually read by Adobe Acrobat Reader software

Pixel
A pixel is the smallest display element that makes up the images you see on a computer monitor or television

Tracking a.k.a Match Move
Match moving is a visual-effects technique that allows the insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage with correct position, scale, orientation, and motion relative to the photographed objects in the shot

TIFF
Tagged Image File Format. file format for storing images, popular among Apple Macintosh owners, graphic artists, and the publishing industry

View Sim
View simulation – An all 3D image or sometimes combined with photography – Similar to a Visual Analysis

Virtual Tour
Can be a computer generated, video based or photography based walk/fly through of an interior or exterior space

VR
Virtual Reality – Computer-simulated environment, whether that environment is a simulation of the real world or an imaginary world

V-Ray
A rendering software engine used with 3D Studio Max to produce stunningly realistic environments if operated by a highly skilled modeler/animator

SketchUp
A 3D modeling program designed for architects, civil engineers, filmmakers, game developers, and related professions. Primarily used during conceptual phases of design

Revit
Building Information Modeling software for Microsoft Windows, currently developed by Autodesk

Wide Screen/Flat Screen
Typically 16:9 aspect ratio monitors or TV’s like in a movie theater

XREF
Cross reference file usually linked with DWG or other CAD files