Topic: What Is The Best Use For Lumion?

[michaelsis]

Hello Lumioners
I am new to Lumion and animation in general.
After watching some high quality videos on vimeo of what others did with Lumion. I was sold. I knew I had to get Lumion.

But when I realized that Lumion could not import animated characters or export lumion scenes to other 3d applications like Maya or Max.... Well... Let's just say, I began to doubt if spending 4k on Lumion would be a wise investment.

So I did more research, went to architectural job boards and forums to ask people if they use Lumion at work or for professional jobs. I got some not so encouraging responses. Most of the architects agreed that Lumion is nice, looks OK, fast, but one of them said that when they tried to present a project to a client rendered in lumion, the client(who was used to the higher vray quality) was not impressed and demanded a "better" render.

So what's my point?

Well, as the title states.... What is the best use for lumion?
I am scared that I'm going to spend 4k on a software that won't make me any money.

Who out there is actually making money using Lumion? I am not trying to be rude... I'm just really confused at this point.

My goal is to start my own visualization business. As we speak I am ordering a custom build which I pretty much built just for lumion and Octane render. Right now im thinking I will ditch lumion and go with Octane since it seems to be what high profile clients want... Vray type renders... But I really like the easy user interface of lumion... I don't know.

I love lumion but architectural visualization does not seem like a profitable way to use lumion. Most people I have asked prefer vray because of its super realistic quality. I wanted to use lumion as a tool ton!ake backgrounds for 3d animated films, but lumion does not export to max or Maya noor can I import animated characters... So.... At this point, I'm not sure what lumion will actually do for me. Its too expensive to just buy it for the sake of "fooling around in lumion" this isn't a hobby.

So my hope when I first heard of lumion was that it was the real time version of a software called VUE by E-on Software. Vue is the software that was used to make the backgrounds(3d environments) for movies like Avatar, Superman, Indiana Jones, Xmen last stand and so on... And vue looks very real, gray quality and vue is much cheaper.

I keep hearing that Architecture is a dying field. So is buying lumion worth it?
Someone please help..

Of course lumion staff will say yes lol but I would like to know if I will make any real money if I use lumion for architectural visualization. Here in the USA, will lumion pay for itself? How can I market myself? Would people pay more for a faster render or do they prefer to wait for hours, days for a very render?

I spoke to some artists who get between $1000 - $4000 per still image by vray. I was impressed.... But everywhere I've checked... People using lumion are only making a couple of hundred here and there... That is scary... I plan to do this full time.. I got a pay bills. If I'm spending 4k on a software then that software should be making me 4k back and more.

Please share your thoughts guys.. I'm super confused right now... Trying to decide between octane render, vue or lumion. Which one will make me more money. I'm thinking vue to be honest since I'm more into film and since there doesn't seem to be a lot of jobs in architectural visualization.

Bellow is the custom build I just ordered.

Over clocked Intel i5-4670K(4.4GHz) quad core
16GB Memory 1600MHz DDR3
Nvidia Geforce GTX Titan Black 6GB DDR5 (over clocked)
256GB SSD
1TB HDD
Windows  7 pro 64bit

[Pauldavis]

So I have been an Architectural Illustrator for the past 12 years or so. I started out by hand and then moved onto computer generated graphics when Sketchup came out. Since then I have used the majority of the programs out there for rendering. It is my own business that I have had to build up from scratch.

A few points from my experience...

What I have found is these programs are a tool and it still requires a skilled artist to make good use of them. A photographer can take better pics with your point and shoot than you could with his $4000.00 camera. Don't get me wrong, VRay in the right hands produces probably the best quality renderings available but at the cost of much practice and time. Really it can take years to master that program and many others.

With Lumion you can produce nice work right away and start producing really nice work with some practice. But you still need to have some composition, artistic, and design talent otherwise your going to wonder why your renderings are not looking as good as others. This is why some Architects may have tried programs like Lumion and have failed to achieve results they wanted. The same reason why they hire guys like me to do their renderings, You need a good driver behind the program to get good results.

Some clients are only going to want the top of the line renderings and wont accept less. I am sure they are out there but I have never met one. All most all of my clients want is fast turn around times, affordable cost, and high quality. On top of that they want top notch customer service. When I made the switch to Lumion from other raytracing software my clients were happier with my work and I added new clients with the ability to do animations. 

Every project takes me less then half the time to complete then it did with my old programs. So I make more money now and can take on more projects.

Although there are some rendering short comings with Lumion there are far more advantages that allow me to make better renderings with the allotted time available on my projects. Remember you are only seeing the best of the best on rendering websites. Most of the time, us everyday renderings guys are restricted by tight deadlines and we have to produce what we can in time allowed. Programs like VRay are not fast programs to produce the high end stuff. Go ahead and try and tell your client I need more time then their deadline allows. They just wont hire you.

I bill out about $75.00 an hour for my services, whether I use Vray or Lumion. But Lumion just takes far less time. So my clients save money per project when I use Lumion and I get paid the same. Your expecting the software to determine your ability to generate income. It is your ability to run a business that will determine that. Tell you the truth, none of my clients would pay $4000.00 for a still image. 

No one is using VUE for architectural stuff. It sucks for it. I have owned it and used it. It doesn't come with anything and you have to get a bunch of plugins for it to have half the stuff Lumion comes with.

Bottom line is you have to be able to be a successful business person to have a successful business. You need the right tools but they are worthless if you cannot get clients and maintain them. I spend much more time on business development and retention then I do on making sure I have the best tools. You want to make money working for Architects? Then bring the whole office lunch from a hip restaurant once in a while, or drop off cookies when you want to talk about a new service you can provide, ask them if they have any thing coming up that might need your services, and just create deeper relationships with them. You dedicate yourself to the success of their business then they will be dedicated to you. It takes time, lots of it. There is no quick recipe.

I hope this helps.

[Jared G.]

great response, Paul.

[Serget704]

Hello to all! I am an architect aged 73 years and practiced for 52 years. I experienced all possible modes of production drawings. If I'm still productive, thank you for Revit and Lumion. It is amazing and I greatly appreciate the acquisition of Lumion done lately. Lumion is essential!

I could not work without Lumion.

Thans a lot Lumion team!

[michaelsis]

Thank you so very much for this honest reply. You are absolutely right. I have been too focused on the tool and not on building relationships. Like i said on my original post. I love lumion and was sold on Lumion just from watching a few videos on vimeo.

As for Vue, i don't plan to use it for Architectural visualization. I don't even plan on using Lumion for Architectural visualization, i guess that is my real problem. I want lumion to be something that it clearly was not meant to be.

I am more interested in creating 3d environments for film. That is what i was hoping i could accomplish with Lumion but since i can't, that is why i am considering VUE, since that is what Vue is meant for. But the downside to VUE is that it is not real time..

anyway.. thanks again for your reply and advice on building good relationships.. that is something i definitely need to start working on.

[BABE™]

I think your a lovely guy paul 

drop off cookies when you want to talk about a new service you can provide

Have you got any cookies left ?    are they Chocolate -Chip ?

[Pauldavis]

Lol,  I don't bake them myself.  I wouldn't keep any clients that way.  I like to support small businesses in the area.  There's a little cookie shop called cookie connection  I get a dozen mixed cookies from.  They make awesome hug cookies.  Always a hit.