My best decision: switching to D5 Render

Michal Marek, based in Poland, has been a passionate 3D artist in architectural visualization since 2005. In 2014, he founded Spotlight Studio, specializing in both interior and exterior projects. “When I saw the trailer for D5 Render 1.3 on YouTube, I was immediately sold,” Michal shares enthusiastically. “Despite the language barriers and limited information at the time, I knew this software would be groundbreaking. I invested in an RTX GPU to see D5 in action and switched for good in early 2021.”

This dedication paid off. Michal recently won the prestigious D5 Render Challenge II with his impressive entry. In this video, he shares in detail his workflow and tips for creating photorealistic renders with D5 Render.

Michal's workflow for 3ds Max and D5 Render: efficiency and flexibility

Michal describes his workflow for modeling in 3ds Max and rendering in D5 Render with a focus on efficiency and flexibility.

Modeling and UV mapping:

• Michal creates UVs only where needed, especially for displacement/parallax mapping in D5.
• Before exporting, he checks the coordinates of the model to ensure correct localization in D5 via “Sync Coordinates”.
• Models are usually exported in .d5a format for compatibility with D5 Render.

Additional elements and organization:

• Furniture, props and plants are exported as separate files for full control in D5.
• Objects are stored in the local library for reuse in future projects.
• Grouping too many components is avoided to simplify adjustments during rendering.

Michal keeps his post-production in D5 Render simple:

• He usually performs only basic color correction and air replacement.
• Advanced color editor with Highlight, Midtone, Shadow and Global adjustments is available from Menu > Preference > Widget.
• Post-processing in external software such as Photoshop or DaVinci Resolve is not required.

Real-time feedback and speed as major advantages

“The main advantage of D5 Render for me is, not surprisingly, the real-time feedback and speed. You see your final frame almost immediately in the viewport. Preview in D5 is very reliable, compared to all other programs. Before D5 came out, it was impossible to render animations within a reasonable time.”

“I tested all competing products, but they either lacked quality or had a so-called real-time viewport that was nothing like the final output.” - Michal Marek, Spotlight Studio

“If you render every day, a top-notch interface is essential. D5 understands that. No unnecessary options or clutter, just a streamlined workflow that lets you perform archviz tasks smoothly. Exactly what I was looking for! D5 is fast, efficient and a breath of fresh air compared to other software. D5 turned out to be the right alternative and I'm glad I switched.”

The D5 Render Challenge II

“Normally I mainly visualize exteriors and interiors, but for this D5 Render Challenge II I wanted to create something different. Something unworldly, full of contrasts. A proof, in a way, that with D5 Render your creativity is the only limit.”

Michal even recorded a making-of video for his entry after the entire project was completed. Watch this time lapse and get immersed in the creative process of Michal's submission.

“I made everything myself. The biggest challenge was the portal with the doors. I knew right away that I needed two separate scenes for that. To keep the camera movement fluid, I had to continue it far beyond the doors.”

“Thanks to the animated camera path and the position of the doors, I was able to create the second scene using the same camera as in the first. This was quite a challenge, since the timing of the door animation in 3ds Max had to be perfect. With 2.3's Sync Pivot, the door animation can now be created directly in D5. Thanks to keyframes, we can now open the doors exactly when we want.”

Michal's efficient working method

“Both for interiors and buildings, I always start modeling by creating a projection in my CAD program. This allows me to accurately trace the walls. After importing the DWG file into 3ds Max, for the interior visualization all you have to do is add the right extrusion, cut recesses for windows and doors at the right height, make the floor and ceiling and voila: the rough interior is ready! For windows and doors, I use ready-made models and only adjust the dimensions for each project. I like this workflow best so far.”

“The other day I created some car renders for an advertising campaign. A cool change from my usual architectural projects! D5 makes it so quick and easy to create and iterate. The client was super happy with the result, even though the scene was actually built very simply:

• Model of the client's car
• Surfing people from the D5 library
• Smoke (D5 particle asset)
• Ground plane with sand shader
• Background plane (from D5 Model library - Other - Basic model)
• Sand geometry on the tires, painted with the D5 scatter tool

For this project, I got almost everything I needed directly from D5's built-in library and just had to drag and drop. Adjustments are also intuitive and effortless.”

The importance of getting the mood right

“When visualizing designs for my clients, I immerse myself in their vision and story. I want to convey those in the right way through my work. Super detailed models, 8K textures or perfect UVs on all legs of a chair are far from necessary. After all, most projects are viewed on smartphone screens.”

“That's not to say that details don't matter. The point is that you have to consider different scenarios and the time available. In a close-up shot, an image can have a great atmosphere at first glance. But then when I see that the UV maps of the wooden beams are wrong or that a table is floating, the image still disappoints me. Striving for perfection is good, but as the deadline approaches, atmosphere and good composition come first for me.”

Smoother collaboration with colleagues

“Thanks to D5, collaboration between me and designers has become much more fun and easy. The speed of the D5 allows you to make more changes, make more test renders (more shots, different color versions, etc.), but always with a very good quality. With this instant feedback and edits, negotiating with colleagues and clients has become so much more efficient.”

“Thanks to D5, I can now create renders at lightning speed, allowing me to propose different frames and color versions without worry. This way, I don't have to worry that hours of rendering have been in vain. This allows me to more smoothly reach a compromise between the client's vision and my own ideas. In short, D5 has greatly simplified my visualization work and made it a lot less stressful.”

Wondering how D5 Render can also transform your workflow? Get started right away with D5 Render and discover how easy it is!