Why do architectural firms choose D5 Render as their BIM software?

Gu Xinxin is a BIM manager in a leading architectural firm and a Revit user who switched to D5 Render for rendering. He was invited to speak at a BIM conference, where he eagerly explained why he switched to D5 and how D5 Render helped grow the business.

“I mainly used Revit for modeling, but I switched to D5 for rendering since I discovered the software in 2019. We then put the new BIM workflow into production for all kinds of projects: industrial parks, public facilities, a nursing home, commercial real estate, malls, metro and more.”

Why choose D5 Render?

1. Ease of use, especially for BIM experts

As with other tools you use as a designer, the fly-navigation mode to move with WASD keys should be easy to use, especially for BIM experts. The intuitive and user-friendly interface make D5 one of the most pleasant tools to work with.

2. Integrated workflow

With live synchronized plugins for Revit, Archicad, Rhino, SketchUp, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D and Blender, D5 keeps you always on top of your favorite CAD/BIM solutions. In fact, the Revit-D5 workflow is extremely smooth and powerful.

3. Free downloadable components

D5 offers a huge library of assets for every type of scene: exterior, interior, landscape, ... You'll even find building elements, construction vehicles, signage and other useful objects for BIM projects.

With D5's local library, by setting up a NAS storage location, architects can share their collection of objects with the team.

4. Built-in panel for post-processing

BIM experts usually don't have to deal with post-processing, but it's always nice to have more control over your renderings. D5 has a built-in post-processing panel that lets you easily adjust basic parameters such as exposure, contrast, white balance, bloom, vignette, chromatic aberration, saturation and more.

By dragging the slider and seeing the scene change in real time, you'll be amazed at how easy post-processing is in render software.

5. Animate with magic

Animating in D5 is magically easy. With an array of ready-made elements, such as animated people, you create stunning animations in no time. And the best part? The export time is super fast! You can export your architectural animation video within minutes. Believe it or not: animating has never been easier.

How to use D5 Render in the BIM workflow?

D5 has several useful applications for your agency's BIM workflow. You simplify your workflow thanks to the software's smart options:

1. Revit: 

Insert Revit families, import point cloud data.

2. Revit to D5: 

Livesync with D5 Render imports the required models.

3. D5 Rendering:

Add models to the scene, modify the environment, create animations, render.

4. Adjustments in D5 Render:

• Plants

Thanks to the tools brush, scatter and pad, you can add multiple plants to your scene at lightning speed. So you don't have to work plant by plant!

With the brush tool you simply draw a path and select the plants to grow there. In the Settings panel you can adjust parameters such as number of items, the direction, random distance and size to your heart's content. This way you personalize the vegetation and prevent everything from looking the same.

• Materials

In D5, hold down the hot key “i” to change the cursor in the material selector and click on a surface to edit the material in the right sidebar.

For example, take water as a material. You can find several water materials in the D5 material library (different colors, ripple/no ripple), or you can change a material directly to a preset water template in the panel on the right. Basic color, normal, refraction, flow rate, depth and more parameters are adjustable.

• Models

To populate the design with appropriate models, import Revit families or use assets from the D5 model library. Another convenience of D5 is that you can set up a local asset library to store and manage objects for later use, just like in Revit/BIM with virtual showrooms.

• Environment

To set the general lighting environment, adjust the “Environment” panel on the right using the Geo&Sky or HDRI system.

With Geo&Sky, you can easily simulate realistic lighting conditions at any time of day. Drag the clock to the desired time and D5 automatically adjusts the lighting. You can even adjust the north angle, longitude, latitude, sun strength and sun disk size for added accuracy.

HDRI: D5 Render provides a library of ready-to-use HDRIs for different time of day and weather conditions: partly cloudy, slightly cloudy, clear sky, early morning, afternoon, evening glow, sunrise, sunset and pure white. Want more? Then import your own HDRI files from websites with such as Polyhaven. Also switch between 5 built-in weather systems with just one click: rain, snow, clouds, fog and wind.

• Output

As a final step, before exporting the image, video or panorama, view the bar under 'preview viewport' and choose the resolution and other settings you need. The exports include Material ID, Ambient Occlusion, RT Reflection, Alpha Mask and Trans Mask, among others. You can select the desired options from the drop-down menu.

Twinmotion vs D5 Render

“For me, D5 Render is unsurpassed,” said Gu Xinxin. “The scenes look more detailed and atmospheric. The lighting, shadows, animated particles and textures have become tremendously realistic. Rendering in real time is a treat: sharp previews, an abundance of assets and lightning-fast exports. I also work a lot with tenders in the AEC sector. D5 Render greatly improves communication and project coordination. For me it is the ideal software!”

Are you ready to work more efficiently on your BIM process? Then choose D5 Render and make things a lot easier for yourself right away.