Week One: Architectural Modeling in 3ds Max
In week one, students will be practicing modeling techniques useful in most architectural modeling projects. The use of splines the modeifier stack and boolean operations are tools uses in the majority of architectural modeling situations.

• Boolean Operations
• Splines
• Spline Based Modeling
• Using the Modifier Stack

Assignment: Create a vaulted ceiling
Assignment Due: week two

Week Two: Working with CAD files
In week two, students will learn about using CAD building designs in 3ds MAX. Buildings are often modeled in programs like AutoCAD or Revit as an alternative to modeling in 3ds Max. Students will see how to link or import these files and how to manipulate the files once in 3ds Max.

• Importing or Linking DWG files
• Objects in 3ds max from CAD programs
• Revit and 3ds Max
• FBX alternative

Assignment: Importing an office building model from a CAD Program
Assignment Due: week three

Week Three: More modeling in 3ds Max
In week three, students will learn more modeling and modification techniques in 3ds max. Also modeling techniques will be presented to elaborate models imported from CAD programs.

• Creating a terrain model
• Importing Splines from CAD
• Creating geometry from splines
• Creating Lofts
• Using splines to modify or make geometry more complex

Assignment: Detailing the vaulted space from week one
Assignment Due: week four

Week Four: Lighting using mental ray
In week four, students will learn lighting techniques for exterior spaces and interiors lit by daylight. Lighting will be presented using the mental ray renderer.

• Exterior Lighting (Sunlight, Skylight)
• Daylight System
• Skylight
• Sky background
• Sunlight Penetrating into interior spaces
• Indirect lighting

Assignment: Create lights for the Vaulted Space
Assignment Due: week five

Week Five: Materials 1
In week five, students will learn about the more easy to use mental ray Materials available in 3ds Max. During this week students will use many of the default materials and get excellent results with a minimum of effort.

• Arch & Design Materials and Pro Materials
• Creating a Simple Default Grey Material
• Ambient Occlusion
• Using Pro Materials

Assignment: Assign Materials to Office Building
Assignment Due: week six

Week Six: Materials 2
In week six, students will learn more about the material editor and mental ray materials to produce realistic materials.

• Using Templates in the Arch & Design Material
• Mapping Materials
• Details about the Arch & Design Material
• Reflectivity

Assignment: Assign Materials to Vaulted Space
Assignment Due: week seven

Week Seven: Rendering
In week seven, students will learn about rendering settings which will allow high quality renderings in a minimum amount of time. In addition, camera animation will be discussed.

• Indirect Illumination Settings
• Establishment of final render settings
• Use of Low res FG files
• Render Dialog notes
• Animating a camera

Assignment: Project
Assignment Due: End of week eight

Week Eight: Miscellaneous topics
This final week will be filled by recommendations taken from the students.

Level of Ability
This workshop is aimed at students interested in enhancing their existing skills in architectural visualization and rendering. It is an intermediate level class geared towards students who have some experience with 3ds Max and with 3D Architectural Modeling.

Hardware and Software Requirements
Students should have some familiarity with 3ds Max and with an architectural 3D modeling software. 3ds max 2008 or 2009, Trial versions of Revit 2008 and AutoCAD 2008

Stsudents should have the minimum hardware requirements as specified for 3ds max 2008 or 2009

A broadband connection will be needed for downloading the weekly video lessons.

Other Requirements
Students need to be familiar with web navigation and browsing, as well as email

Students need to be familiar with using a bulletin board system (such as CGTalk.com) as well as how to upload attachments to postings for review.