A product review by Michael Anonuevo
Introduction
As the New Year is fast approaching, I want to add this final 2013 product review for Revit users. You may have seen or receive a notification from revitkid.com regarding a new website called BIM. After Dark. (www.bimafterdark.com).
Apparently, it is a separate website created by the owner of revitkid.com where users can purchase how-to videos pertaining to Revit presentation techniques. BIM. After Dark. (B.A.D.) is the brainchild of Mr. Jeff Pinheiro, the Revit guru who owns and runs revitkid.com. Like most of you who had followed and subscribed to revitkid.com, I got an email notification with a preview of a BIM. After Dark. video. On December 10 last week, B.A.D. went live. Having viewed and learned a lot of tips and tricks from revitkid.com, I visited the site during the launch date and ended up purchasing one of the 3 video packages on sale. This article is a review of that video purchase.
About revitkid.com
Before I get on with the subject of this review, let me share some information about revitkid.com.
Many of you who have stumbled on this site are probably wondering who this Revit kid is. I’ve always pictured an eccentric, cap-wearing, college-beer-guzzling genius who is the go to person in his architecture classes. Just who is this kid anyway? Well, in the process of writing this review, I’ve gotten some information from Mr. Pinheiro himself last week. At B.A.D., he posted a photo of himself. And I was right _he does look like an eccentric, cap-wearing, college-beer-guzzling genius and go to Revit person (minus the cap in the photo)! Anyway, here are some relevant facts you should know:
Jeff established revitkid.com in 2009 to help his peers. He remembers only a very few online resources to help him learn Revit during that period. He bought books but they didn’t impart the kind of information he wanted to learn and absorb. Back then, there were only a limited amount of video-style tutorials. This is what motivated him to establish revitkid.com, which unarguably, is one of the best Revit websites out there right now. To date, he has posted over 1000 blogs, 700 of which are a collection of tips and tricks which he and other users have created. He has also written several product reviews and numerous articles pertaining to Revit, Autodesk, and BIM in general. BIM. After Dark. is a culmination of his efforts _putting together unique, relevant and useful Revit presentation techniques in a video-style tutorial format.
On the education and professional side, Jeff holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering and Master of Architecture from University of Hartford. He has worked with REM Architectural Services during his college days and currently working for Fletcher Thompson.
BIM. After Dark. Products
At B.A.D. website (www.bimafterdark.com), you have three buying options:
The Complete Package ($179)
• Videos: Over 2.5 hrs. of tips, tricks, and tutorials
• 1GB worth of sample files consisting of:
o Full Revit projects and families
o Photoshop projects and layers
o Rendering texture library
• Revit to Max to V-Ray video series and sample files
• Prezi for Architects video series and templates
The Videos Plus ($79)
• Videos: Over 2.5 hrs. of tips, tricks, and tutorials
• 1GB worth of sample files consisting of:
o Full Revit projects and families
o Photoshop projects and layers
o Rendering texture library
The Videos ($39)
• Over 2.5 hrs. of tips, tricks, and tutorials
• Videos
Note: Although the website shows images of DVDs, the products are digital downloads, as stated underneath the DVD image (see below):
The Buying Experience
Jeff has done his homework in building the website. I like the sleek design and simple page navigation. Purchasing his products is just a two-step process. After you select a package, a window pops up where you enter your email address and credit card information. The second screen displays a Download button and an option to enter a password, which stores your credit card information for future purchases. You also get an email notification of your purchase.
The Video Plus package
I chose this package because I am not a Max user and have relied solely on Revit’s built-in renderer over the years. In addition, I wanted the Revit and Photoshop files which I can always refer to.
The Video Plus package was contained in a 2.53 GB Zip file. It took just a few minutes to download the file on my PC. Obviously, I cannot divulge the details of any of the tips and techniques contained in the videos. But here are the contents of my purchase to give you an idea of what the Video Plus package consists of:
_A 3-page PDF consisting of the cover, introduction, and a third page with an outline of the eight chapters on: Sketches, Site Plan, Floor Plans, Elevations, Sections, Rendering, Post Render, Present
2. First Person BIM eBook.pdf
_A 23-page PDF entitled: First Person BIM, Revit and CryEngine 3.
Basically, CryEngine 3 is a gaming technology application where a Revit file, exported and prepared in 3Ds Max, can be interactively viewed from. The converted Revit file can then be accessed by a client through an X-Box or Playstation controller. This allows the client to view and interact with the 3D model, just like navigating inside a 3D game.
3. Four Videos: These are four videos in mp4 format where the 8 chapters can be viewed from and consists of the following:
BIM After Dark - Volume 1 – Video 1.mp4
1. Sketches: importing scanned sketches drawn from a canary tracing paper into Photoshop; removing the yellow background from the scanned image; enhancing the sketch with colors, drop shadows, backgrounds, etc.
2. Site Plans: creating Revit topos from jpeg images of site plans with limited topo information; scaling the image; using a free program that automatically places points on a preset time (down to milliseconds) while the mouse is being moved on top of the topo lines; enhancing the look of trees; changing the default plan view symbol of trees (putting fills, changing line weights, assigning radius a parameter, etc.); a unique way of showing existing versus new conditions on a site 3D model (see fig. 1).
Figure 1
3. Floor plans: enhancing floor plans by adding shadows, changing the wall cuts, and changing the look of elements beyond the floor plan level; making room tags stand out; adding custom colors to rooms; using a view template to apply custom display settings to numerous sheets.
BIM After Dark - Volume 2.mp4
4. Elevations: adding depth to elevations (see fig. 2):
Figure 2
making glazing stand out; adding topography to elevations.
5. Sections: creating section perspective (see fig. 3)
Figure 3
changing the look of sections; creating a rendered section (see fig. 4);
Figure 4
BIM After Dark - Volume 3.mp4
6. Rendering: creating custom materials; downloading free texture images from a provided link; editing texture images in Photoshop; how to render using the cloud (Autodesk 360); making the interiors in a building perspective look realistic without having to model the interior components (see fig. 5);
Figure 5
creating a realistic nighttime rendering (see fig. 6); making glass material look realistic.
Figure 6
BIM After Dark - Volume 4.mp4
7. Post Render: creating a high definition rendering using Photoshop HDR toning; adding an illusion of sunrays going through an interior scene (see fig. 7):
Figure 7
using Photoshop Blur & Color tools to add realism to a render scene; adding entourage to a scene; making entourage look realistic by scaling it and adding shadows (see couple on fig. 8); downloading free entourage from a provided link.
Figure 8
8. Present: exporting a rendering as a jpg image and enhancing it in Photoshop; creating a Photoshop presentation board using imported renderings from Revit (see fig. 9):
Figure 9
• Prezi for Architects.mp4: In this video, Jeff explains how to use Prezi for architectural presentations.
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software developed by a Hungarian software company. It allows users to create canvas-like presentations instead of sequential slide presentations as employed in Powerpoint. In Prezi, text and photos can be supplemented with videos and other presentation media. Although presentations are prepared online, the final product can be downloaded and used without internet connection.
My Impression After Watching the Videos
These videos are high quality and well produced. When opened with Windows Media player or Quicktime player, the video opens in normal size (100%) that filled my 24” monitor. Of course, you can change the size of the video window. It is Jeff speaking, unrehearsed, while demonstrating his presentation techniques. The unique thing about how he explained certain topics is that he left his mistakes (admittedly) such as clicking the wrong menu or inadvertently choosing a wrong option. Thereafter, he explains how to get out of the mistakes. His explanations are detailed and to the point. When you go through the videos, it’s as if you’re sitting right beside him while he is teaching you some cool stuff. The beauty of his video-style format is that you can pause, rewind or go to a specific video timeline anytime. What did I get out this purchase? Please read my conclusion below:
Conclusion
After using Revit for seven years, I still discover techniques from other users that I am not aware of. Learning how to use Revit is a continuous process and I always believe that there is always something new to learn from other users. It is obvious that Jeff has discovered, honed and used his techniques at school and work. I’ve just added a lot of useful techniques to my Revit knowledge after watching the videos. If you want an Architectural Record-style of presenting architectural images, this is the video to get. This first volume was a result of feedbacks and answers to surveys Jeff conducted at revitkid.com. He plans to do the same for future volumes.
I definitely recommend these videos. It is a must have for beginners and a welcome addition to professional users. Thanks for taking the time to read this product review and have a happy and safe Holiday!
Michael Anonuevo