Expert: Bob - 10/12/2006

Question
Hello Bob
thanks for quick reply
I do have 2007 edition autocad, so you can aim to that
thanks again and I shall be waiting for some more usefull hints
beni
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Followup To

Question -
Hello Bob
My name is Beni.
I am an aerial photographer.
Have basic knowledge of Autocad.
I need to produce a 3d model of a building out of Autocad plans I got from a client.
Once I have the 3d model, I embed it into an aerial photo or video.
The part I am missing is the process of producing the 3d model out of the autocad plans.
Can you point me in the direction of a good tutorial?
Thanks in advance
Beni Mor

Answer -
Hi -- I will be onsite all day today-- so just  a brief reply -- write back for more.
You MUST give the release of AutoCAD next time, so I can be sure to help correctly.  If you happen to have 2007, the 3D has a 500% improvement, and the other releases are pretty similar in 3D.
Please enter "autoCAD 3D tutorial" into Google, see what you get and try it out, then write back for more specific advice. Note that any tutorials before 2007 are pretty much OK for all older releases, but 2007 tutorials will mess you up, if you have an older release.
Also see any good AutoCAD book in your local chain bookstore, such as Borders.
Gotta run!

BOB

Answer
Hi -- I repeat this, which I thought I said to do first before writing back:  ____Please enter "autoCAD 3D tutorial" into Google, see what you get and try it out, then write back for more specific advice. Note that any tutorials before 2007 are pretty much OK for all older releases, but 2007 tutorials will mess you up, if you have an older release.
Also see any good AutoCAD book in your local chain bookstore, such as Borders._____________
But I must say if the building is supposed to be realistic, you need ADT with Vizrender, or VIZ or MAX  -- or study up on AutoCAD's new rendering, clip the image resulting from render, and paste on top of the photo -- THIS IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO LEARN IF YOU ARE DOING IT ONCE. I would pay a student to do it in MAX, maybe.
You are wanting to do something that is quite advanced, way way beyond "a basic knowledge of AutoCAD" -- maybe months to learn right, if you are at a basic level.
You and the client need to be aware this is a huge undertaking.  
How about drawing the building with lines in an isometric view in AutoCAD, printing, and drawing it in by hand, scan, paste to photo?

I suggest you do not learn all that for one project -- tell them to get someone else to do the model, unless you want to start doing this a lot. It takes years to get really good-- and it is ridiculous to me to try to build 3D building models without Architecture training, which you do not say you have.
THIS IS MY BEST SHOT -- tell me if I have misjudged.

BOB