Enhancing Architectural Renders with AI
Hello, everyone! Today, I’m excited to share a collaboration with Vasilis from VWArtclub, a vibrant Facebook group for 3D artists and architects. We took an impressive project submitted by a member and transformed it using AI tools to create stunning, realistic imagery. Let’s jump right into the process! And remember you can also watch the video here!
Introducing MagnificAI
For this project, we utilized MagnificAI, which offers two powerful features: upscale and style transfer.
Upscaling Images
You can see here the first feature, upscale, that allows you to enhance the resolution of your images while applying AI-driven creativity to make them visually striking. Here’s how we approached the upscale process:
- Input Image: Start with a high-quality render (I recommend maximum resolution of 2k).
- Settings:
- Scale Factor: Set to 2x.
- Optimized Property: Use Standard or Films & Photography for best results.
- Creativity: Begin with a low value (0) to maintain the original image’s integrity.
We processed several iterations, each tweaking the settings. For instance, on one generation, we increased creativity to 5 and adjusted HDR and Resemblance settings, allowing the AI more freedom to enhance details, as you can see here.
Notable Results from Upscaling
The improvements were substantial! After refining the image across multiple generations, we observed sharper details, especially in the vegetation and textures, making the overall render much more lifelike.
Exploring Style Transfer
After achieving a refined upscale, we shifted to the style transfer feature, which enables you to apply the aesthetic of one image onto another. You can jump right here in the video, or here’s how we implemented this:
- Input Images: Use both the clay render and the raw render.
- Iterations: Through several adjustments, we were able to blend elements from the clay render into the raw render.
Final Touches
By integrating style transfer, we introduced new textures and depth into the image, such as enhanced foreground details and the addition of a metal roof. This process is about fine-tuning; small adjustments can significantly elevate the final result.
Conclusion: The Power of AI in Design
The journey from a raw render to a polished image can take up to an hour, but the results speak for themselves. Utilizing AI tools like MagnificAI allows architects and designers to enhance their visuals significantly.
If you would like to learn more, and improve your skills, check out my FREE 10 tips to Achieve Realistic 3D Renders in Lumion.
Full Youtube Video
What do you think about using AI in architecture and design? Let me know in the youtube comments, and if you found this workflow useful, check out my other posts on AI in design!