Illustration

Architectural illustration helps architects and developers to communicate their ideas and plans using visual representations. A powerful tool that taps into our need to imagine or visualise, architectural illustration, in common with all forms of architectural representation, allows the viewer to see into the future.

Architectural illustration comes in many forms including traditional elevations or plans, perspective drawings, animation, photomontage and artistic representations of interiors.

2D Plans & Elevations

The first step, plans and elevations give solidity and a sense of scale to architectural concepts.

Interior perspectives

Bringing interiors to life with colour, furnishings and light, interior illustrations communicate your building’s style and ethos.

Viennese interior

Exterior perspectives

Adding depth and realism to a plan or elevation, perspective work puts your plans in context.

Digital 3D (CGI)

Life-like three-dimensional computer-generated renders created to give a rounded impression of reality.

See how it’s done

From time-to-time videos of SAI members’ work will be posted here.

LINE & WASH SKETCHING

Jon Willcocks sketching in New York

DIGITAL RENDERING

A slide show from Iain Denby showing how he constructs one of his superb CGI’s

  • Import plans and elevations into 3D program
  • Model structural elements
  • Model structural elements
  • Model detailed elements
  • Position camera for viewpoint
  • Grey render to check integrity of model
  • Grey render to check integrity of model
  • Add lighting
  • Apply textures to the model and test render
  • Open render in Photoshop and 'bring it to life'
  • Add sky and reflections
  • Add trees and general tweaking
  • Add people

It’s CHRIStmas!

Chris. Fothergill slaps on some shade & shadow for his 2019 greetings card!