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Writer's pictureMockingbird Lane

What Design Software Do I Use?

Updated: Dec 16, 2020

I get asked this a lot. So, I thought it was worth a post.


I use 3 different kinds of software.


I create the models using Sketchup Pro. Here's an example. You may recognize it as the living room from The Andy Griffith Show.


When I'm done modeling it in Sketchup Pro, it has a cartoon-like appearance, as you can see above. In order to get an image that looks more life-like, I use a rendering software called iRender nXt. Below you'll see the same room after using that software.



The other software I use is called Lumion. It is also a rendering software, like

iRender nXt, but the difference is that it also allows me to make tours of the models. Here is the tour I made of The Andy Griffith Show home, using Lumion.






The above photo shows part of the modeling process. I pull up scenes from the movie or tv show on one computer, as I model the home on my other computer. One of my favorite parts! I get to know every inch of the homes. Watching the show is never the same again.


A side by side of the modeling process for The Parent Trap bathroom.


And, for those who are interested, here is the modeling process broken down from drawing up the floor plan to the finished rendered image. You'll recognize this example as The Brady Bunch home.


Above is the finished result. But, how do I get there? Follow the steps below.


  1. Draw up the plans. This is all done in Sketchup Pro.

2. Pull up the walls.

3. Add materials to the surfaces.

4. Add the furnishings.

5. Then render the model. That's when it looks more like a photograph of a real home, rather than a cartoon-like drawing. For this still image, I used iRender nXt software for the rendering process. When I want to make a tour of it, I use Lumion. You'll see the finished product [tour] below.


And now you know the process! I loooove creating these homes.


You can see all of the TV and Movie home tours I've finished here: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarinaCoa/videos?view_as=subscriber


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marinacoates
marinacoates
Nov 03, 2020

:)

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David Van Deusen
David Van Deusen
Oct 30, 2020

This is a fascinating process and one that I've embraced! Thank you, Marina, for sharing your expertise!

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