CC2311

SOFTWAREfocus
plan and allows new attributes to be
created. It is also easier to find now with
the new Smart Search feature, which can
be used to configure the layout of attribute
columns. Design development even
includes the ability to set up dynamic
distances, so that attributes can dictate
how close one element needs to be set
apart from another.
Graphic Override enables users to
manage rules and combinations better
and in this instance, to highlight every
design option to be able to compare them
with the main model, and custom furniture
can be created using Archicad's improved
GDL Editor, customising elements as
required. Overall, it's the most significant
enhancement of Archicad 27 and
considerably more detailed than I can
cover here.
REVIT CONNECTIVITY
Archicad 27, released in 2023, sharing files
with Revit 2024! Confusing when you
consider the latter was notorious in the
past for incompatibilities between different
versions. The IFC for Revit 2024 Model
Exchange Tool optimises Revit models for
exchange with Archicad 27, and RFAbased
family files containing data models
can be imported directly into Archicad and
treated as native objects - but I suspect
Archicad developers work overtime to
ensure that the process works both ways,
allowing models to be exported as RVT
geometry for comparison purposes, or as
a reference.
REALISTIC RENDERING AND FBX
Physically Based Rendering delivers
much improved visualisations.
Combining indirect and ambient lighting
in a scene enables renders to create soft
shadows, simulating lighting conditions
that occur naturally. The effects can be
made even more appealing and lifelike
by simulating a material's physical
properties and behaviours to produce
more realistic textures.
Native AR and VR connections can also be
employed to enhance client presentations,
allowing the import and export of industrystandard
FBX files to create Augmented
and Virtual Reality walkthroughs or
panoramic tours of projects. Used within
design reviews, the bidirectional UI enables
annotations and modifications to be synced
back to the Archicad model, keeping it as
the single source of truth. The Enscape
connection has been updated too, allowing
real-time visualisations to map Archicad
objects to any high-poly Enscape asset.
Enscape, as a high-value application, is
restricted to Graphisoft Subscription,
Forward, and SSA users.
ARCHICAD AI VISUALIZER
AI is fast becoming an essential feature of
evolving applications. In Graphisoft's case, it
features in Archicad 27's AI Vizualizer, an AIdriven
image generation tool that can create
3D visualisations during the early design
stage, which can optimise architecture and
interior design. It uses Graphisoft's Adaptive
Hybrid Framework, introduced last year,
which simplifies the integration of
Graphisoft's varied technologies within a
design solution, to integrate the AI Vizualiser
into the tech stack.
Integrated within Archicad, AI Vizualizer
works much the same way as AI does in
text creation or art. Users can create a
simple concept model in Archicad and
then, using prompts, suggest ways in
which they would like the model to
develop: a modern office with wooden
surfaces, a conservatory with windows on
three sides, and so on. You can create as
many basic design variations as you like,
to which you can add further details,
context, and ideas using the same tool.
It's easy to use and optimised for
architectural and interior design
workflows, and the 'prompt' feature can
be optimised to control the AI iterations,
calculations and, consequently, image
generation. A great concern with the AI
generation of unlimited data is its
potential saturation of the public sphere
with the material you have asked it to
create. Graphisoft has already considered
this and secures developers' intellectual
property rights by storing the images
produced on local computers.
AI Vizualizer is available to all architects
and interior designers who want to explore
the future of architectural visualisation -
and provide feedback on their experience!
Márton Kiss, Vice President of Product
Success at Graphisoft, said, "We want this
tool to be tested in the real world by real
users where they need it most - early in the
design process when exploring designs
and communicating with clients."
Users only need a valid Archicad 27
license and NVIDIA GPUs or Apple Silicon
chips. Although optimised for the
international version, the tool is available
only in English. For more information and
to download Archicad AI Vizualizer for
macOS and Windows, visit:
https://graphisoft.com/solutions/innovation
/archicad-ai-visualizer
AND THE REST?
We don't even have room this issue to talk
about BIMx, BIMcloud, DDS, and the rest of
the Graphisoft portfolio. There's plenty of
meat there too, as Graphisoft continues to
expand their ability to offer a full design,
engineering, and MEP solution,
emphasising sharing architectural models
and ideas with professionals throughout the
industry and their clients. Watch this space!
www.graphisoft.com
November/December 2023 17