Say hello to Chris @ Visuals by Design

Hello everyone,

I recently came a across some very detailed inframe kitchen visuals via LinkedIn. I was interested to see who was behind these and ended up speaking to Chris. We had a half hour chat on the phone about what he does and how he uses Autokitchen. It's very interesting to speak to someone who has been using the software and can shed some more light on using the software, advantages/disadvantages etc.

Chris is using version 14 of the software and although like with any design software there have been improvements since then it is still very much representative of whats available now.

I've asked Chris if he wouldn't mind posting some visuals on this section and also told him not to worry about offering his services via this forum too.

Any questions, feel free to ask Chris!

Cheers
Minch

Welcome Chris!

Hello and Welcome Chris!

Hi all,

Thank you for the 'hello Chris's already!!!!

Managed to come across the forum a few days ago and had a chat with Nathan this afternoon.

I come from a cabinetmaking background, making handmade kitchens and furniture but in recent years have stopped the hands on making and now produce some kitchen design, but mainly provide  the visuals for cabinetmakers, kitchen companies, builders etc to use as a selling tool.  As a preference I do love the inframe look on furniture and so that is what I love to produce in the visuals, that being said, when I have been given someones room information to make a visual, I like to make it look as much as there room as possible and have been known to add in a picture from their room, or use the garden as the view outside.

I had a small stint working for another company where I started from scratch on Autokitchen and self taught over recent time, not that I know all by any means, but enjoy a challenge and luckily have a bit of patience to try things.  As an example, I will hopefully attach a couple of visuals that will show a curved oak cabinet that I have made up myself to the size needed ( even the grain goes the right way ) and one of an new office layout for Contamac.

After rendering my visuals I did used to alter the brightness etc in the windows setting, but I have recently got the Affinity Photo software which will do far more than I will be able to get my head around.......... but will enjoy within my limits

Look forward to reading and maybe having input on the forum

Thanks for reading

Chris

www.linkedin.com/in/chris-airey-visuals-by-design/
www.visualsbydesign.co.uk
www.houzz.co.uk/pro/chris5319/visuals-by-design

Hi Chris

Why haven't you upgraded to the latest release then?

It has the Studio Max Physical Render Engine (off by default though) in that so you have not got to use loads of point lights, ambient etc as it has GI and uses the Sky and Sun to render a more natural look...

Hello Chris,

Nice visuals. I work for our family business which produced handmade kitchens, all in-frame, so I'm sure you can share my frustrations at software limitations! Interesting to see how you can work around these and what Autokitchen can do.

Hi Darrel,

I suppose the version I have has been doing all I have needed to and as I look at the example post that Autokitchen post now and again, they don't seem to be convincing me to spend more money is the basic answer.

Hi Jayne,

Thank you.


That's nice to work in a family business...............most of the time I guess
Is it Autokitchen you are using?
There are time of using items for that should be for one thing, to make something else. I suppose it is just trying and giving all things a go.
Have you got examples of what you have done?

Chris,

No I use Articad, however getting more and more frustrated at lack of flexibility when adapting units to look handmade (we produce single frames in one single section) and therefore I need to do alot of editing and touch ups in photoshop post-render to hide lines and frames. I am also frustrated at lack of models, we use Neff, Quooker, Fisher and Paykel, Caple, Aga, Rayburn to name a few, and the lack of models out there is really really frustrating. I would be lost if it wasn't for the help I have received from the guys that run this forum.

Below are a few examples of my recent projects using Articad, Sketchup and Photoshop:

Stunning work Jayne!

Looks great Jane, where did you get the cushion from on your first image?

the window seat? i pulled apart a sketchup warehouse model that had the tufted cushion on it and (very badly) added in to the seat I had already made in sketchup. Just so happens the sun bleaches out that particular area of the room very well..... I did try to add a sketchup plug in to create the tufted cushion but the security warnings put me off using it.

It's very hard to find a decent cushion for a window seat

Top work Jayne...nice and bright...

Cushions for window seats... what styles?

so like above, minus the arms, both back and seat to be tufted. The hardest part is that my window seat is also angled....

Jayne,

They are sooooo good!!!!!

That is one very big advantage with Articad that I am presuming you can import from Sketchup Warehouse, where you can't with Autokitchen (one of my annoyances, unless anyone can tell me of a way to do it?) I always think it is much more a realistic visual if you can dress it up well too.

Daz, the window seat in the first image is a good one.
I have something like it i found in sketchup see attached but I'm only able to make it about 1000 x 400 or it will go out of proportion, i have to over lap them every time to make up the full size.

Chris A wrote:Jayne,

They are sooooo good!!!!!

That is one very big advantage with Articad that I am presuming you can import from Sketchup Warehouse, where you can't with Autokitchen (one of my annoyances, unless anyone can tell me of a way to do it?) I always think it is much more a realistic visual if you can dress it up well too.

You can I think... If you have blender installed I think that will allow you to open *.skp or *.dae files you can save out of the free Sketchup Make...

You can then save out I think in Blender as a DWG.

I think you have to buy an addon for Autokitchen to enable you to split out the materials etc.

Dave Gannon wrote:Daz, the window seat in the first image is a good one.
I have something like it i found in sketchup see attached but I'm only able to make it about 1000 x 400 or it will go out of proportion, i have to over lap them every time to make up the full size.

Yeah the material and geometry is the problem especially with what Jayne needs/wants.... To make it easier I am thinking of making them as kits:

Sections say 100-200mm then 2 end caps (Left and Right) so you can size them a bit easier in ArtiCAD and save them as groups so you can reuse and resize etc.

Hopefully V21 will have the same add on, never tried blender must do when I get time.

Darrel wrote:

Chris A wrote:Jayne,

They are sooooo good!!!!!

That is one very big advantage with Articad that I am presuming you can import from Sketchup Warehouse, where you can't with Autokitchen (one of my annoyances, unless anyone can tell me of a way to do it?) I always think it is much more a realistic visual if you can dress it up well too.

You can I think... If you have blender installed I think that will allow you to open *.skp or *.dae files you can save out of the free Sketchup Make...

You can then save out I think in Blender as a DWG.

I think you have to buy an addon for Autokitchen to enable you to split out the materials etc.

Darrel,

I have tried to import a skp item into Autokitchen but I can't seem to do it successfully. Have you been able to do it at some point?

Chris

Hi Chris

I do not have Autokitchen... Nathan does

I have had a online demo of it and it was something I mentioned...

You cannot directly import Sketchup models but if you have Sketchup Pro you can save them as DWG's which Autokitchen can open. I was told you need to buy an addon so you can apply the materials as I think without the whole model has only one material...
Maybe someone from Autokitchen or Nathan can give you more info on this?

I'm hoping to drop in to their office today actually so I'll check with Dean.