Featured Artist: Rob Rodriguez
Featured Artists, General, Rendering, SolidWorks 1 Comment »
Rob Rodriguez has earned a place for himself as an expert in photo-realistic rendering in fields quite different from the gaming and entertainment worlds. Rob’s expertise is used to help people visualize and make decisions before they make real products. From the architecture we live with to the products that we hold in our hands, Rob’s skills make the things we use better from the beginning. Rob’s business, Axis CAD Solutions, delivers the value and power of rendered images primarily using PhotoWorks from SolidWorks. He also shares his knowledge with others through presentations at annual events like SolidWorks World and at numerous user group meetings throughout the US.
Q1: How did you first become interested in 3D modeling, animation and rendering?
Like everyone else I suppose I started designing in 2D with CAD tools like AutoCAD. I can remember my professors from architectural school saying you have to learn how to visualize your design in 3D as you’re putting it on paper or the screen. Sometimes this can be difficult when working on a complex design. I can remember thinking if I can’t “see” the design in 3D then how is the customer going to see it? 2D CAD was a step up from board drafting but it didn’t solve the problem of visualization for me. I had worked in the architecture field for a while when I took a position designing decorative cast iron and sheet metal parts for a company that manufactures wood and gas heating appliances. The decorative cast parts were very free form shapes with a more artistic feel and again I found it very difficult to communicate and visualize this type of design with 2D CAD. This was the point I jumped into the 3D CAD world using SolidWorks. I was amazed how much easier it was to “see” my design in 3D since I was working that way on screen. There was no turning back at that point. I was in the 3D CAD world to stay and 10 years later I’m still here. Rendering and animation just seemed to be a natural progression from modeling. I used to see very life-like computer generated images while thumbing through trade magazines and they really caught my interest. I wanted to learn how to create images like this and I’ve been learning ever since.
Q2: What types of 3D modeling, animation and rendering do you do?
Having been in a number of different industries, I’ve modeled a variety of things. Residential homes, cabinetry, furniture, sheet metal parts, castings, monuments, mausoleums, etc, etc, etc. It’s an odd combination really, especially when people find out I use SolidWorks as my primary design, modeling, and rendering package. SolidWorks is primarily an MCAD design tool and I’ll be the first to admit some of the things I use SolidWorks to design and render don’t fit with its normal usage.
Q3: What role do your models, animations and renderings play in the product development process?
That really depends on the context of the work. If I’m working on consumer type products my renderings and animations typically come at the end of the design process and are used for more of a marketing or sales tool. Most of my images and animations are used for print brochures, magazines and the web. If I’m working on an architectural project renderings and animations are used to allow the clients to easily see the design and decide on revisions.
Q4: How much time do you spend, on average, on one particular rendering?
Typically the modeling is already finished when I need to create a rendering. I could have created the model at an earlier time myself or my client may have sent me their model to use for rendering purposes. Since the work of modeling is already completed, the rendering process progresses rather quickly. I’d say a typical consumer product rendering takes about a ½ day to a day depending on the complexity of the design and what exactly the client wants to show. Architectural type renderings usually take longer just because the nature of them requires more work.
Q5: What additional software do you use to create your images?
I like to do as much work as possible in the modeling / rendering package but there is always a bit of post processing required. For this I use a photo editing program, Corel Draw / PhotoPaint.
Q6: What is your day like?
I’ll let you know when this one is over J. It varies greatly but there are some constants. Having a full time job and operating my own business makes for some long hours. During the day I would typically be working on design projects for a wide range of customers. This could include creating models, fabrication drawings, renderings and animations. I usually have multiple projects happening at once so things can become hectic. Nights you can usually find me creating renderings for various clients through my own business Axis CAD Solutions LLC. Again I’m usually working on multiple projects of varying degrees of difficulty across a wide spectrum of products. I’ve also branched out into the education side of the software, collaborating on a rendering book for SolidWorks and providing rendering training classes for clients.
Q7: What tips can you share for staying focused on a large project?
Organization is really the key, especially when you’re working on multiple projects. Document every detail of each rendering set up, you never know when you’ll need to go back to a particular point in time. Time management is also very important. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by a large project but if you manage your time wisely and work in an organized fashion you’ll be amazed at how quickly it can all come together.
Q8: What part of 3D modeling and rendering do you find most rewarding?
I really like it when I’m surfing the web or looking at a magazine and I see one of my images. I can say, “I did that”.
Q9: Just for fun, what is you favorite game? Movie? Comic Book?
My all time favorite movie is Rocky I and II. The whole “David vs. Goliath” theme appeals to me, probably because I’ve felt like the underdog most of my life. Sci-fi action movies appeal to me the most, probably because of the special effects. I’m always fascinated by how “real” it all looks in the movies. Star Wars, The Matrix, Alien, all great flicks.
Thanks, Rob, for taking time from your busy work and travel schedule to help 3DVIA visitors understand a little bit more about other areas of the world where 3D models are making a big difference.
