Enscape is used every day to produce thousands of striking renderings that aid ideation, wow clients, and improve project management. Its speed and usability mean that any user, regardless of their level of experience, can produce the assets they need. But while Enscape is designed for immediate use, it also offers deep, powerful tools for those looking to master their craft.
The Enscape community is always hungry for new knowledge and tips to elevate their work. That's why we asked seasoned Enscape experts to share their most powerful insights and advice. The result is our latest ebook, packed with advanced tips and tricks to help you refine your skills and produce stunning renderings.
Imagine transforming your exterior renderings from good to breathtaking. Get a sneak peek of our ebook below with some top tips to improve your work, and don't miss the link at the bottom to download the complete guide and unlock even more expert advice.
1. Improve renderings with strategic shadows
Image by Criterion Workshop
"For exterior renderings, I constantly see people make the mistake of having overly washed-out images with light and not enough shadow. Shadow can be used as a tool to frame your subject, such as the architecture, the people inhabiting the space, or any detail you want to focus on.
Many designers forget to add context behind the camera or outside the scene. Trees and contextual buildings can be vital for introducing more shadows into the foreground of your scenes. Sometimes, I even like to soften my renderings with tree shadows against the face of my buildings and lower the sun brightness to lessen the harshness of the shadow."
Steven Garubba,
Founder/Architectural Designer, Criterion Workshop
2. Bring renderings to life with asset library objects
Image by PLJBD Architects Inc.
"Empty space can be the enemy. I've seen too many users in my area produce renderings that lack a realistic feel because they fail to include Asset Library objects.
Cars and people can add life to your renderings, but make sure you know your audience. Be sure to add people and cars matching your building design's style or income level.
Additionally, ground cover can be important. Blank lawns look empty and fabricated. Throw some leaves or dandelions in. Even the best-manicured lawns have these from time to time.
Lastly, we all know to add trees to the background to fill voids. However, adding some trees behind the camera can also be a good practice. Even though you don't see the trees, you will see the shadows. Some sparse tree shadows on the lawn and even some on the building will add depth to your rendering. Drive around your town or city. Look at yards, porches, parking lots, and storefronts. Let your renderings imitate the life around you."
Lance Windsor,
Project Manager & Graphic Designer, PLJBD Architects Inc.
3. Improve efficiency with proper material setup
Image by Curio Architects
"Spend time ensuring that elements such as walls, floors, and roofs have the correct material from the start (or at least in an editable way) to ease the workflow. From there, the presets and rendering ability make creating visualizations a breeze."
Neil Fraser
Director, Curio Architects
4. Explore new horizons with AI and advanced Enscape techniques
Image by GilMC Architects
"Never stop learning new techniques or workflows. Over my eight years using Enscape, I've constantly reevaluated how I use the software and observed industry trends.
It's not sufficient to just consider practices within your office or on the Enscape Forum; pay attention to broader industry developments. Question how images are produced, explore how it can be done in Enscape or through post-production, and develop your own workflow.
When Midjourney and other AI software first emerged, there were no official tutorials on incorporating them into Enscape renderings. However, by closely observing other artists, you could discern the integration of AI skies, entourage, backgrounds, and photomashing, even before generative AI was available in Photoshop. You had to be vigilant to recognize this possibility.
As we embark on this new phase of discovery, it's crucial to note what artists using other software are achieving and explore how you can leverage this in your own work.
One final tip, which I have yet to see others talk about online, is to use AI-generated HDRI backgrounds. It's quite simple to convert them through Photoshop and achieve precisely what you want in Enscape."
Austin Gawrys
Designer, Architect Workshop
Get more tried and true tips
Implementing these expert tips will elevate your renderings to a new level, impressing clients while telling a great story. These insights are just a glimpse of the wealth of knowledge available in our ebook. If you're ready to explore more about Enscape, our ebook offers invaluable advice from Enscape masters.
Take advantage of the opportunity to enhance your skills and create photorealistic architectural renderings. Download the entire ebook now and take the next step in your Enscape journey!
