Architectural Visualization
Render Engines
V-Ray for SketchUp
SketchUp users in all fields depend on V-Ray as a quick, easy and cost-efficient way to render their most cutting-edge images. Developed with the Chaos Group, V-Ray for SketchUp works with Google’s SketchUp, one of the most popular 3D modeling tools available today.
V-Ray for 3ds Max
V-Ray for 3ds Max is the core development of Chaos Group, which allows users to quickly and easily create realistic images while giving them full control over the 3D production process.
Maxwell Render
Maxwell Render is a standalone render engine for making perfect images, films and animations from 3D models. It is the complete solution for anyone who demands immaculate results on a deadline.
Corona Renderer
Corona renderer is new (un)biased photorealistic renderer, fully integrated into 3ds MAX, developed by Ondra Karlík since 2009.
Real Time Visualisation
Lumion PRO
Lumion is a real-time 3D architectural visualization tool for architects, urban planners and designers. It is a serious alternative to traditional rendering or outsourcing visualizations.
Lumen RT
LumenRT is a complete system for transforming 3D models and designs into rich, nature-filled videos, images and real-time immersive media.
3ds Max Plugins
Mighty Tiles PRO
Mighty Tiles PRO is a new procedural texture tiling plugin for 3ds Max that offers a solution for the creation of the most realistic looking tiled surfaces you can think of (such as wood planks, bricks, stone tiles, mosaics, metal cladding and more), with great flexibility and ease.
I’m actively promoting this great plugin and you can Buy Mighty Tiles PRO Here.
Floor Generator
FloorGenerator is a script for 3dsmax which generates floor objects consisting of individual boards which can easily be textured using MultiTexture. It’s a great tool if you’re doing architecture visualization and need to make floors that are NOT going to tile and that you can see up close without any pixelation.
RailClone
RailClone is a 3DS Max plugin for parametric modelling based in custom geometry parts, definable by the user, and a set of construction rules. This new concept of modelling lets you to build complex and realistic structures for Architectural Visualization, Civil Engineering and Interior Design.
Forest Pack
Forest Pack is a plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max, and 3ds Max Design, designed to give a complete solution for creation of vast surfaces of trees and plants.
Sketchup Plugins
Sketchup Plugins List
Trimble have a full list of plugins that you can use to extend the functionality of SketchUp by making it more compatible with your other software tools. The plugins on this page are compatible with the latest version of SketchUp.
Artisan
Artisan is a SketchUp plugin filled with powerful organic modeling tools. It is perfect for designers to create terrain, furniture, characters, abstract sculptures, fabric, curtains, and pillows, rocks, tree trunks, and plants and much more.
FredoScale
With FredoScale you can orientate the selection box around a set of objects and interactively apply a number of geometric transformations, such as Scaling, Tapering, Stretching, Plane Shear, Twisting, Bending and Rotation. By extension, some transformation can be done without a selection box.
Tools on Surface
Tools on Surface is a Suite of Tools drawing on curved surfaces, with lines, various shapes, offset and Freehand / Polyline. It provides an inference mechanism, a Contour Editor and a dedicated Eraser
2D Editing
Adobe Photoshop
Enhance your creativity and boost your productivity. Adobe Photoshop® CS6 software delivers blazingly fast performance with the new Adobe Mercury Graphics Engine, groundbreaking new Content-Aware tools, reengineered design tools, and more.
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 4 software provides a comprehensive set of digital photography tools, from powerfully simple one-click adjustments to cutting-edge advanced controls. Create images that inspire, inform, and delight.
Landscaping / 3D Vegetation
GrowFX
GrowFX is a plug-in for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, allowing you to build any plants and trees. GrowFX works in 3ds Max 9, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 (32/64-bits) and 3ds Max Design 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 (32/64-bits).
HQ Plants
HQ Plants is beautiful 3d models of trees and flowers. This large collection of hi-quality 3d models of trees, palms and flowers are the best in the market and are made with the GrowFX plugin mentioned above.
Forest Pack
Forest Pack is a plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max, and 3ds Max Design, designed to give a complete solution for creation of vast surfaces of trees and plants.
Laubwerk Plants
Laubwerk Plants Kits are a line of drag-and-drop software extensions for architects and CG artists working in Autodesk® 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design who are looking for a fluent way to insert authentic, highly-detailed 3D plant models into their scenes.
Xfrog Plants
XfrogPlants are realistic, highly detailed, fully textured 3D trees, shrubs, and flowers, carefully modeled with Xfrog procedural software. There are 600 species available in libraries or as individual species… and 150 free XfrogPlants are available for you to test!
3D Models
Design Connected
Designconnected is an online marketplace providing highest quality 3d models of designer furniture, lighting and accessories. All our content was beautifully crafted by Designconnected team with maximum attention to proportions, shapes, details and textures.
Model + Model
3D models store.
3D Home Gadgets
Viz-People 3D Home Gadgets delivers 80 highly detailed 3d models of interior staffage. This collection is designed for architectural visualizations made in 3ds MAX.
3D Mall Equipment
Viz-People 3D Mall Equipment delivers 80 highly detailed 3d models of Shopping Center furnishing. This collection is designed for architectural visualizations made in 3ds MAX and Cinema 4D.
3D Fabrics
We are proud to present our latest, most sophisticated 3d Textile collection. Result of hundreds working hours that brings to live stunning collection of 80 beautiful 3d models.
3D Traffic V1
First of it’s kind collection of 40 highly detailed and low poly vehicles. Developed specially for visualizations with care of quality and performance! Let us introduce one of our best creation ever!
3D Cars V1
Viz-People 3D CARS v1 delivers 10 high detailed contemporary 3d cars for architectural visualizations. Designed to be use in 3ds Max and Vray rendering engine.
3D Seating Furniture
Introducing a true state of art, the 3d models set. This unique collection contains 80 beautifully crafted 3d models of a contemporary and classic furniture icons.
2D & 3D People
AXYZ Anima 2
AXYZ are delighted to announce the release of Anima 2, a completely revamped version of the fastest stand-alone character animation application for CG Artists, developed especially to create stunning 3D animated crowds in less time and with minimal effort.
AXYZ Metropoly
STATE OF THE- RT 3D CHARACTERS. Add life to your Architectural Visualization projects with Metropoly® Compatible with 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, SketchUp and Rhino, pluss Revit, AutoCAD, Microstation, FormZ, Modo and Photoshop through ArchVision RPC tools.
Viz-People Bundle v1
Viz-People Bundle v1 gives you 643 high resolution cut out people for your project. It’s compilation of three first Viz-People Library’s: VizPeople Business v1, VizPeople Casual v1, VizPeople Nightlife v1
Viz People Bundle v2
Viz People Bundle v2 delivers 1220 digital, high resolution images of Business people. Cut out people photos of 14 completely new models with additional features like precise hair blend and ambient shadow layer. (This package includes: Business v2 / Casual v2 / Nightlife v2).
Viz People Bundle v3
Viz People Bundle v3 delivers 1431 digital, high resolution images of Business, Casual and Pool people. Cut out people photos of 14 completely new models with additional features like precise hair blend and ambient shadow layer. (This package includes: Business v3 / Casual v3 / Pool & Beach v1).
Viz People Bundle v4
Viz People Bundle v4 delivers 1517 digital, high resolution images of Casual, Service and Sport people. Cut out people photos of 14 completely new models with additional features like precise hair blend and ambient shadow layer. (This package includes: Casual v4 / Service v1 / Sport v1).
Viz People Bundle v5
Viz People Bundle v5 delivers 1712 superior quality photos of people in a varied real life situations. (This package includes: Business v4 / Casual v5 / Nightlife v3).
Viz People Bundle v6
Viz People Bundle v6 was created to blend-in even the most specialized visualizations. From sport scenes, through sport audience to specific services. This bundle deliver just crazy amount of photos. 2561 high quality photos prepared to bring life to your creations. (This package includes: Fans v1 / Service v2 / Sport v2).
HDRi / Image Based Lighting
HDRI v1
Viz-People HDRI v1 gives you 10 high resolution hdri 360 spherical environmental maps.
HDRI v2
Viz-People HDRI v2 gives you 10 ultra high resolution hdri 360 spherical enviremental maps.
Peter Guthrie HDRI’s
Peter Guthrie’s virtually created High Dynamic Range Sky-domes for realistic sun shadows in your 3d renders
PureLIGHT HDRi
My very own virtually created High Dynamic Range Sky-domes for realistic sun shadows in your 3d renders (you can get single ones on 3docean).
CG Textures Resources
CGTextures.com
CGTextures strives to be the world’s best texture site and they sure do provide great CG Textures and the best part is that it is free.
Krono Original
Krono Original has some really great and high quality CG Textures that you can download for free.
Petersen Tegl
You can find brickwork textures in the form of image files to be used in visualisation programs. The textures of Petersen Tegl’s bricks are in jpg format.
ACME Brick
Innovative online tools for architects.
If you think that I missed a great tool that you are using and getting great value from than please let me know so I can check it out for myself and possibly add to this page.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. Please understand that I have experience with all of these products and companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small (or large) commissions I make if you decide to buy something.