Using Lumion for Heritage VisualisationsJonathan Gration, Douglas Cawthorne and Steffan Davies
For the Digital Heritage 2015 conference we propose a tutorial on using Lumion for various forms of digital heritage visualisations. Lumion is a highly effective, quick and easy piece of software to use for 3D visualisations developed for architectural rendering. What sets it apart from popular alternatives is the low learning curve, the user friendly interface and the very fast rendering speed. These qualities also make it an ideal tool for those researchers starting out in heritage visualisations. In doing this Lumion empowers the researcher and allows the researcher to take full and early control in visualising their work. Depending on the use, academic or commercial, it can also be very affordable. This tutorial is intended for those with little to no experience with Lumion and serves as an introductory course. Participants should be able to create visualisations at the end of the workshop and will be capable of developing their skills further independently.
Outline
- Introduction to several projects using Lumion: In the introduction several projects will be presented that were created using Lumion. These range from sites reconstructed based on archaeological evidence, to visualisations of lost heritage reconstructed based on archival resources to models that include laser scan data and photogrammetrical elements. During this part of the tutorial participants will be able to upload the necessary data and software for the rest of the session.
- Preparing models and importing into Lumion: This section will deal with introducing Lumion’s workspace and the file types it accepts and how to import them. Special requirements with regards to file preparation will also be dealt with at this stage. Participants are encouraged to bring a SketchUp model of their own that they would like to render, but we will provide a model for those that prefer to use one prepared by us.
- Texturing and using the Library: Once models have been imported they can be textured and rendered. The inbuilt library of textures, environments and artistic effects will be presented and the process of importing custom textures and normal-maps as well as terrain-maps will be discussed. The principle of animating objects will be introduced as well.
- Rendering and output: Once the process of texturing is complete it is possible to start creating the desired output. We will discuss the three main output formats, 2D Images, Film and Interactive workspace that are provided by the software. Several effects available for images and film renders will also be introduced to the participants.
- Conclusion: Sources for further information such as the tutorials and the forum will be shared. A dedicated Forum page for Digital Heritage will be set up by the tutorial organisers to enable those attending Digital Heritage 2015 to continue sharing their experiences and projects after the conference as well.
