Remember the old days, when we can add AutoCAD landscape objects like trees, cars, and people in our AutoCAD model? Since Autodesk decided to change the rendering engine from scanlines to mentalray, this feature is no longer available. But in the release comparison matrix, there is ‘entourage’ available. So where is it?
It’s a separate installation. Yes, Since AutoCAD 2008, it support entourage. But you have to install a plug-in first. As far as I know, there are two plug-in that you can use, from ArchVision and Bionatics.
Installing ArchVision plug-in will enable you to use RPC in your AutoCAD models! Isn’t that great? In the old days, you might only envy 3ds max users who use RPC. But now, you can use it with your AutoCAD! Just download the plug-in here.
Bionatics offer you to enable using plants in your models. Not photographic contents like RPC, but more like real 3d modeling for planting. Just download EASYnat and install it. It’s already included 6 free plants for you to use!
This is my palette after installing ArchVision and Bionatics plug-in. There you go… you have your landscape objects!
The bad side of this entourage is, it’s no longer free. You have to purchase additional RPCs or plants. There are some RPC samples that you can download. You might want to search and try them before deciding to purchase your RPCs.
But I think using these looks a lot more realistic than the old ‘landscape objects’. Don’t you think so?
About Edwin Prakoso
