At TMD, we don’t just create architectural visualisations—we combine an architectural background with high-end CGI expertise. Our unique approach balances in-house architectural practice with visualisation for architects, developers, and real estate professionals, ensuring that every image we produce is rooted in design expertise and real-world accuracy.
Our team comprises professionals with an architectural background. This allows us to bridge the gap between concept and communication, ensuring that every render, animation, and marketing visual retains the integrity of the architectural vision.
To achieve this, we rely on a fully licensed software ecosystem—a combination of BIM technology, 3D modelling, photorealistic rendering, and advanced post-production tools. Here’s a look at the key software and workflows that power our work at TMD.
Archicad: Where Every Project Begins
For us, every project starts in Archicad. As an industry-leading BIM tool, Archicad allows us to design, model, and document our architectural projects with efficiency and accuracy.
When working on architectural visualisations for external clients, Archicad remains crucial. It enables us to open native BIM files, ensuring that we work directly with architects’ source models rather than relying on manual reconstructions. This seamless integration is part of our structured approach to collaboration—learn more about our client workflow here.
One tool that has significantly enhanced our workflow is the DIN3D Exporter for Archicad, a paid plugin that allows seamless data exchange between Archicad and Cinema 4D. This plugin ensures that geometry, materials, and layers are transferred with minimal data loss, allowing us to retain maximum model accuracy as we transition into the next stage of the visualisation process.
By leveraging BIM-based workflows, combined with the right export tools, we ensure that our CGI production remains aligned with real-world architectural standards—something that sets us apart from studios that specialise in visualisation.
Cinema 4D: Bringing Models to Life
Once our designs are ready, we transition from Archicad into Cinema 4D—our primary tool for scene assembly, detailed modelling, and animation.
In Cinema 4D, we enhance our models by:
Refining architectural details and adding secondary geometry such as bespoke furniture and landscaping elements.
Importing external assets including vegetation, materials, and high-poly objects.
Adjusting scene composition, perspective, and storytelling elements.
Cinema 4D offers an intuitive, parametric-based workflow, which allows us to work efficiently while maintaining complete creative and technical control over our scenes.
Chaos Corona: The Rendering Powerhouse in Architectural Visualisation Software
In professional architectural visualisation software workflows, rendering is the final step that transforms a model into a compelling, realistic image. At TMD, we rely on Chaos Corona to ensure that every render not only looks stunning but also accurately represents materiality, lighting, and spatial quality. Known for its balance of speed, realism, and artistic flexibility, Chaos Corona enables us to:
Create physically accurate lighting and realistic material reflections.
Ensure true-to-life colour representation with an advanced tone-mapping system.
Work within a fully interactive rendering environment for precise artistic adjustments.
Another key advantage is Corona’s seamless integration with Cinema 4D, allowing for a non-destructive, iterative workflow—essential when refining designs with professionals in the architecture and real estate sectors.
To further optimise rendering times and handle large-scale projects, we also leverage cloud-based rendering farms. This provides:
Scalability – The ability to instantly increase computational power to meet tight deadlines.
Efficiency – Offloading heavy rendering tasks allows our team to continue working on new iterations.
Consistent quality – High-performance servers ensure that every frame, animation, and visual is rendered at the highest possible standard.
This hybrid approach—combining local workstation power with cloud-based solutions—allows us to maintain flexibility, speed, and precision across all projects.
Adobe Creative Suite: Post-Production & Visual Enhancement
Once rendering is complete, our final step is post-production using the Adobe Creative Suite. This allows us to refine colours, lighting, and mood, ensuring that each visual aligns with the intended narrative and branding.
We utilise:
Adobe Photoshop for colour grading, contrast adjustments, and fine-tuning image details.
Adobe InDesign is used to prepare competition boards, architectural portfolios, and marketing materials.
Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects for producing architectural animations, applying cinematic effects, and seamless transitions.
By integrating these post-production tools, we ensure that every CGI image and animation meets the highest standards of atmosphere, composition, and storytelling.
Beyond Software: Why Hardware Matters
Our workflow relies not only on software but also on high-performance hardware. To handle the intensive demands of architectural rendering, we utilise custom-built workstations powered by:
AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors for optimal multi-threaded performance.
NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPUs to enhance real-time rendering and AI-driven noise reduction.
High-speed NVMe SSD storage to minimise load times and ensure fast data access.
For a detailed breakdown of our hardware setup, check out our dedicated blog post: AMD Ryzen Threadripper & NVIDIA RTX 4090 in Architectural Visualisation.
Final Thoughts: Why Our Tools Matter
At TMD, our commitment to high-quality architectural visualisation extends beyond aesthetics—it’s about precision, efficiency, and the ability to communicate design intent with absolute clarity. To achieve this, we invest in:
Fully licensed, industry-leading software.
Continuous skill development to stay at the forefront of architectural CGI.
High-performance hardware and cloud rendering solutions to optimise workflows.
Why We Use Licensed Software
Working with licensed versions of Archicad, Cinema 4D, Chaos Corona, and Adobe Suite ensures that every project benefits from:
Regular software updates that introduce new features, improve rendering quality and enhance workflow efficiency.
Stability and compatibility when handling large-scale BIM models and high-resolution assets.
Data security and reliability, minimising risks associated with third-party or outdated software.
Why Continuous Learning Matters
The field of architectural visualisation is constantly evolving, and staying ahead requires continuous education and upskilling. At TMD, we ensure our team remains at the forefront of industry advancements through:
Regular training and certifications, keep us proficient in the latest software capabilities.
Collaboration with developers and industry experts, ensuring we leverage tools to their full potential.
Exploration of new workflows, such as optimised rendering techniques and procedural modelling, to improve efficiency and quality.
The Role of High-Performance Hardware & Cloud Rendering
Architectural CGI demands significant computational power. While our custom-built workstations ensure fast, high-quality rendering, we also leverage cloud-based rendering farms to handle complex projects more efficiently. This hybrid approach offers:
Scalability – The ability to instantly access additional computing power to meet tight deadlines.
Optimised workflow – Offloading rendering tasks allows us to focus on refining the creative process.
Consistent, high-quality results – Ensuring photorealistic accuracy even on large-scale projects.
Why This Matters for Our Clients
For architects, developers, and real estate professionals, working with a studio that combines an architectural background with high-end CGI expertise ensures that visualisation is not just about creating images—it’s about translating a design vision into a compelling, immersive experience.
By integrating state-of-the-art software, expert knowledge, and cutting-edge hardware, we ensure that our clients receive visuals that are not only technically precise but also emotionally engaging and market-ready.
Let’s create visuals that inspire.
Reach out at hello@tmd.studio – we’d love to collaborate on your next project.
Learn more about how we work and see our latest projects.
