Issue Description
The design concept of my structure focuses on passive cooling through the use of shading elements to prevent the sun from entering the structure. I wanted to showcase the effect of these elements by incorporating Sun Study in my presentation. Is there a way to easily represent this?
Solution
Archicad provides the ability to create a Sun Study, similar to generating a 3D Flythrough. Sun Studies allow the visualization of how light and shadows interact with the structure by simulating real-world conditions based on geographic location and time. This feature helps demonstrate the effectiveness of shading elements at different times.
Before starting, ensure that the site is properly located, including the correct orientation of the Project North. This can be adjusted through Options > Project Preferences > Location Settings... where Latitude, Longitude, and the Project North’s Angle should be accurately defined. To verify the location, Archicad offers a “Show in Google Maps…” option to confirm the project’s geographic details.
Steps to Create a Sun Study:
1: Set the Location:
- Go to Options > Project Preferences > Location Settings.
- Input accurate Latitude, Longitude, and Project North values.
2: Proceed with Sun Study Creation:
- Navigate to Document > Creative Imaging > Create Sun Study…
3: In the Sun Study Window:
- Select the Source:
- Choose 3D Window to use the 3D model preview as the source.
- Choose PhotoRendering Window for more detailed, photorealistic images.
- Define the Date: Choose the specific time of year to simulate the lighting conditions.
- Set the Time: Adjust the exact time of day to observe sun movement and shading.
- Update the Output: Opt to save the result as MP4 Movie Files.
- Set Frame Rate: Higher frame rates produce smoother animations but increase file size. You can also add a timestamp to indicate the time for each frame.
4: Preview the Sun Study:
- Click Show to preview the Sun Study without saving it. This allows you to check the results and make adjustments if necessary. To save the final animation, reopen the dialog and click Save.
- For shorter previews, adjust the Frame range to limit the number of frames processed.
By following these steps, the Sun Study will effectively showcase how the structure's shading elements function throughout the day or season, making it an essential tool for passive design presentations.