BLOCK 1: FOUNDATIONS & CONCEPT

Session 1: Aesthetic Theory & Briefing (April 8)

• Aesthetic Critique: Analyzing references (photography vs. rendering). What distinguishes a “correct” image from an emotional one?
• Composition & Narrative: Rule of thirds, vanishing points, atmosphere, and visual storytelling.
• The Project: Briefing for the final assignment: creating an image of a personal project from start to finish.
• Best Practices: File management, naming conventions, and professional workflow.

Session 2: Concept Art & AI Workflow (April 15)

• Moodboarding 2.0: Creating dynamic inspiration boards.
• AI for Ideation: Using tools (like Midjourney/Stable Diffusion) to generate quick sketches, color palettes, and environments.
• Digital Photobashing: Combining AI-generated elements with your own sketches in Photoshop to define art direction before modeling.

BLOCK 2: ADVANCED MODELING (RHINOCEROS)

Session 3: Introduction to Rhinoceros for Archviz (April 22)

• Interface & Optimization: Setting up the workspace specifically for visualization.
• Architectural Modeling: Building main volumes, layering, and efficient organization.
• Importing: Cleaning CAD drawings and best practices for importing external geometry.

Session 4: Detailing & Environment with Grasshopper (April 29)

• Detail Modeling: Joinery, fixed furniture, and unique elements.
• Grasshopper Basics: Introduction to visual programming.
• Scattering: Using scripts for the automatic distribution of vegetation, gravel, or repetitive elements (parametric facades).

BLOCK 3: RENDERING ENGINE (V-RAY)

Session 5: Lighting & Camera (May 6)

• Physical Camera: Exposure (ISO, Shutter, f-number), framing, and vertical correction.
• Natural Lighting: V-Ray Sun & Sky vs. HDRI (Dome Light). Achieving specific “moods” (golden hour, overcast).
• Clay Render: Quick lighting tests without materials.
• Session 6: Materials & Ecosystem (May 13)
• PBR Materials: Creating realistic shaders (Diffuse, Reflection, Refraction, Bump/Displacement).
• Chaos Cosmos: Workflow with the asset library (vegetation, people, vehicles) and using Proxies to manage scene weight.
• Render Elements: Setting up channels for post-production (Wirecolor, ZDepth, Reflection, etc.).

BLOCK 4: POST-PRODUCTION & AI FINISHING

Session 7: Traditional Post-Production (May 20)

• Photoshop Compositing: Assembling Render Elements.
• Matte Painting: Integrating 2D skies, people, and vegetation.
• Adjustments: Color correction, levels, curves, and luminosity masks.

Session 8: Finishing with Nano Banana (May 27)

• AI Integration in Photoshop: Using the Nano Banana plugin for inpainting (filling/correcting areas) and outpainting (extending the canvas).
• Generative Detailing: Adding imperfections, complex textures, or specific props using prompts directly on the image.
• Upscaling: Intelligent scaling and final noise reduction.

Session 9: Advanced Workflows with ComfyUI (June 3)

• ComfyUI Nodes: Understanding node-based AI workflows (similar logic to Grasshopper but for generative AI).
• ControlNet: Using Rhino/V-Ray renders as a strict “guide” so the AI enhances the image without halluncinating/altering the architecture.
• Style Transfer: Applying artistic or hyper-realistic styles while maintaining project geometry.

BLOCK 5: CLOSING

Session 10: Final Review & Feedback (June 10)

• Presentation: Students present their final image and process (from the Session 2 concept).
• Group Critique: Constructive analysis of the evolution and results.
• Q&A: Market tips, portfolio advice, and next steps.