Collaborating on Architectural Visualisation:
Our Process
We collaborate with architects, developers and creative teams to deliver high-end architectural visualisations across competitions, marketing, and planning submissions. To make that collaboration as smooth and efficient as possible, we’ve outlined our full process below — from your initial brief to final delivery.
This helps set clear expectations, reduce unnecessary rounds of feedback, and ensure each project runs on time, within scope, and with minimal friction.
We believe that every successful visualisation starts with clarity and trust. Before we begin, we’re always happy to arrange an online meeting to discuss your goals and ambitions in detail.
If needed, we can sign an NDA first — simply let us know.
To prepare an accurate proposal, we ask you to provide an initial project brief, including:
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A clear document outlining your vision and design intent;
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Architectural drawings (.DWG or .PDF);
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A 3D model (formats such as .3DM from Rhino 5 or earlier, .FBX, .SKP, or .PLA from Archicad);
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Project location details (GPS coordinates, site photos, or other context);
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The intended number of images, preferred views, and camera angles;
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Reference images and moodboards;
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Material specifications (furniture, landscaping, textures, etc.);
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Any special requirements or notes;
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Your ideal delivery timeline.
Please email these materials to hello@tmd.studio.
Once we receive them, we’ll provide a free quote within one working day.
Note: The more detail you include in your initial brief, the smoother and more cost-efficient the process will be. This is especially important if you choose our Lean or Standard tiers, where maintaining a clear scope from the start helps keep your project on schedule and on budget.
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Once you’ve approved our quote and signed the work contract, we’ll be ready to start. At this point, we treat your initial brief and 3D model as final.
This clear baseline helps us work efficiently and stay aligned with your vision — especially important for projects under the Lean and Standard tiers, where keeping the scope stable is key to a smooth process.
If you do have any last-minute updates to your brief or files, please share them before we begin. Any major changes after this stage may affect the timeline and costs.
From here, we move directly into creating the first draft visuals.
Round 1 — Draft Preview
We start by sharing camera proposals as quick sketches that include basic materials and proposed lighting and atmosphere, or clay renders if we do not have enough information about the materials from the brief. These initial previews focus on composition, angles, and overall atmosphere.
At this stage, you will select your preferred views and confirm camera positions. Once approved, these views become the foundation for the next steps and cannot be changed later without affecting timing and cost.
We advice you to already comment on the architecture, materials, lighting, atmosphere, and any other key elements.
To keep communication clear and efficient (especially for Lean and Standard projects), we recommend preparing one consolidated list of comments — ideally marked directly on the drafts.
If you have a larger team, please assign one main contact person to collect and share feedback.Round 2 — Preview Render
We then build a fully modelled and furnished 3D scene, using your materials and lighting preferences.
At this stage, you can review and comment on the, furniture layout, materials, vegetation, and any other key elements.To keep communication clear and efficient (especially for Lean and Standard projects), we recommend preparing one consolidated list of comments — ideally marked directly on the drafts.
If you have a larger team, please assign one main contact person to collect and share feedback.
Round 3 — Preview Render
Based on your comments, we refine the scene and produce updated preview renders.
This is your opportunity to suggest any final fine-tuning before we prepare the final images.
Round 4 — Final Render
We deliver high-resolution final visuals (typically 4,200 px on the longer side) in both .JPG and .TIFF formats.
If you require higher resolutions, please let us know during the initial briefing stage so we can accommodate this in the schedule and quote.
Final images are typically delivered in 4K resolution (.JPG and .TIFF formats) as standard.
If you need higher resolutions or alternative formats (for large-scale prints, billboards, or competition boards), please let us know during the initial briefing so we can plan accordingly.
Once we deliver the final visuals, the project is considered complete. Our standard payment term is 14 days from the delivery date, and payment is made by bank transfer.
To create the best possible visualisations, we need as many of the following as you can share:
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CAD or PDF drawings (floor plans, sections, elevations, site plans, landscaping if relevant)
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A 3D model (formats such as .3DM from Rhino 5 or earlier, .FBX, .SKP, or .PLA from Archicad)
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Project location details (address, coordinates, photos of the surroundings)
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Material specifications, furniture and planting references
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Moodboards and any additional visual references
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Any special notes, design intentions, or key requirements
Tip: We work with Archicad daily and hold full commercial licences. If you send us a .PLA file, we can make the most of your existing model and integrate it seamlessly into our workflow.
The more complete your materials, the smoother and more cost-efficient the process will be — especially important for our Lean and Standard tiers.
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Yes — we work with Archicad daily and hold full commercial licences. You can send us a .PLA file, or export to .IFC, .3DM or .FBX.
We’re also able to align with your internal BIM structure, naming conventions or layering where needed.
We can join at various stages, but the most effective collaboration typically starts when:
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key volumes and materials are defined,
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views are being selected,
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the design is stable enough to visualise.
For competitions or PR, earlier involvement allows for integrated narrative and image planning.
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We structure our pricing into three transparent tiers — Lean, Standard, and Signature — based on scope, complexity, and creative care.
You can explore each tier in detail on our Fees page.
If you’d like to understand what influences the cost of CGI and how to plan your budget, we’ve also written a full article: Why Architectural Visualisation Costs Vary and What Drives Pricing
We work with many multi-disciplinary teams. To keep the process efficient, we recommend appointing a single point of contact responsible for consolidating and sharing internal feedback.
Each project includes three structured review stages — with space for coordinated input at each step.
We’re used to phased workflows with juried deadlines, staged competitions, or evolving briefs.
Just share your timeline and milestone dates — we’ll build a delivery plan that fits your submission strategy.
Standard delivery is 4,200px on the long edge in .JPG and .TIFF formats.
We can also supply print-ready files, transparent overlays, or layered passes upon request — just let us know at the start.
Yes. We’re happy to match your internal file structure, naming logic or layered outputs, especially when working within a larger team or across multiple consultants.
Absolutely. Many of our clients use our visuals for investor packs, award submissions, public consultations and press launches.
We adapt the visual tone and detail level based on the final use — from atmospheric hero shots to explanatory diagrams.
Yes — we’re happy to sign your NDA, or provide our standard confidentiality agreement upon request.
You’re free to use the final images for project marketing, publications, awards, client presentations or competitions.
We reserve the right to showcase the work in our own portfolio, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Please credit TMD (TMD STUDIO LTD) as the visualisation partner when published.
No — we do not provide native project files, 3D scenes or editable layers as part of the deliverables.
Our visuals are delivered as final images in high-resolution formats. This policy ensures quality control and protects both creative and technical integrity.
If major changes occur after production has started — such as new massing, layout, materiality, camera angles or lighting strategy — we treat this as a scope change.
We’ll pause the workflow, review the update, and issue a revised quotation and timeline if needed.
We request a 50% deposit to initiate the project. The remaining 50% is invoiced upon delivery, with a 14-day payment term.
We reserve the right to withhold final images or pause production if payment is delayed.
Yes — but cancellation or postponement may incur fees.
If cancelled before production starts, up to 50% of the fee may be retained. If cancelled later, all completed work is chargeable.
We’re happy to reschedule based on availability, and will communicate any adjusted fees in advance.
