Every year we are seeing new tools and features in Rendering software that designers and architects use. Two of these software, Twinmotion vs Enscape, and today we are going to take a close look at both of them and see the different tools and features they offer and which one is going to better for you.
Twinmotion
Twinmotion is a real-time 3D immersion software; it offers users the possibility the render Very high-quality images, panoramic pictures, and videos. It is a virtual reality and real-time software as well. In addition to that, it can also manage the big urban projects, and collaborate with BIM modeling software such as Archicad, Revit, and sketch up.
Enscape
Enscape is a tool or a plug-in that works with a lot of known computer-aided design and modeling software in the market such as, Sketch-up, Rhino, Revit, Archicad, and Vectorworks. Enscape allows you to render high-quality renders whether it be images, animations, or panoramas. it offers real-time and virtual reality Features to users, to be able to review and edit projects at the same time.
Most Important Tools and Features
Twinmotion is linked directly to Archicad, Revit, and other modeling software via the direct link plug-in, which means both modeling software and Twinmotion are synchronized together, any modification on the model appears automatically on Twinmotion, this feature is really helpful to architects and designers to accelerate the workflow and to see changes in real-time.
Twinmotion has a lot of advanced tools that can bring a project to life, through different tools that the software offers. a user can add ambient sounds, human characters, animals; it also comes with a system that improves planning projects.
The software also comes with a great feature to add a sky as the backdrop to urban environments. Walking around the project you can actually hear the sound of the rain, the noise of the cars. Also, the news version of Twinmotion developed the volumetric light tools, and global illumination (GI).
They also added a new sky and sun, for better colors reflection and cinematic depth of field (DOF), another great tool that exists in Twinmotion is the ability to draw trees and vegetation, it is called vegetation scattering that uses a brush-based system, or even to draw grass.
Twinmotion also offers another good feature in lighting which is light-emitting glow material, by applying it on any object, it turns the object into a light source, but only if it is in the camera view. Besides that in Twinmotion, you can place notes on the objects inside a scene, by using a project review note which is a new tool in the software, these notes can be attached to the object to explain its name and materials or even dimensions.
On the other hand, Enscape is a versatile multifunctional plug-in, it is used in BIM modeling, landscape design, and animation. It is automatically synchronized with the BIM modeling software, which means any modification applied to the model appears on the screen of Enscape since it has VR and real-time features, giving the user the possibility to review and modify the project during the whole process.
Since Enscape collaborates with modeling and design software, it actually uses the same materials, so you don’t need to change them if it is not necessary.
Enscape has a large library full of different assets that you can use in addition to the possibility of using the assets created in the design software. Some of the assets that Enscape comes with include human characters, plants, furniture, trees, and so on. These assets are highly detailed and of high quality, it is also possible to edit them according to the project’s needs.
Enscape also gives users the possibility to move inside the project smoothly, no matter how big this project is, it also has a clash detection system, to avoid errors while working. In addition to that, Enscape makes the work of designers easier since it has the possibility to show and share the project on a web-based if a desktop computer wasn’t available.
Similar to what you can do in Twinmotion, using Enscape you can also add sounds into the project and bring it to life, by importing an MP3 file, and then you can also modify the volume and control the distance (radius)0.-o It is better to keep in mind that some walls and doors in the BIM modeling software do not reduce the intensity of the sound.
Freedom and Flexibility
Twinmotion has multiple great settings that you can customize according to your needs, for instance, you can set and control the growth of vegetation; choose the height and the width. It is even possible to change the age of the trees and plants and it actually changes according to how it will look like that time (not just geometrically).
Twinmotion also offers great automatic settings for exposure adjustment to areas with shades or with high brightness, you can use the camera setting to adjust the exposure and control white balance, the software is also provided with animation settings to control objects path likes cars, humans, and animals.
Enscape has a lot of settings, for more realistic renders; one of these settings is the grass rendering option by activating it, a user gets real grass to render later. It is also possible to set up reflection, refraction, shadows, and lighting before rendering. and of course, Enscape offers the possibility to set up time of the day and sun direction before rendering.
Besides, that Camera in Enscape has a lot of advanced parametric options to set up for the perfect perspective picture. It is better is to choose a human vantage point and choose the perfect frame from a good angle. It is also better if a user adds vegetation inside the frame, all these Assets and configurations can create the perfect image to render in Enscape.
And for more flexibility, you can set new and different keyboard shortcuts and commands before starting the work. A user can also set up the file format in case of exporting.
Rendering and Animation
Twinmotion’s rendering quality has improved a lot in the last version, the quality of the images is high, vegetation looks close to reality, the quality of the objects that the software offers is so high too, for instance, human characters and objects are more realistic now, and even the fabric details of their clothes can be visible.
Enscape preview scenes turn everything into realistic even the objects premade In the BIM modeling software turns automatically into something more realistic. It is also possible to use the same textures and materials of the BIM software and edit them, or a user can choose a texture from Enscape’s library, the software offers the whole pack that any designer or architect needs, it is possible to render images, 360 panoramic picture and even videos.
The User Interface
The interface of Twinmotion is quite simple, and it offers simple tools and commands to all categories of clients to use it whether they are architects, designers, students, or professionals.
on the other hand, since Enscape is used for the most part as a plugin, it will only occupy a portion of the user interface but with clear and visible commands that show exactly what they do in addition to the other settings, you will be able to do most of the rendering work with no problems at all.
for easy navigation, Enscape gives you a keyboard guide in front of you all the time to know use to navigate your scene. but if you played first-person shooter video games on pc before it should not be a problem.
Industries That Use Them
Twinmotion is used mostly by architects in the construction field, landscape architects, and urban planners.
The same for Enscape, it is mostly used in the construction industry by architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. but i would say that since Enscape can be integrated with Rhino it can also be used to render automotive design as well.
The Learning Curve
Twinmotion is a simple software to learn and use especially for beginners; it is very intuitive and easy to use, and most people can learn it by simply exploring the interface.
If you want to delve deeper and learn about all the tools and features you will be able to find a lot of resources out there from youtube videos to professional courses.
On the other hand, Enscape is a simple software as well. Since it is just a plug-in, managing its configuration settings is not that hard either.
Designers outsource renderings to outside software. But with Enscape architects and designers can control the workflow directly and let them control the renderings directly as well.
When it comes to learning material there is a lot that you can find whether it be on youtube or through online courses. Overall these two software are both great and easy to learn and use.
Computer Requirements
As for Enscape, it is demanding software, and it is better to use a good computer, especially for the animation part. Overall an 8GB RAM and, I5 intel processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 is enough for an average workflow, But better computers offer faster and smooth workflow. The stronger the computer’s performance, the less time it will take to get ready.
Twinmotion can actually work average computers with the same specs that Enscape requires but for better performance of faster results you probably want to use a stronger computer, especially if you don’t waste your time.
Pricing and OS
Twinmotion is available on Windows and MAC, it is also compatible with all BIM software. Qs for pricing, the latest version of Twinmotion is $249. It is Free For students and educators looking to use Twinmotion for learning, teaching, and research, and not for commercial work.
https://enscape3d.com/pricing/
Enscape is $39 per month for a Fixed-Seat License, which is a good deal, especially for those with low budgets. It also offers 14 days free trial to test the software before buying it, but it is available only on windows and web-based, with no version for MAC.
This is a good review where you have shared all the good things about both the software. I liked that you did not stress on the negatives. I would like to share a few points that are missed out here that don’t favour enscape in my experience. Enscape is Windows only and it has incompatibilities with several Revit plugins. Its Graphic card system requirements are beyond student budgets. Default Material and Asset libraries are very limited adding to the cost. On the positive side, its floating license is a huge bonus and what everyone forgets to mention is that Twinmotion however extraordinary requires Epic Games Launcher to install Twinmotion. In a corporate environment, try getting your IT to agree to do that.
Thank you very much for the valuable feedback! The Epic Games Launcher is definitely an important aspect to mention, especially from the real-life professional world…