Day and night
A locked-off camera, a moving sun, interior lights that come on: the clip that answers what a building does over a day.
In short
A VEDUTUM day-to-night animation is a clip with a fixed camera in which time moves: the sun position comes from the coordinates of the site, the date and the hour, so shadows travel the way they will on the built house, and interior lights take over at dusk. It shows orientation and light without a word of explanation. It is not a shading study. A segment costs twelve points in HD, twenty-four in 2K and twenty-nine in 4K.
Daylight 06:00 to 21:30
Key facts
Camera
The camera stays fixed while the sun and the interior lights change.
Sun
The sun position follows from site coordinates, date and time, using the published NOAA method.
Length
A segment is eight seconds, and several segments can be joined into a longer film.
Cost
A segment costs twelve points in HD, twenty-four in 2K and twenty-nine in 4K.
Limit
The clip shows light but is not a shading study.
What does a day-to-night animation show?
Which facade gets morning sun and which gets evening sun; how long a terrace stays lit; how the building reads when the interior lights take over.
Because the camera does not move, viewers compare states instead of following a movement. That is what makes the clip readable in eight seconds.
How is the sun position calculated?
Azimuth and elevation follow from date, time and the coordinates of the site, using the published NOAA method. Nothing is estimated.
Mind the clock: in Central Europe the sun stands south around 13:30 in summer, not at 12:00. Check the position in the model rather than trusting the hour.
Where does a day-to-night clip help?
Marketing
One strong clip for a project page or a listing.
Committees
Orientation and shading become obvious without a drawing.
Design review
Two times of day next to each other often settle a facade discussion.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day-to-night animation cost?
A segment of eight seconds costs twelve points in HD, twenty-four in 2K and twenty-nine in 4K. A new account has 90 points for 30 days to try it out, with no payment details.
Is a day-to-night animation a shading study?
No. A shading study needs neighbouring buildings, terrain and an assessment against local rules. The animation shows light without judging it.
How long is such a clip?
Eight seconds is the readable minimum. Several segments can be joined into a longer film without re-encoding.
Can I pick date and time?
Yes, both, plus the coordinates of the site and the north angle of the plan.
Does the sun position match the real site?
Yes, provided latitude, longitude and the north angle of the plan are set correctly. Check the position in the model rather than trusting the hour.
Can the clip show interior lights?
Yes. The clip can show the interior lights taking over as daylight fades. Like all generated surfaces and light, they are a proposal, not a lighting design.
More detail is available in German: Day and night (Deutsch)
Next step
How long do you wait for an image today?
Send us a model from a current project, as IFC or GLB. We show you in a video call what VEDUTUM makes of it.
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