How We Won Vesterøya School Aerial: Outline, Timestamps

How We Won Vesterøya School – Aerial

Course Duration: 1h25m

Why This Course?

Because aerial rendering is arguably the most demanding discipline in architectural visualization, and this course shows how to succeed in real projects.

This course is a direct look behind the curtain at how Cadman produces competition-winning aerial visualizations under real pressure. You see the exact workflow, mindset, and technical decisions behind the Vesterøya School aerial, including model optimization, camera matching, geo context, and advanced Photoshop integration. Nothing is staged or simplified. It is real material, real deadlines, and real professional choices.

Aerials are where most projects break: heavy site models, landscape complexity, drone photo integration, and the need for absolute control over scale, readability, and realism. You will learn how to merge building, landscape, and site into one optimized environment, how to rebuild landscape geometry when needed, and how render passes and Photoshop structure unlock full creative control. The goal is a repeatable, professional method for producing aerials that actually help win competitions.

Get Instant Access Here

What You Will Learn & Why It Matters

Why aerials are the hardest visualizations, and how to get them right
How to optimize 3ds Max and V-Ray for heavy site based rendering
How to prepare and enhance drone photos (season, light, composition)
Accurate camera matching, height data, and geo integration techniques
How storytelling shapes architectural presentation and jury perception
Advanced Photoshop build-up using real world workflows and pass integration
Real discussions about deadlines, expectations, and collaboration in competitions
Why AI is not the problem (or solution), and what actually matters

Who Is This For?

Architects and ArchViz teams producing competitions, master plans, and large-scale project presentations
Studios that need faster, more controlled 3ds Max, V-Ray, and Photoshop workflows for heavy site-based scenes
Professionals who want a proven process for camera matching, geo context, and drone photo integration
Teams responsible for quality, speed, and consistency in high-stakes submissions

CPD, Certificates & Studio Training

This course is relevant for architects, ArchViz teams, and studios documenting CPD hours and internal training. It is also highly relevant for architecture students and interns who want a realistic, professional workflow to study and apply.
If you want a Certificate of Completion, you can submit a short reflection, example image, or brief description of how you applied the course methods. This is done via the 2-hour Email Consulting service, which includes personal feedback and confirmation that you’ve completed the course:

👉 https://cadman.dk/email-consulting/

The certificate reflects real engagement, not passive viewing, and includes an estimate of study time (typically 12-20 hours depending on pace and depth).

How We Won Vesterøya School – Aerial – Course Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to aerial visualization
00:30 – One project, many stories
01:48 – Why aerial visualizations are hard to get right
02:23 – Merging architecture and landscape design
03:41 – Model optimization – the key to creativity
05:00 – Turning winter drone photos into summer
05:49 – Why accurate camera matching is everything
06:11 – Working with height maps in complex landscapes
06:52 – Importing and exporting workflow and geometry quality
08:22 – AI in (actual) architectural rendering
09:00 – Render passes in aerial rendering
09:27 – What most don’t understand about aerial rendering
10:15 – Photoshop breakdown – what, how & why
10:33 – Overarching goal of the course
10:41 – 3D model setup & optimization – the holy grail of aerial rendering
13:52 – Detailing the landscape plan in 3D – a huge job: problems and solutions
15:10 – What resources go into an (actual) aerial render – an honest discussion
17:26 – Optimize the export/import process – or ruin the project
18:52 – Most landscape architects don’t know anything about this (and I don’t know why)
19:20 – Prepare or fail
19:46 – Working with landscape architects to build their dream in 3D (not always easy)
21:00 – Procedural or bitmap mapping
21:48 – Why using V-Ray Proxies is a must!
23:20 – Cannot afford to fail – preparation & professionalism is everything
27:03 – Project manager – asset management in large projects
30:29 – Meeting expectations (in an AI concerned world)
34:01 – The age of CAD… sorry, AI… oh no, actually CAD (still)
36:43 – Not even FOMO – just fear of AI (a realistic job discussion)
38:11 – AI is not the decision maker nor the user of the building or the investor
38:41 – The eye of Sauro… oh Cadman!
39:23 – 2 + 2 = Architecture
40:12 – AI’s role in architecture in the future
41:25 – The real job problem in architecture
43:23 – Preparing the 3D model for rendering
44:14 – Working with height maps in landscaping – fast, fluent and creative
52:30 – Render passes in aerial rendering with matte objects and V-Ray
59:16 – Camera matching in aerials
1:02:04 – Where you can find other relevant resources
1:02:57 – Build-up in Photoshop – RGB render integration in drone photo
1:06:28 – Landscape recreation over winter drone photo
1:06:56 – Texture enhancing in Photoshop
1:07:29 – Image format, resolution, and image usage
1:08:31 – Handling the Photoshop file IRL
1:09:59 – The essence of my video courses
1:10:17 – Why the architect is resilient in an AI (hyped) world
1:11:02 – Detailing the aerial picture
1:11:35 – Transforming a winter drone photo into summer
1:14:22 – Z-depth and lens flare effects in aerials
1:15:05 – Humans in aerials
1:15:59 – Brushing in birds (squick, squick)
1:16:08 – Adjustments
1:16:37 – Final thoughts & process conclusion
1:18:49 – Why we won (in my opinion)
1:20:02 – The idea behind my project courses
1:21:19 – We go deep and discuss the broader perspectives
1:22:39 – The future
1:23:09 – Thanks!

About Your Instructor

Jeppe Lyngby is an architect and visualization specialist with 20+ years of professional experience, including work at 3XN and Cenario in Copenhagen. He founded Cadman.dk in 2009 and has also taught architectural visualization at KADK.

Get Instant Access Here

Single-User Access (1 seat) Pay 150 USD ex. VAT

Team Access (2-9 seats) Pay 450 USD Multi-User License ex. VAT

10+ Seats: Write Us Here .