What happens when an archviz master meets a global audience of archviz professionals eager to elevate their craft? Breakthroughs, inspiration, and stunning visuals.
Throughout 2024, Chaos hosted a transformative series of live, online classes attracting over 4300 registrations from eager archviz artists. Led by Nikos Nikolopoulos, the Founder and Creative Director of Creative Lighting, the Archviz Masterclass series offered participants a rare opportunity to learn from a seasoned trainer who has worked with some of the world’s most renowned architects, designers, and visualization studios.
Over eight lessons, Nikos covered topics from creating emotional narratives and exterior lighting strategies to mastering color psychology and professional-level post-processing. Under his guidance, the attendees found their creativity ignited and were pushed to elevate their craft. "I loved witnessing the creative breakthroughs participants experienced as they combined storytelling with technical expertise," Nikos said. "It was inspiring to see how each individual brought their perspective to their projects, creating visuals that felt personal yet universally compelling.
A collaborative and creative community in action
Because each Masterclass session was live, this added a liveliness and collaborative atmosphere to the classes. Fellow participants even introduced Nikos to fresh ways to use Chaos products, such as experimenting with V-Ray and Corona’s LightMix feature to enhance their storytelling or integrating Vantage to explore real-time adjustments. “Seeing these tools reimagined through fresh perspectives highlighted the incredible flexibility of Chaos software and the participants' creativity," Nikos shared.
A competitive grand finale
With the Masterclass series drawing to a close, Nikos introduced a competition for participants to channel their new skills into a challenge inspired by film or TV characters. They developed mood boards exploring light, design, and color palettes, submitting two images that showcased distinct moods. "I looked for designs that transcended technical skill to tell a meaningful story," Nikos explained.
Three entries stood out among the other submissions, and each received an annual license for a Chaos product for their hard work. "The winners excelled in their ability to evoke emotion, capture their fictional client's essence, and deliver visuals that were not just stunning but also deeply resonant and memorable."
Read on to learn more about the three winning entries and why Nikos found their work outstanding.
Adrian Mocanu: Beatrix Kiddo, Kill Bill: Volume I and II
Adrian Mocanu, owner of Bitopia, a Romania-based rendering studio, has visualized over 800 interior design projects in the last six years. Yet, he knows there's always more to master. "In the world of photorealistic visualizations, the learning and improvement process never stops," Adrian explains. Eager to refine his skills, he joined the Masterclass. "I thought I shouldn't miss this great opportunity,” he explained. “And the fact that Nikos is a very good instructor, from whom I learned a lot, confirms to me that I made a good decision."
As a big fan of Quentin Tarantino films, Adrian picked Beatrix Kiddo, the protagonist of Kill Bill, as his imaginary client. Her well-developed character meant he had a lot of material to work with.
To prepare his entry, Adrian rewatched the Kill Bill films and looked for reference images that would inform his color palette, lighting, and design mood boards. He began by modeling the bedroom in SketchUp and sourcing 3D objects to build the scene before refining the materials and creating the light sources. Adrian optimized the project to reduce the rendering time in V-Ray. "For the composition, I used Interactive Render and LightMix for the lights," he explained, adding, "I did the final rendering in RTX mode." Finally, the last step was a little post-production Photoshop to perfect the image, giving us the final version.
Nikos comments:
“Adrian’s entry stood out for its bold and imaginative use of color and light. He took creative risks that paid off beautifully, resulting in a visual story that was both captivating and daring.”
Enzo Nieto: Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Star Wars franchise
Enzo Nieto, a Mexico-based industrial designer, combines his expertise in design with a passion for storytelling. His varied career includes photography and working as a concept artist and set designer for major studios like Apple, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney. In addition to these roles, he brings architectural visions to life through visualization projects.
Describing himself as “a professional constantly striving for growth,” Enzo saw the Chaos Masterclass with Creative Lighting as the perfect chance to grow his expertise. “I joined the Masterclass to sharpen my skills and gain insights from industry leaders,” he explains. “The opportunity to learn advanced techniques, push my creative boundaries, and receive expert guidance inspired me to participate.”
For his competition entry, Enzo chose Darth Vader, one of cinema’s most complex villains. “As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I have always admired the character’s visual design and storytelling complexity,” he explains. “This project allowed me to reimagine him in an architectural context, combining my passion for the saga with my professional skills.”
Enzo's creative process began with developing a concept inspired by Vader's iconic aura and visual identity. Using 3ds Max, he modeled and textured the scene, paying particular attention to details that captured Darth Vader's imposing presence. "Using V-Ray for 3ds Max, I crafted atmospheric lighting and photorealistic materials to enhance the composition and mood," Enzo explained. Post-production adjustments added the final touch, blending realism with cinematic storytelling. "The power and flexibility of V-Ray were essential in bringing this vision to life, he added."
Nikos comments:
“Enzo’s design captured the fictional client’s personality with remarkable precision. From the use of materials to the spatial layout, every element contributed to an authentic and emotionally rich narrative.”
Jason Chen: Koji Shimazu, John Wick 4
Jason Chen, a Senior Visualization Artist at BSPN Architecture in Brisbane, Australia, has a portfolio spanning retail, education, hospitality, heritage, and residential developments. His work includes creating high-quality, realistic renderings and cinematic animations for project architects and consultants. Before transitioning to 3D visualization, Jason honed his skills as an interior designer, giving him a unique perspective on spatial design.
When Jason heard about the Chaos Masterclass, he saw an opportunity to refine his skills and learn new approaches to workflow. “As a Visualization Artist, I believe it’s crucial to learn and adapt new and efficient techniques to keep up with the ever-evolving workflow,” he explains. “I primarily joined the masterclass to upskill and explore Creative Lighting, which I’ve heard takes a different workflow approach from what I’m used to.”
For his competition entry, Jason selected Koji Shimazu, a character from John Wick 4, whose style and calm demeanor left a lasting impression. “I’ve also always admired the elegance of Japanese-style spaces, which reflect the personality of those who inhabit them,” Jason shares, adding, “Koji’s character embodies this grace and sophistication, blending strength with serenity.”
Jason brought his vision to life using Chaos Vantage and V-Ray 6. He began by sketching the room concept in 3ds Max, imagining how the space might look and feel. Using Chaos Vantage, he explored the scene, experimenting with composition and spatial lighting in real time. "[Vantage] allowed me to quickly adjust elements and understand how lighting interacted with the environment," Jason explains. Next, he moved to V-Ray 6, applying advanced techniques from the Masterclass, including using Light Mix to fine-tune the atmosphere and balance the lighting. "This step was crucial in achieving the desired mood and depth for the scene." Finally, Jason used Photoshop for a bit of post-production, ensuring the composition had a polished, professional finish.
Nikos comments:
“Jason’s careful attention to detail and subtle storytelling elevated his project to another level. The seamless integration of the client’s character into every aspect of the space was truly impressive.”
For information on all of Nikos’ Masterclasses, be sure to check his website.
