1. I usually use 3ds max for this if strictly necessary, a friend has so i can use it, but if not, i just ask if i can have a screen grab or lately i noticed people use the PDF format, most of the time they dont require a precise perfect technical render, but they like more to see the product, if you go for a precise replication of units and space then you better get datas off a real DWG.
Most of the time i work with PDF or screen grabs. (this is the only annoying part in SI, but compared to the horrible nightmare you have to clean up a .dwg file in max..well i go with Soft.)
2. I usually stick with default softimage shaders, mia_material mainingly (lately is pissing me off because of an issue with area lights, for people who doesnt know this, it causes grain and noise all around if you use it with area lights shadow and reflection since the default area light low sampling in softimage is set to 1, this is horrible, so for reflection i use t2s_illumination.
regarding the unit system i tend to use 1 SI unit = 10 cm, but i got the same results with 1 si unit = 1 meter, so its ok
3. This is an important point, i use different plugin, wom archlight, mostly sIBL does a fantastic job in lighting and setting up the scene, i love the control it has and the perfect lighting balance, of course the basic is mr sky/sun but i tend to use everything, sun/sky + wom is the must tho
4. Mostly my post process consist of normal stuff like curves, saturation, highlights, contrast all in photoshop, when i want to add some artistic look i go into after effects because of some effects i get used to work with, like Magic Bullet from Red Giant software, is a fantastic tool that let you achieve nice looking appealing artistic renders, if you dont exagerate with it
5. Definately yes, i use the gama 2.2 always
6. My only tip is to keep going to work on this field with the software you are better with, the old war vray vs mental or max vs xsi well, is most subjective depends on who works with what, that said, there are some tools that we SI users are lacking, but we can get with work around. The time you lose to do those workarounds will get back with the fast workflow SI has, the UI, the poly management, and everything that makes SI the amazing piece of software it is, while in Max you could go faster in some lighting setup you get completely screwed when it comes to modeling, geometry modification, stacks, clugging poly management, material manager and other horrible stuff it has, wich i will never use again in my life.
I prefer to be slower and learn how to control a more complicated workflow but more powerfull and less buggy, than click 2 buttons and fire out a Vray classical render like we're used to see from every 10 year old kids around nowadays.
Its not a critic, its just that the boom vray had and the quality they made the clients get used to, is really boring, every vray archviz render you can tell it from 4 miles far, sharp edges, plastic look, fake, unreal, no air.
I'm not that good in archviz yet but i have a good eye, my skill sure are lower than most of those vray people users, but i studied a lot and there are really few awesome max/vray archviz users skilled and talented, that doesnt stop to 2 click solution and push that engine to the max, and you can see the result, (Roman for example).
I dont think Softimage is not for Archviz, the whole idea is that who does the job is you, Softimage is a Tool, wich has pro and cons like every software, fact is that to me it has way more pro that cons..
I think if Soft will have unit system and a .dwg native importer + vray, everyone gonna jump the ship, i dont really see any other tool important for archviz like those, max has those thats why people say its better for archviz, Vray is coming anyway for you people out there who loves that engine, for .dwg and unit system i guess we have to wait a bit, i would love .dwg importer more than unit system tbh, since i dont think unit system is vital.
I think i wrote a bit too much, if you want to check some of my works, i posted some in this board, and xsi base, (i'm maxsi77 there), gonna refresh and add some other work i did in those days.
Softimage rules!
