What is the difference between AVR level 0, 1, 2 and 3?
AVR levels 0 to 3 describe how much detail an accurate visual representation shows. Level 0 shows only the location and size of a proposal. Level 1 adds a simple massing. Level 2 adds materials and texture. Level 3 adds full photorealism with lighting and context. The one condition that matters is the brief from your planning authority, because it sets the level you need.
What each AVR level shows
The levels build on each other. Each step adds visual information to the one before.
Level 0 is the simplest. It shows where the building sits and how big it is. Think of an outline or wireline placed on a photograph.
Level 1 adds a basic solid form. You see the massing, but not the finish. It shows bulk and height, not design intent.
Level 2 adds materials and textures. The building starts to look like a real design. Glazing, cladding and colour become readable.
Level 3 is the most complete. It adds realistic lighting, shadows, reflections and entourage such as trees and people. It reads like a photograph of the finished building.
Which level you are likely to need
The right level depends on the sensitivity of the view. A distant view of a modest scheme may need less detail. A prominent view of a tall or heritage-sensitive scheme may need more.
The planning authority or the visual impact consultant usually names the level. Ask for it in writing before you commission anything. Do not guess.
A higher level is not always better. Extra detail you were not asked for adds cost without adding value. Equally, a level that is too low can delay a submission.
The terms and definitions vary between guidance documents. Always confirm which document your authority follows.
What a studio needs from you
An AVR image is only as reliable as its inputs. The studio needs to match the 3D model to a real photograph.
For levels that require verification, you need survey-matched photography. That means camera positions, heights and lens data recorded at the time of the shoot. Your surveyor or photographer normally supplies this.
The studio also needs the building model or drawings. We work from CAD, Revit and SketchUp files. We also use reference images and material lists.
For levels 2 and 3, the materials list matters a lot. Without it, the studio has to make assumptions. Those assumptions can cause rounds of correction later.
How the level affects cost and revisions
Higher levels take more modelling, texturing and lighting work. They also give reviewers more to comment on. Expect more detail to mean more markups.
We deliver in rounds with your markups. Locking the materials and the camera views early keeps those rounds short.
Photomontage starts from $399 per image, or $750 for a set of 3. Final price depends on scope, including the number of views and the level of detail.
If you are unsure which view type you need, read Photomontage vs Verified View: What Is the Difference?. It explains where a standard montage ends and a verified view begins.
When you are ready to scope your views, see our photomontage service. We serve architects and developers in the US, the UK and Europe, with time-zone overlap for US and UK mornings.
