Comprehensive Guide for 3D Rendering

Introduction

In 2007, Ikea experimented by replacing a 3D model of a chair in its physical catalog to see if people would notice, and they did not. Now, 75% of Ikea’s catalog has 3D renders, and the industry overall is evolving into 3D. People can barely notice if it’s a photo shoot or a 3D render.

Although there is a clear winner for this in the furniture industry, you can check it out here.

So, we will cover everything related to 3D rendering, which is a comprehensive guide.

It doesn’t even apply to just the furniture industry; it applies to all of them.

Have you ever wondered how those stunning architectural visualizations or mind-blowing animation effects come to life? The secret weapon behind much of that visual magic is 3D rendering. In this guide, we'll dive deep into 3D rendering, exploring what it is, how it works, and why it's become such a powerful tool across various industries. By the end, you'll have a solid understanding of this fascinating technology and its potential applications.

What is Photorealistic 3D Rendering?

See the two images up there? Can you distinguish which one is a 3D render and which is a photograph? Well, if you are not an expert, you won’t be able to tell the difference.

A 3D render took around 1 hour to set up and model and 1 hour to create. On the other hand, the phone photoshoot took 8 hours, which is almost equivalent to a 3D render, and took 4x the time.

There might not be an astronomical difference between the two, and you might wonder why I would learn or hire some 3D provider and go to the lengths just to replace traditional photography.

The answer is simple: the cost of variation and several other factors. You want to change 2-3 elements from the scene—in the 3D render, you can just change the objects and achieve it. In a photoshoot, you have to first get the product physically (and also establish a new set physically just for a photoshoot).

The major game changer is when you don't have just one product or color variation of it. You have hundreds of variations of one product; you might even have 100,000 variations if you are a medium-scale business. At that time, photography becomes expensive and tiresome. It is just not possible (it is, but considering the tech we have today, still going with the photography would be a blunder).

Now, imagine creating a hyper-realistic image of a building that hasn't even been built yet or designing a fantastical movie creature that seems to leap right off the screen. That's the power of 3D rendering. In essence, it's using computer software to generate two-dimensional images from 3D models. These models can be anything from a simple chair to a complex cityscape, and the rendering software applies lighting, textures, and materials to create a final image that is indistinguishable from a photograph in many cases.

Think of it like this: 3D models are blueprints for objects or scenes. They contain information about the object's shape, size, and position in virtual space. 3D rendering software then takes this blueprint and transforms it into a final image, applying textures that mimic real-world materials like wood, metal, or fabric. Artists can create incredibly realistic and nuanced images by manipulating virtual lighting and camera angles.

For instance, an architect might use 3D rendering to create photorealistic images of a new building design, allowing clients to visualize the space before construction begins virtually. A video game developer might use 3D rendering to create characters and environments that feel immersive and lifelike.

Importance and Benefits of 3D Rendering

So why has 3D rendering become such a sought-after technology? Here's a breakdown of its key advantages over traditional methods like photography:

Reduced Costs

While there's an initial investment in 3D software, creating virtual scenes eliminates the need for expensive location scouting, physical set building, or hiring actors and models. This allows for greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness, especially for complex projects.

Faster Turnaround Times

Traditional photography can be time-consuming, especially for complex scenes that require multiple takes and post-processing. 3D rendering streamlines the process significantly. Once the 3D model is built, changing lighting, materials, or camera angles is a breeze, allowing for quicker iterations and project completion.

Enhanced Creativity and Flexibility

Unlike photography, which is limited to capturing existing scenes, 3D rendering lets your imagination run wild. You can create fantastical environments, design objects that don't exist in the real world, and experiment with different lighting and effects to achieve the perfect look and feel.

Unmatched Creative Control

With 3D rendering, you have complete control over every aspect of the final image. You can fine-tune lighting to create a dramatic mood, adjust materials to achieve a specific texture or change camera angles to explore different perspectives. This level of control is simply impossible with traditional photography.

Simplified Revisions

Making changes to a photograph can be a tedious and time-consuming process. With 3D rendering, revisions are a breeze. Need to change the color of a wall or move a piece of furniture? No problem! Just adjust the 3D model and re-render the image. This makes it easier to collaborate with clients and get feedback throughout the creative process.

Traditional Photography vs 3D Rendering

Let’s understand the key differences between Traditional Photography and 3D Rendering.

Process for Creating A 3D Render

Modeling

The foundation of any 3D render is the model itself. This stage involves building the 3D objects that will populate your scene using specialized software like Maya, Blender, or ZBrush. There are different modeling techniques, each with its strengths:

Polygonal Modelling (Maya, Max, Blender): This is the most common technique, where artists build shapes by manipulating vertices, edges, and faces. The complexity of the polygon mesh determines the level of detail – a smooth, curved object requires more polygons than a simple box.
Sculpting (Zbrush): This technique offers a more organic approach, similar to sculpting clay. Artists use digital brushes and tools to shape and refine the model, creating a more natural and fluid look, ideal for characters or organic shapes.

The choice of technique depends on the desired outcome. For example, a product designer might use polygonal modeling for a chair, while a game developer might prefer sculpting for a creature design.

Texturing

Textures are the digital paint that brings your models to life. They define the surface details like color, roughness, bumpiness, and patterns. After UVs, artists apply textures to the model. Here's a deeper look:

Texture Creation: Textures can be sourced from photo libraries, hand-painted digitally, or procedurally generated using software tools. The choice depends on the desired effect – a realistic wood texture might come from a photo library, while a stylized cartoon texture might be hand-painted.
Material Properties: Beyond the image itself, textures also define material properties like reflectivity, which controls how much light bounces off the surface, and specularity, which controls how shiny the surface appears. These properties play a significant role in achieving photorealism.

By skillfully applying textures, artists can make a plastic object look shiny and reflective, a brick wall appears weathered and worn, or a character's skin look smooth and lifelike. The quality of textures significantly impacts the final render's realism.

Some of the best software for texturing are Substance Painter, Substance Designer, and Adobe Photoshop.

UV Unwrapping

After the model is built, it's time for UV unwrapping – a process often compared to unwrapping a gift. Imagine flattening out the peel of an orange – that's essentially what UV unwrapping does. Here's a breakdown:

Seams: Artists strategically place seams on the model, like cutting lines on the orange peel, to define how it will be flattened. These seams are carefully placed to minimize distortion on the final texture.
Unwrapping: Using specialized tools, the artist unfolds the model's surface along the seams, creating a 2D layout – the UV map. This map represents the surface area of the 3D model.

The UV map is crucial in the next stage, texturing, as it defines how the texture image will be applied to the model's surface. Some of the best software to get that are Maya and Rizom UV. A well-unwrapped UV map ensures minimal stretching or distortion of the texture, leading space for more texture resolution and, hence, a more natural and realistic final render.

Scene Building (Maya, Max. Blender, Unreal Engine)

Once your models are textured, it's time to assemble the scene – like setting up a stage for your final performance. This stage involves:

Model Placement: You'll position your 3D models in the virtual environment according to the desired composition. This includes setting the scale and rotation of each object to create a believable and visually appealing arrangement.
Camera and Framing: Like in photography, camera placement and framing are crucial for creating a compelling final image. You'll choose the camera angle, focal length, and field of view to guide the viewer's eye and tell the story you want your render to convey.
Adding Elements: Besides your main models, you might include additional elements to enrich the scene. This could involve adding background elements like landscapes or buildings, placing props like furniture or decorations, or even incorporating skies and clouds to create a specific atmosphere.

Software often offers tools for setting up virtual cameras and adjusting their properties. Thinking cinematically during scene building can elevate the final render from a simple collection of objects to a visually engaging composition.

Lighting

Lighting is the magic ingredient that transforms a 3D scene from a collection of objects into a believable and immersive environment. Lighting artists strategically place virtual lights to mimic real-world lighting conditions, like sunlight streaming through a window or studio spotlights illuminating a stage. Here's a closer look:

Light Types: Various virtual light types are available, each with its properties. Common ones include point lights (emitting light from a single point), directional lights (simulating sunlight), and spotlights (providing focused beams of light).
Setting Up Lights: Artists carefully position and adjust each light's intensity, color, and falloff (how the light weakens with distance) to achieve the desired effect. They manipulate shadows, reflections, and lighting intensity to create a specific mood and atmosphere. For example, warm lighting can create a cozy feeling, while cool lighting might evoke a more sterile environment.
HDRI Maps: For even more realistic lighting, artists can use High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) maps. These are essentially 360-degree panoramic images that capture the lighting information of a real-world environment. By incorporating HDRI maps, artists can achieve incredibly realistic lighting effects in their renders.

Lighting plays a vital role in storytelling within a 3D render. By using light strategically, artists can create a sense of depth, drama, and focus, guiding the viewer's eye and drawing them into the scene.

Some of the best software for texturing are Maya, Max, Blender, and Unreal Engine.

Rendering

With all the elements in place – models, textures, scenes, and lighting – it's time to hit render! The software's core functionality is that the rendering engine takes all this information and calculates the final image. This process can be likened to a digital photograph in the virtual world.

There are two main types of rendering engines:

Raster Render Engines: These engines work similarly to how a camera captures an image. They cast rays from the virtual camera and calculate the color of each pixel based on the objects and lights it encounters. Raster renders are known for their speed and efficiency, making them suitable for animations or interactive applications.
Ray Tracing Render Engines: These engines take a more scientific approach, simulating the actual behavior of light. They trace the path of light rays from the light source as they bounce off objects in the scene. This method produces incredibly realistic and detailed images but can also be computationally expensive and time-consuming.

Some of the best software for texturing are Vray, Cycles, and Corona.

Compositing (Post Processing)

The raw render output might not be the final product. Compositing, or post-processing, involves fine-tuning the rendered image to achieve the desired visual style and polish. Here's what compositing artists typically do:

There are two main types of rendering engines:

Color Grading: Similar to photo editing, adjustments are made to the overall color balance, contrast, and saturation of the render. This can involve adding warmth or coolness, boosting vibrancy, or creating a specific color mood.
Adding Effects: Subtle visual effects like depth of field (blurred background for a focused subject) or bloom (adding a soft glow to light sources) can be incorporated to enhance realism or create a stylistic effect.
Image Integration: The rendered image might be integrated with additional elements like text, logos, or background imagery to create a final composition for presentations, marketing materials, or concept art.

Compositing software offers various tools for manipulating and enhancing the rendered image. A skilled compositor can elevate a good render to a professional, high-quality final product.

Some of the best software for texturing are Adobe Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, and Nuke.

Types of 3D Renders for E-Commerce

Beyond the core rendering process, 3D artists offer various services to cater to specific needs. Here's a breakdown of some popular options, along with a table for a quick comparison:

Silo Renders

Silo renders, or silhouettes, are focused product shots showcasing a single object in a neutral, isolated environment. This provides a clear view of the product's design, materials, and details. Benefits include:

Versatility: Silo can be used for various purposes like product catalogs, online stores, or marketing materials.
Flexibility: The clean background allows for easy integration into different layouts or presentations.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to lifestyle renders, silos are generally less time-consuming to create.

Silos differentiate themselves from other offerings by their focus on the product itself, without the distraction of a surrounding environment. This makes them ideal for e-commerce applications or situations where a clear and concise product presentation is paramount.

Industries that heavily utilize silo renders include:

E-commerce
Manufacturing
Industrial Design
Furniture & Homeware

Lifestyle 3D Renders

Lifestyle renders depict products integrated into realistic settings, showcasing their use and functionality in a relatable context. This allows viewers to envision how the product would look and feel in their own lives. Benefits include:

Enhanced Appeal: Lifestyle renders create a more engaging and aspirational presentation compared to silos.
Storytelling: They can tell a story about the product's purpose, placement, ideation, and visualization in your lifestyle. It is a great way to upsell other products if you have a good composed image.
Emotional Connection: Lifestyle renders can evoke emotions and desires, influencing purchasing decisions.

Unlike silos, lifestyle renders go beyond just the product. They create a scene that tells a story and connects with the viewer emotionally. This makes them ideal for marketing campaigns, social media content, or showcasing furniture or homeware products in realistic settings.

Industries that benefit from lifestyle renders include:

Consumer Goods
Marketing & Advertising
Interior Design
Furniture & Homeware

Live Scenes

Live scenes take 3D rendering a step further, creating immersive and interactive 3D environments. Imagine walking through a virtual showroom or exploring a proposed architectural design – that's the power of live scenes. Here's what makes them stand out:

Unmatched Immersion: Live scenes provide a level of engagement that static images simply can't achieve. Users can explore the environment from different angles, interact with objects, and understand scale and detail.
Enhanced Decision Making: Live scenes are invaluable for architects, interior designers, or event planners. They allow them to virtually experience a space before it's built, which can improve communication, identify potential issues early on, and streamline the design process.
Virtual Reality (VR) Integration: Live scenes can be further enhanced by integrating them with VR technology. This makes users feel like they're stepping into the virtual world, creating an even more immersive experience.

Live scenes differentiate themselves from other offerings by their interactive nature. They go beyond the limitations of a single image, offering a dynamic and engaging way to explore virtual environments.

Industries that can leverage live scenes effectively include:

Architecture & Engineering
Interior Design
Real Estate
Hospitality Industry
Museums & Exhibits
Event Planning
Education & Training

Product Breakdown/Animation

Product breakdown animations or exploded views deconstruct a product virtually, revealing its internal components and assembly process. This can be incredibly helpful for:

Technical Communication: Product breakdowns provide clear and concise assembly, maintenance, or repair instructions.
Marketing & Sales: Animations can showcase the product's inner workings and innovative features, making it more appealing to potential customers.
Educational Use: Product breakdowns are valuable tools for clearly and visually explaining complex machinery or engineering concepts.

Unlike static silo renders, product breakdowns offer a dynamic and informative way to understand a product's inner workings. This makes them ideal for technical manuals, explainer videos, or showcasing the innovative features of complex products.

Industries that benefit from product breakdown animations include:

Manufacturing
Engineering
Consumer Electronics
Medical Devices
Educational Software

Panning Video

Panning videos offer a concise and engaging way to showcase a product or scene. These short videos typically focus on a single product or environment, slowly panning across it to reveal details from different angles. Benefits include:

Versatility: Panning videos can be used for various purposes, such as product presentations, social media content, or website product listings.
Attention-grabbing: Video's dynamic nature is inherently more engaging than static images, making it a great way to capture viewers' attention.
Cost-Effective: Panning videos are typically less time-consuming than full animation sequences.

Panning videos differentiate themselves from other offerings by their simplicity and focus. They offer a quick and engaging way to showcase a product or environment, making them ideal for situations where a concise and dynamic presentation is desired.

Industries that can leverage panning videos effectively include:

E-commerce
Marketing & Advertising
Social Media Content Creation
Product Design
Real Estate

360 Turntable

360-degree views, or 360 turntables, offer a complete interactive view of a product or environment. Imagine spinning a product around 360 degrees online, examining it from every angle – that's the power of a 360 view. Here's what makes them stand out:

Enhanced User Experience: 360 views provide a level of product exploration that traditional static images simply can't achieve. Users can examine details, zoom in on specific areas, and understand the product's scale and dimensionality.
Increased Sales: Studies show that products with 360 views have higher conversion rates than static images alone. This is because users feel more confident about their purchase decision when they can thoroughly examine the product online.
Reduced Returns: 360-degree views can help reduce the number of returns due to unmet expectations by allowing users to inspect a product from all angles virtually.

360 Views differentiate themselves from other offerings by their interactive and user-centric nature. They empower users to take control of the viewing experience, increasing engagement and confidence in their purchase decisions.

Industries that can significantly benefit from 360 views include:

E-commerce (especially for furniture, apparel, and automotive industries)
Real Estate (allowing virtual tours of properties)
Product Design (showcasing product details and variations)
Hospitality Industry (offering virtual tours of hotel rooms or restaurants)
Museums & Exhibits (providing an interactive way to explore artifacts)

By understanding the different offerings of 3D renders, you can choose the format that best suits your specific needs and target audience. From showcasing products in isolation to creating immersive virtual environments, 3D rendering offers a versatile and powerful tool for visual communication across various industries

Applications of 3D Renders

3D renders transcend simple visuals, transforming how various industries present ideas and products. Here's a glimpse into their diverse applications:

Architecture

Architects leverage 3D renders, particularly live scenes and walkthroughs, to create photorealistic visualizations of design concepts. This allows clients to virtually explore proposed buildings, navigate spaces, and experience the design intent before a single brick is laid. This fosters better communication, identifies potential issues early on, and streamlines the design process.

Real Estate

3D renders revolutionize how realtors showcase properties. Virtual tours with 360 views allow potential buyers to explore a property from anywhere in the world at any time. Renders can also be used to showcase potential renovations or staging options, helping buyers envision the full potential of a space. This increases engagement, reduces the need for physical visits, and ultimately speeds up the sales process.

Furniture

Furniture companies utilize 3D renders to create stunning product presentations. Lifestyle renders showcase furniture pieces in realistic settings, helping customers visualize how they would look and function in their homes. 360 views and interactive configurators allow customers to examine furniture from all angles, explore different finishes and fabrics, and personalize their selections before purchasing. This leads to a more informed buying decision and reduces the risk of returns.

E-commerce

E-commerce thrives on high-quality product visualization. 3D renders, particularly 360 views and product breakdowns, offer a dynamic and interactive way for customers to examine products online. This eliminates the limitations of static photographs, allowing for zooming in on details, exploring different angles, and even seeing the product in use. This enhanced user experience fosters trust, increases buying confidence, and leads to higher conversion rates.

Marketing & Advertising

Marketing and advertising campaigns can leverage the power of 3D renders to create engaging and memorable content. From eye-catching explainer videos that showcase product features to social media posts with stunning lifestyle renders, 3D visuals grab attention and effectively communicate brand messages.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry benefits from 3D renders in several ways. Product prototypes can be virtually created and tested before physical models are built, saving time and resources. 3D renders also aid in clear design communication, ensuring all stakeholders precisely understand the product's form and functionality. Furthermore, exploded views and animated assembly instructions can be created using 3D renders, streamlining the manufacturing process and improving after-sales support.

Automobile

The automobile industry utilizes 3D renders extensively throughout the design and marketing process. Car manufacturers can create photorealistic visualizations of new models, allowing them to showcase design details and generate excitement before the physical car is unveiled. Additionally, interactive configurators powered by 3D renders empower potential car buyers to customize their dream vehicle by selecting colors, wheels, and interior finishes. This personalized experience fosters engagement and allows customers to virtually test drive their customized car before visiting a dealership.

Fashion

The fashion industry is embracing 3D renders to revolutionize how clothing is designed, marketed, and sold. This reduces the need for physical samples and personalizes the shopping experience. Furthermore, 3D renders can be used to showcase intricate garment details and variations in color or pattern without requiring extensive photography shoots. This streamlines the design process and reduces production costs.

Industry Pricing for 3D Renders

Now that you understand which industries can and will benefit from 3D renders, it is best that you also understand the pricing for it for your business.

Why Ikarus Delta

Imagine creating stunning 3D visuals for your business without needing a team of specialists. That's the magic of Ikarus Delta! We go beyond just 3D rendering – we offer a complete package to simplify and elevate your visual communication. Here's how:

3D Rendering: Ikarus Delta's user-friendly interface lets you create high-quality 3D models and product visuals with drag-and-drop ease. It's like having a built-in 3D designer at your fingertips!
Product Configurator: Our interactive 3D configurators take your product presentations to the next level. Allow your clients to customize products in real-time, choosing colors, styles, and features—all within the 3D model itself. This personalizes the experience and helps them visualize their dream product.
Immersive Viewing: Showcase your creations in a new way with our 3D and AR viewers. Your clients can explore your 3D models in stunning detail, rotate them 360 degrees, and even see them come to life in augmented reality (AR) – all on their phones or tablets! This creates a truly immersive experience that sets you apart.

With Ikarus Delta, you get everything you need to create impactful 3D visuals, from easy-to-use rendering tools to interactive configurators and immersive viewers. It's the perfect all-in-one solution for businesses looking to leverage the power of 3D to boost communication, engagement, and sales.

Conclusion

From architects showcasing designs to lifestyle renders on online furniture stores, it's revolutionizing how we present ideas and products. This technology goes beyond visuals, streamlining processes, personalizing experiences, and enhancing education. As it advances, 3D rendering promises to play an even greater role in shaping the future of communication and design. Whether you're an architect, a marketer, or simply someone with a creative vision, the power of 3D rendering is waiting to be explored.

Frequently asked questions