a.) Product 3D Modeling
3D models are the foundation of the rendering process. These digital representations can be customized based on design requirements and level of detail, from low-poly models for interactive use to high-poly models for photorealistic images.
- Low-Poly 3D Modeling: This type focuses on creating lightweight yet true-to-life 3D models, making it ideal for applications like games and interactive tools such as AR apps and 3D configurators.
- High-Poly 3D Modeling: This process involves crafting extremely detailed 3D models, suitable for producing photorealistic marketing materials, including product CG images, 3D animations, and 360-degree spins.
- CAD Modeling: CAD modeling is tailored for 3D printing and rapid prototyping, enabling the swift and precise production of scale models or product details.
- 3D Retopology: This involves optimizing the surface of a 3D model to reduce its weight while preserving detail. Manufacturers turn to retopology when creating 3D models based on scans, CAD files, or when converting high-poly models into low-poly ones.
The complexity of a 3D modeling project depends on the intricacies of the product design, with four levels of complexity for furniture 3D models.
b.) Still Rendering Solutions
Still rendering produces static images that resemble photographs, created by 3D artists who construct digital scenes and incorporate product 3D models within them. These static renders are commonly used for marketing and sales materials in both print and digital formats.
There are two primary types of still renders:
- Lifestyle 3D Renders: Lifestyle renders depict products within specific settings, such as room interiors or outdoor scenes. Their purpose is to showcase how a product fits seamlessly into real-life scenarios, complementing various interior styles, and serving multiple functions.
- Silo 3D Renders: Silo renders isolate the product from any background or context, providing a clear, unobstructed view of the item. While they lack the environmental context of lifestyle renders, silo renders are valuable for showcasing product details and dimensions.
c.) Interactive Rendering
Interactive rendering solutions are designed to engage prospects online and provide them with immersive product experiences. Several widely-used interactive CGI options are favored by forward-thinking brands:
- Product Animation: Product animation comprises computer-generated marketing videos that offer the same storytelling capabilities as traditional videos, but without the need for physical filming. 3D artists use scriptwriting, storyboarding, and animation software to create photorealistic animations, eliminating the requirement for physical product prototypes.
- 360° Product Views: This interactive rendering solution allows customers to rotate and examine products from every angle directly on a website. It enhances the online shopping experience, providing customers with a more lifelike shopping encounter.
360° product views come in two primary types:
- 360° Sequence: Comprising 36 images on a monochrome background, this type creates a carousel-like rotation, allowing customers to view the product from left to right and vice versa.
- Multi-Row 3D View: Built on seven rows of 36 renders each, this type provides a comprehensive view, enabling rotation in all possible directions, including side-to-side, top, bottom, and at various angles.
Interactive rendering offers several advantages, including increased engagement, more information accessibility, and ultimately, boosted sales.
Product 3D modeling, still rendering, and interactive rendering each offer unique benefits and applications, enabling brands to tailor their visual content to align with their marketing objectives and creative visions.
d.) Silo 3D Product Rendering
A Silo 3D product rendering, often referred to as a “silo product image,” is a specific type of image presentation in which a product is showcased against a seamless, plain white or neutral background.
The primary advantage of using a silo image is its versatility. The product can be easily isolated or “cut out” from the background, making it suitable for use in a wide range of marketing visuals, both in digital and print formats.
For example, the use of a white background is popular because it seamlessly integrates with most websites, catalogs, and magazines, which often feature white pages. However, if the intention is to use the silo render in collages or banners, opting for a transparent background is the ideal choice, as it offers flexibility in design and composition.
