3d Product Visualisation
These projects cover animations as well as stills for 3d product visualisation. In some instances, the 3d product animations/stills were of existing products, where the marketer, need to gain a greater deal of engagement or visibility.
This process is also widely used by entrepreneurs looking to launch a new product. Where a physical product does not exist. Here the client wished to explore product design, and we worked closely, to come up with the best design concepts, to meet their needs. In some instances, this was all done before the creation of a physical prototype.
The workflow, involved, means, we work from sketches and ideas, to visualise what the product might look like. This is all done using computer generated imagery (CGI). The process involves firstly:
- 3D modelling of the concept
- 3D Texturing, shading and lighting
- And finally 3D rendering, as stills or an animation
Once this is done, we create a set of initial product stills. Or a product animation.
These can be 360 degree videos, showing the product from all angles, or, the product placed in a contextual/lifestyle environment. Or creating an exploded view, which shows internal components. One example is a bathtub, in a bathroom environment, or a car, in an urban setting. Or a consumer product, like headphones, in a studio environment. This gives the product context, and users are more easily able to see how it would fit in with their needs.Quite often users will employ these animations in order to gain funding or gauge demand for the product through platforms such as kickstarter. This is a much more cost effective means of visualising things than using traditional photography or video.
The next step if required, is to create a prototype model, with more exact measurements and tolerances. Clients will then usually send these away for prototyping/3d printing, so that they have a physical product to hand. Which can then be further refined and adjusted before final manufacture.
Another avenue in this process, is to hand scan/3d scan a product prototype, that may already have been built. Then, use that model to visualise the product. This workflow is slightly different. In this instance, we need to clean up the scan, built/rebuild it, so that the model can be used in native 3d packages for rendering purposes. The result is often a model, that can then be further built upon, refined, and then re-protoyped into a physical format. Some examples are here.
We've worked on a number of these types of projects, ranging from cars, boats, smart dog collars, Smart watches. etc. Please take a look at a few examples above. In some instances CAD models were available, in some we fabricated something for the client from scratch.
Product animation 3d: Sunbed China
This product animation 3d project, involved the creation of the highly popular - "Sunbed China" based products. The client had a catalogue of around 20 products, with 5 variants in the colours of the models, and 3 variants in the types of tanning bed lights. A UV based light, a collagen red light model and the standard blue light variant. This meant creating in excess of 50 different catalogue items. Each Sunbed, was then rendered, from a top, right, left and side views. The challenge with this project, was that the only reference available, was the catalogue supplied by the wholesaler. Therefore we had to work to find reference sources, of the product from the internet wherever availble.
The Art of Product Visualisation with Rhino and Blender
I was recently commissioned to create some 3D product visualisations. While photography will always be key in advertising, more and more people are seeing the vlaue of product visualisations. You can capture dynamic angles, place the object anywhere in space. And add animation to the mix, and the possibilities are endless. Better engagement, better conversion, better returns.
Read more: The Art of Product Visualisation with Rhino and Blender
Flight Simulator texture design
In 2018, I worked we worked with a Flight Simulator texture design project, for a company rivalling Microsoft's flight simulator application. The task was to develop something more realistic. I was involved in creating over 500 airplane lights textures, each one specific to a different model of aircraft. Here is a short video with some of those lights textures in place. Used by the company FSReborn, in a promotional video.
Print designs for their promotion are here
Ice cream 3d visualisation
One in a series of food related logo shapes created for a Dutch agency working on behalf of a Netherlands based food retailer. Modelled and textured in Zbrush, final render with 3dsmax with Vray.
Nappy visualisation
This project involved the creation of a nappy model for a major brand, to show absorbency. This would be demonstrated through an animation. Created using 3DSmax, Zbrush and Vray.
Yacht Design Project
I was commissioned to create a photorealistic visual of a yacht that was under construction from photographic reference of the partially built yacht.
Product Visualisation: Smart Dog Collar
Smart dog collar design, created using Rhino, rendered with VRay. This project involved the design of a new invention, the smart dog collar. The aim was to visualize it, in order for the client to gain funding for mass manufacture.
Product Visualisation: Hairyworm Phonecase
This project involved the creation of a visualisation for the "Hairyworm Phonecase". The client had the physical product, but wished to show its durability, and flexibility. Traditional photography would not allow for the types of angles we created.
The client provided us with the Hairyworm Phonecases, for Android and IOS phones in 3 colours. We then made accurate 3d models of the phonecases in Rhino. These were then shaped to show how the case bends. Emphasizing the transparency. And the pattern of the design.
The final renders were carried out in 3dsmax with Vray, with custom studio lighting. To produce a photorealistic result. The phonecases were shown on their own. They were also exhibited with life sized models of the relevant Android and IOS phones, enclosed by the case.
The challenge ionvolved in the creation of these 3d product visualisations, involved, the deformation of the case. ie the bending. As shown below. As all the modelling was carried out in CAD, and things were made as separate pieces, bringing all this together, and maintain the integrity of the model as it was deformed was a challenge. This was successfully achieved though.
For more examples of this type of work please check out our product visualisation page.
Modelled in Rhino and 3DSMax. Final rendering using VRay. Images created for print and web. Full gallery below:
Product Visualisation: Smart Watch
Visualisation of a smart watch model. Texturing, rendering and lighting, with Vray/3dsMax, post production in Nuke and Photoshop.
Phonaudio headphones: Product animation
Working with an innovative manufacturer, with a product positioned, in the same segment as Bose. The aim of this project was to create a few animations ,for Phonaudio headphones. Specifically one of their better selling models. The brief involved the creation of 3 animations. 1 animation of the product in a exploded view, one of the headphones, causing a piece of paper to vibrate. And the final, was a features video, highlighting the key features of the headphones. Visualisations created using 3DSMax, VRay, Rhino, after effect and Nuke:
SMEG Oven Photorealistic Product Rendering
Product rendering project, using a CAD model provided by the manufacturer. The task involved converting the CAD files to a 3DSMax format, then texturing, lighting and shading the model in max, for render with mental Ray.
Lamborghini Diablo 3D Car animation
This project involved the creation of a 3D car animation. The model used was the Lamborghini Diablo. In Yellow.
The car, was created using a "patch 3d modelling" method. This involves creating the model in a series of sections for each part of the chassis. So Modelling begins with the wheel well, then upwards and outwards. So the bumpers are modelled next then the window areas, the rear and then the roog. So we end up with a model, that replicates, the way a car is created in the real word. Using a series of "patches"
3D Car animation: Dauer 962
This 3D car animation was created for the Dauer 962. The model was originally created using Maya 2011, using Maya Sub Division surfaces. As maya 2018 no longer supports the SubD's from 2011, we exported the models as plain low res polys, to Blender, where additional modeling enhancements were made. The model was then taken into Unreal engine where materials were applied. Textures for the car and environment were created using Substance Painter, and Designer. The end result was this simple 3 shot animation that shows off the model