XO3D Studio · 3D Rendering
3D Product Rendering - Unleash the Potential of Product 3D
3D product rendering is the use of computer rendering programs to create CGI (computer-generated imagery).
Take your product designs worldwide with amazing visuals.
What Is 3D Product Rendering?
Definition.
Put simply, 3D product rendering, is the use of computer rendering programs to create CGI (computer-generated imagery). It is the process where a 3D artist takes a 3D model and turns it into a 2D image. These images can be used for many reasons. Primarily as marketing assets for advertising campaigns.
Cheaper Alternative.
Value.
CGI product rendering is a cheaper alternative to photography. Images that would never have been possible are now easily visualised without a photography studio.
Tell the Story.
Photorealisitic.
Product Designs are created in 3D modelling software and then visualised by adding materials and lighting. This creates a photorealistic or nonphotorealistic representation of the subject. During the early stages of the design process, product design renderings can be made to tell the story, which allows marketers to sell the product well before production.
How Can Rendering Products Help You?
Advantages.
Design the Product.
The ability to visualise a product quickly catches costly design mistakes. By using product design rendering processes we can easily change the colours and materials to suit your needs. See what looks best before you go to production; this is an essential part of product development.
Tell Your Product’s Story.
Product rendering show off your ideas in all their glory, in contrast to using boring sketches or dull 3d models, with the help of 3D rendering, products are made to look lifelike in as many views as you please, before they even exist, with perfect accuracy.
Enhance Visual Communication.
By showing amazing product images of the designs from all different angles, customers can quickly get an idea of the product and its features. Increasing conversions online.
Create Product Sales.
With the power of 3D, product images can be created well before production. Therefore, a physical model is not needed for photography and product renders can be used to create product sales before manufacturing. Giving you the cash flow you need.
What Are the Limitations of Product Rendering?
Disadvantages.
Time-Intensive Setup.
A realistic product rendering takes a lot of time and requires meticulous skill in modelling, lighting, textures, rendering and post production. Intricate products with a lot of detail and multiple parts take a lot of time to set up the initial files.
High Initial Cost.
To begin product rendering you need software such a Keyshot, 3DS Max with Vray or Cinema 4D and Redshift. These softwares are expensive and require highly skilled 3D artist to work on them. Furthermore the computer power required to render highly detailed images are also very expensive. One of our servers at XO3D costs £20k.
Steep Learning Curve.
Beginners often face a long learning curve in mastering modelling, lighting, and photorealistic texturing techniques. For in-house teams, training and upskilling can be time-consuming unless you outsource to experts.
Rendering Times.
Depending on complexity, rendering high-res or animated visuals can take hours or even days. While GPU rendering has sped things up, large batch renders and animations still require patience and power.
Hyper-Realism Isn’t Always Real.
Sometimes renders can look “too perfect”—with pristine lighting, flawless textures, and unrealistic reflections—which can make them feel artificial. Adding realism (imperfections, fingerprints, scratches) takes additional time and skill.
Revisions Can Be Slower.
Unlike photography where you can quickly reshoot, major changes in a 3D scene (like product redesigns) can require re-modelling or re-texturing. Animated scenes especially take longer to rework.
Limited Tactile Experience.
3D renders are purely visual—so customers can’t touch, feel, or experience the physicality of the product. This can be a drawback for industries where texture or weight plays a big part in the buying decision.
Miscommunication Risk.
If there’s a gap between the product team and the 3D artist, important details can be missed—leading to renders that don’t accurately represent the product.
File & Compatibility Issues.
3D scenes and assets can become large and complex, sometimes causing performance issues or compatibility headaches when moving across platforms or render engines.
What Industries Used Product Rendering?
Refinement.
Benefits of Product Rendering
Statistics.
40%
reduce in returns.
Shopify has found that there has been a 40% reduction in returns after implementing 3D visualisation. Source Sayduck
94%
conversion lifts.
Shopify has found that adding a video improves conversion rates by 60%, while adding 3D Visualisation improves conversions by 94%, on average. Source Sayduck
Where Can You Use Product Renders?
Use Cases.
Social media Improve your brand reputation with social media advertising mixed with Architectural Visuals. While people are always scrolling through Instagram and also may be looking for a new property, these are one of the top places to use Architectural Renderings to catch the eye of some potential clients. Catalogues & magazines Product renders are used on magazines and catalogues to display products in a realistic and aesthetically pleasing ways not limited to physical studio set ups. They can also be used to create a professional and high-end look for the magazine or catalogue. Billboards Product renders are often high-resolution images that look realistic and help to draw the attention of passers-by to the billboard. They can be used to highlight the features and benefits of a product or service, and can also be used to create a strong visual impact and to help people remember the product or service. Online shops To give the target audience an authentic and realistic image of the goods, online stores use product renderings. To help clients grasp the product better, product renderings can depict it from several perspectives, in a variety of colours, and with accurate lighting and shadows.
Types of Product Renderings by XO3D
Examples.
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Studio Renders
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Marketing Renders
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Exploded Views
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Breakaway Renders
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Detailed Renders
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Product Reveal
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Product Infographics
!Silo image !Advertising image !Assembly image !Section view !Close-up image !Teaser image !Informational image
Studio renders are the most used type of product rendering. The white box is used for online shops to display the product in a clean and easy-to-view manner, helping viewers make sound decsisions when buying. Other types of studio renders may have different-coloured backgrounds for use on social media.
Advertising images are used for marketing. They are a creative way to showcase your product and make it engaging to the viewer. In contrast to the studio render, these marketing images are designed to captivate and generate sales.
Exploded views are a big seller due to their complex and exciting nature. They showcase the product with all its components, exploring how it works and the intricate details that have been designed.
A breakaway shot is similar to an exploded view as it can be used to show the internals of the product. However, a breakaway view is slightly different as it shows how the inner workings of the product interact with each other.
To illustrate your product even further, show your design’s finer details with close-up renders. In brief, we use a close-up camera angle to illustrate the finest details such as the beautiful textured finish.
Generally, for products that are about to be released. Market-ready images that are designed to get people talking and wondering. What is that? Create anticipation for your product so your sales can hit the floor running!
Infographics are designed to show the customer, specific product details, and benefits. As seen in a lot of Amazon shops, these images are used to boost and accompany other product visuals for marketing. Infographics are a mix of product renders and text.
How to Create Product Renderings?
Process.
Step 1
3D Modelling
To begin any 3D rendering, a 3D model needs to be created. In computer graphics, product modelling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of an object in three dimensions using specialised 3D software. 3D models can be created from technical drawings, sketches, or photographs.
Step 2
Camera Setup
Configuring the camera for a rendering project is a critical step. It involves considering various camera settings. Proper camera placement adhering to photography principles is crucial. This knowledge enables artists to craft well-composed, art-directed scenes, ensure models blend seamlessly into the 3D environment and produce highly realistic rendered images.
Step 3
Lighting Setup
Lighting is created and it can be thought of the same as a photography studio but on a computer. The lighting is applied in different directions to create the best reflections that bring out all the details of the form of the product. Depending on the desired outcome of the render. There could also be minimal lighting to create teaser images for marketing purposes.
Step 4
Materials & Texturing
Desired materials are added to the object and tweaked with all different settings, using multiple different images and processes to get the materials to look as they would in real life. After that, the lighting is finalised to highlight the finer details of the product’s materials.
Step 5
Rendering Output
Finally, to set the subject off on the final stages of the process, this is where the computer does its work by generating the images so that they can be used. The render engine is started so that it creates all different types of outputs that are subsequently brought together in post-production software such as Photoshop, and a pretty picture is created by our 3D artists.
Step 6
Post Production
The final step is to polish a 3D product render and make it pop for its final destination. This is done using photo editing software such as Photoshop. It is where colour correction and final adjustments take place, boosting the final visual and increasing its realism to a photorealistic result.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
Project Checklist.
- MOOD BOARDS
- MATERIAL GUIDE
- TECHNICAL DRAWINGS OR DIAGRAMS
- PHYSICAL PRODUCT IF PRESENT
Although companies do not need all of the above, these will make the project much smoother.
Product Rendering Workflow
Execution.
Starting a project
Firstly, to begin a project, clients provide all the information required. For product visualisations, we require things such as drawings, design specifications, sketches, mood boards or other type of information you may have.
Reviewing information
Check all the clients’ content and ask for more details if necessary. In addition, a phone call or Teams meeting is always beneficial. This helps avoid any misconception and allows us to shorten turnaround times for 3D rendering services.
Execution
We start working as soon as we understand all of the details the task requires, and time frames have been agreed by both parties. Our 3D artists keep in constant contact with the clients throughout this process, with regular updates.
Reviewing
After that, we present draft 3D renders to you for comments and review and finally make the adjustments.
Approval
The client accepts the drafts for final rendering.
Final Rendering
Finally, we present the 3D visuals, after we have completed postproduction in high resolution with full quality lighting, reflections, glossiness and materials.
What Else Can Be Done with Product Rendering?
Applications.
There is a range of 3D applications for products that are being used in the days of online shopping. To create a better online experience for customers, the applications below are essential to boost your sales.
product colourways.
Product colourways or colour selectors, are helpful for designs that have multiple different colours or textures. The same camera can be used and rendered in various colours, allowing businesses to showcase the full range of colours and enhancing customer experience.
Black
Product Animations.
Particularly when putting together an advertising or crowdfunding campaign, creating a product animation video can provide a multitude of benefits, including:
- Educating potential investors or users to understand your product
- Demonstrating mechanisms and moving parts
- Showcasing your product and what makes it unique
- Increasing overall engagement with the product
- Impressing potential investors and increase the perception of your product
Product Turntables.
360-degree product turntable renders, which produces high-quality 360 images of your products, allows you to provide your consumer with an engaging and interactive experience. They will get a true sense of your product’s quality. This confidence in your product’s quality will help win the sale.
Interactive 3D Visuals.
Web-ready, touch-enabled visuals that can be embedded anywhere on your website, or even sent via emails to potential clients or customers with an array of unique features that will not have been seen by many. Give that WOW factor to your product.
Product interactive can be used for visual marketing allowing customers to interact with products in a digital environment. They can be used to increase customer engagement, improve customer experience, and reduce returns and exchanges. Some common techniques for creating product interactive visuals include live rendering, product configurators, and augmented reality.
Product 360 Spherical Experience.
Push beyond a simple product turntable, and have a full 360° spherical view to show clients the full view of your products. Product 360° spherical still renderings are a type of product rendering that captures a product from all angles. They can be used to provide customers with a more immersive and interactive way to view products and can be helpful for products that are difficult to visualize in traditional 2D images. Product rendering stills can be created for products that do not yet exist, or for products that are difficult or impossible to photograph. They can also be created with any level of detail, from simple representations to highly realistic images.
Product Augmented Reality.
Product augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world. It can be used to allow customers to visualize products in their own environment, try on products virtually, or get information about products. Product AR can help to increase customer engagement, improve the customer experience, and reduce returns and exchanges. It is still a relatively new technology, but it is growing in popularity and has the potential to revolutionize the way we shop.
Have you ever seen the Pokemon Go app? Well if not give it a go, this type of CGI can be done with your product! Mobile-ready AR for when you need the transfer of 3D assets or an interactive 3D, mobile viewing experience.
Product Configurators.
This product 3D service, called online product configurators are applications that allow customers to customize products before they purchase them. This can be done by selecting different options, such as the product’s colour, size, or materials. The configurator will then show the customer a preview of the customized product. Online product configurators can help businesses to increase sales, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce costs. They are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a number of benefits to both companies and customers. We have different solutions for this, some using still 3D images and others using live 3D rendering.
XO3D Product Rendering Projects
So Cool.
Check out some of the case studies I have personally worked on at XO3D, demonstrating real world applications for some of the worlds top brands using 3D product rendering and animation in their marketing collateral.
Nanuskate Modular Skate Ramp
for Nanuskate
Visualising 1,000kW EV Charger Technology
for Petalite
Sony WF-C710 launch visuals
for ImageNova
Coffee Roaster 3D Animation & CGI Renders
For Roest
Keyz Titanium 3D animation & CGI renders
for G-Lab
Chocolate Wafer Animation
for Gandour
Yamama Spread Animation
for Gandour
Hand Dryer Animations
for Airdri
Showcasing Ergonomic Mouse Design
for Bluestork
Highlighting New Smart Locker Features
for Bloq.it
Fire Suppression System
for Plumis
Keyz Hydrogen Gaming Keyboard Animation
for G-Lab
Infinity X Electric Scooter Controller
for Flash Motors
Infinity X Off-Road Electric Scooter
for Flash Motors
Stove Cookers
for Glen Dimplex
Compact MD
for Dermalux
Flex Mini
for Dermalux
Flex MD
for Dermalux
Organic Reeds
for D’Addario
Modulite
for Allwood Joinery
Neo Humidifiers
for Duux
Flex 360° Collapsible Suitcase
for Rollink
Noesis Robot Vacuum
For Bpl Marketing
Portable Coffee Machine
for Caffe2go
Squire Locks
for Curious Agency
Coffee Machine
for Smarter AM
Fridge Cam
for Smarter AM
iKettle
for Smarter AM
Dojo Go
for Paymentsense
Product Rendering Testimonials
So amazing.
The team at XO3D were a pleasure to work with on one of our big product launches. They rendered, batched, and saved out literally thousands of images for us. Every single one of these images came out perfect! They also did some 3D animation with us and were very accommodating to any feedback + timeline adjustments. My team will certainly work with XO3D again!
Caitlin, D’Addario Europe
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