Has someone ever transformed your idea into a picture just the way you imagined it in your head, or even better? Whether it’s architecture, interior design, commercials, or movies, 3D modeling and rendering are the most efficient presentation tools.

Each project tells its own story, and it’s up to the 3D artist’s skills to convey the client’s personality through the story and present the most realistic image.

When we talk about a perfect visualization of a project, it’s essential to understand that the point is not to be perfect but to be the most realistic possible. Getting to know your client and their needs is mandatory, and only through proper communication, a designer can deliver a great visualization.

Why is 3D rendering the greatest project management tool?

The design standards are increasing every moment as the client’s ideas become more complex. To understand the project better and represent it truthfully, you’ll need architectural visualization, as it’s an excellent tool for simulating spaces, rooms, atmospheres, and daily life.

Today, we have fantastic technology that allows us to visualize projects in so many different ways, and there are so many great platforms offering 3D rendering services.

Being a great 3D visualizer implies constantly improving knowledge and understanding all the elements and aspects of rendering. In response to growing trends and market demands, artists are developing new techniques and offering innovative ideas.

When it comes to projects, visualization is used in various kinds of development processes and presentations like:

• Interior and exterior 3D visualization,
• 3D animation,
• Virtual tours,
• Panoramas and much more.

The goal isn’t just to create an image that meets all standards and is technically correct. The visualization must strike the imagination and all the senses.

When creating a compelling 3D picture or animation, there are a lot of aspects that you need to perfect. We single out the critical elements in 3D rendering that must be improved and perfected to create a visualization that will delight the client.

Overall atmosphere

Depending on what is represented in the picture, we must consider the image’s spatial atmosphere and mood. That’s the first thing that comes across in the picture. Does the space seem spacious or cramped, does it give a feeling of comfort and coziness, or are minimalism and a cooler atmosphere more prevalent?

Some elements are used to enhance and better represent a particular atmosphere. If we want to evoke a homey feeling, we will add neutral colors, home elements, and decor that awakens that “I-am-home” sensation.

The focus is on using the proper colors, color curves, balance, and blooming. The increasing vividness of particular colors, warming them up, or increasing lighter colors in darker areas, are all the movements that affect the atmosphere. For example, the blurring process will eliminate the hard edges, blur sharp elements in the image and make the light look softer.

Shadows and lighting

To present a realistic image, 3D artists must understand natural light and shadows. At different times of the day and year, natural light will fall on objects at different angles, casting shadows of different lengths and aimed in various directions. It’s important to understand the movement and play of light with the changing time of day and the position of the sun.

Experimenting with different lighting setups can help you set up the most realistic scene. Today, we can easily simulate various atmospheres and light that changes during the day. Whether we will focus on soft light during sunset or strong morning light, it all depends on the project process and the client’s personality.

For example, if the client is a morning person, the artist should simulate morning lighting and shadows on objects to really paint a picture of day-to-day life in this space.

Angles of cameras

The main difference between 2D and 3D is in the depth of the image – 3D gives a feeling of full depth, and 2D simply can’t show that. That’s why the perspective offered by 3D is far more realistic.

There is a big difference when viewed from above or below, and with renders, the most common view is from a human perspective, i.e., at eye level. Such a view is realistic because it is closest to the natural position of our eyes. It’s more realistic for people to look at a space like that, as they can connect with the image more readily and get a feel for the dimensions of the room.

The 3D artist must manipulate the image by finding the most appropriate camera position to capture as much detail as possible. Depending on the project, a horizontal perspective is generally used more due to the wider angle. For example, when presenting a corridor, a vertical display will be used to show the length of the corridor.

Importance of scale and proportion

Together with the camera angles, these two artistic principles must go together.

Scale relates to the actual size of a particular object in relation to other objects. Depending on the project and impact that the artist wants to achieve with other objects, some of them can be presented in natural sizes and as miniatures or oversized. The scale also describes the size of the object concerning the human figure. For example, furniture is designed according to human dimensions.

Proportion is the understanding of the size of certain design elements on one object – these elements include size, shape, texture, and color.

Proportion refers to the relationship between different parts of a whole. The symbiosis of this element helps the viewer get a better understanding of a particular space or artwork. The artist can manipulate the image by presenting the object larger than it is in reality to accentuate the main concepts of his work.

There is a big difference when you look at a picture up close or from afar. The way a visitor would perceive a room while walking around it and getting close up to the main features and objects is the perspective we need to present to the viewer.

Materials used

Knowledge of the materials involved is one of the most critical skills in 3D rendering. Thanks to innovative programs, artists have access to libraries that contain millions of different materials. The most significant benefit is knowing how natural materials behave under different conditions so that the artist can determine which material to use for which projects.

One must know which wood is suitable for which pieces of furniture, which metals behave in certain environments, how they change over time, how durable and firm or soft they are. The types of materials should be taken into account and their characteristics when they come into contact with external factors.

The most fun part about 3D artists is that if some material doesn’t exist in the database, there are programs for creating new ones. Shortly, the process will follow these steps: giving the name of the material, inserting one or more textures to avoid recurrence, adjusting the sharpness, color, brightness, and contrast to the desired intensity and turbidity of reflection.

Texture quality

For credible renderings, which should convince your client that your project is what he needs, you will need very high-quality textures! Just as there are material libraries, 3D rendering programs also contain high-resolution textures that can turn your 3D scenes into super realistic renderings.

Concrete, wood, metal, stone, brick, all these materials have specific textures that make the render look like in the real world. Textures consist of cracks, scratches, grooves, bulges, or dents. Based on these elements, the viewer concludes whether the surface is flat, shiny, or rough.

Imagine looking at a picture of a room with a fireplace, where you can see pieces of wood burning in a low fire. In front of the fireplace is a large comfortable armchair made of puffy material. You feel the texture of the wood under your fingers, and you can easily imagine yourself sitting in that armchair and enjoying a good book.

By understanding the nature of the textures, artists get a better chance of presenting them more realistically in the virtual world.

Vegetation and nearby objects

Great emphasis is placed on decoration and vegetation when furnishing your homes, rooms, yards, shops, and various facilities. Most people will probably agree that just one plant can often change the whole concept of space. As a final touch in the visualization of the project, the designers can’t wait to add plants and greenery to the space.

However, choosing such details is not at all simple. The type of greenery largely depends on the client’s personality, the facility’s location, the type of land, the climate, and the concept itself.

Maybe the client prefers flowers more than trees or grassy areas more than shrubs, or if the object is located at the specific land, the render should show vegetation suitable for such land. You must consider the proportion and natural size of trees and plants, which can be tricky when inserted into the render.

The same goes for decorative elements and other objects in the environment. The space should contain everything that makes the client feel good and with which he can identify. The perfect render should show the harmony of living.

Adding people

What is more realistic in an image than seeing real people living in a house or moving around a building? When we see silhouettes of people or, better yet, realistic animations, we immediately connect with the space and the energy in the picture.

It’s essential to search libraries correctly and insert realistic and proportionate people. You should take the style and concept of the image into account for all the elements to fit. Seeing people in certain activities and groups evokes specific feelings and helps people genuinely connect with the primary goals behind the project.

Also, the visualizer should keep in mind the type of object and for whom it is intended. For example, suppose an artist creates a render of residential buildings. In that case, they will put families with children all around the area and depict a carefree atmosphere by showing children playing on playgrounds.

If the client has a family, the 3D artist can add a couple with children to the rendering of the space. Having as many people as possible in different daily activities is a good idea if you want to present parks and residential buildings in their full glory.

Sky and reflections

The sky plays a significant role in rendering, especially in the exterior. Each object gets a different reflection depending on the position of the sun. It means that the artist must understand how natural reflections are created to convey this precisely in the render.

When we talk about reflection on materials such as glass, the client must understand through the image how much that glass reflects light and whether it absorbs or reduces it. When presenting light-absorbing glass, the render must contain two images: one from the outside and the other with a reduced amount of light inside.

Conclusion

3D rendering as an industry offers so many possibilities, so artists have to improve their skills constantly. The market is continually changing and enriched with new programs and innovative tools. How trends in architectural design are changing, 3D platforms have to follow it because these two spheres can’t function separately.

The rendering process plays a crucial role in the project development cycle. As it is already used in many industries, with today’s speed of technological achievements, it’s only a matter of time before 3D renders, which have become a standard at this point, give way to even more engaging presentations like VR walkthroughs. Artists must keep up with the times and technological advances to stand out and offer the most innovative approaches.