As a 3D artist, you have endless employment opportunities. With the technology behind 3D visualizations advancing, more and more industries are starting to see the value in hiring specialized artists – from the real estate industry to the entertainment, marketing, and even healthcare industries, to name but a few. Hence, it’s not surprising that the projected career growth rate for 3D artists stands at least 4% through 2029.

However, if you don’t want to be tied to a single employer or a single industry as a whole, you might want to consider offering 3D rendering services as a freelancer.

It’s a great way to gain experience, grow your network, and earn a pretty penny for your efforts.

Take a look at just some of the main reasons why a freelancing career as a 3D artist might be the right choice for you.

There’s a growing need for outsourcing 3D rendering

Although many companies rely on the skills of a 3D artist, not all of them can offer full-time positions. With an in-house 3D artist, they’d need to cover the full salary and employee benefits, additional office expenses, and more taxes.

They’d need to provide the infrastructure for 3D rendering and invest in expensive software solutions. Not to mention that they’d need to find an artist with the skills and knowledge to create different 3D renders depending on the task at hand.

While larger corporations tend to have the budget for an in-house 3D artist or two, small business owners tend to have limited resources. Hence, they prefer to outsource their 3D rendering needs. It gives them more flexibility and enables them to find artists who won’t put such a significant dent in their monthly budget.

Many people need rendering services on occasion

Of course, it’s not only companies that require 3D rendering services. Many individuals frequently request 3D visualizations for their one-of-a-kind projects – small and large home remodels alike, 3D printing ideas, and even fun presents for their loved ones.

If you want to take on some genuinely unique design projects, working with individuals in need of 3D rendering services can be a highly rewarding experience.

More and more industries are adopting rendering

3D rendering is an essential service in businesses across niches. Some of the most prevalent industries that use 3D rendering include:

The entertainment industry

Virtually any company in the entertainment industry needs a 3D artist. No video game or mobile app can be created without one. All your favorite modern live-action and animated movies wouldn’t look nearly as immersive without high-quality 3D renders. Music videos, TV shows, educational films, eSports, and VR games; all of them need 3D artists to attract audiences and deliver breath-taking experiences;

Architecture

Virtually every architect needs to collaborate with 3D artists on their projects. Architectural visualizations allow architects to bring their projects to life and offer a 360° view of a building before the design has even been approved for construction. 3D renderings enable architects to communicate clearly with their clients before settling on the design, minimize errors, optimize workflows, and more;

The manufacturing industry

The manufacturing industry wouldn’t be nearly as productive as it is today without the help of 3D artists. Any product imaginable – whether it’s children’s toys, car parts, fashion accessories, kitchen cupboards, medical prosthetics, or anything in between – first goes through the hands of a designer. The most efficient way they can present their designs for approval is by creating 3D renderings and highlighting the product’s features digitally;

The healthcare industry

Even the healthcare industry relies heavily on 3D rendering services. 3D renders can be used as educational tools for doctors and medical professionals-to-be. They can be used for mapping anatomy, practicing complicated surgical procedures, aiding diagnosis, and more.

Marketing includes lots of visuals

Needless to say, those in marketing frequently request 3D rendering services. Virtually any commercial you see – on TV, online, in the newspapers, and even on billboards – was created with the help of 3D rendering.

3D artists can create photorealistic designs that enable marketers to present their products in the best light possible. You can create seamless 360° views of a pair of shoes for your client’s product page, for instance, or have them change colors in a single click. You can create visually mesmerizing ads and immersive commercials that make the impossible seem possible. The options are endless.

It’s convenient

It goes without saying that working as a 3D rendering freelancer offers unprecedented convenience. You wouldn’t have to be stuck in a 9-5 office job, doing the same repetitive tasks day in and day out. You can work from home, spend your days creating impressive renders from your favorite coffee shop, or travel the world with your laptop and still do your job.

You aren’t bound by contracts or locations. You have the freedom to work in any way you see fit.

Choose your own projects

If you’ve ever worked as an in-house 3D artist, you’ve likely grown tired of the types of projects you received. Most commonly, it’s the same thing over and over again. You have no say in what designs you create, and you can never choose your projects.

However, as a 3D rendering freelancer, you have the freedom to work on things you are passionate about. If you don’t like a project, you don’t have to accept it. If you prefer to work with architectural renderings rather than with project designs, you can seek out exactly the types of clients you want.

The greatest benefit of this is that it allows you to test your skills with unique projects and gain valuable experience.

Organize your time

Finally, you have the freedom to organize your time in a way that suits you best as a freelancer. If you prefer to stick to the traditional 9-5, you can easily go for it. If you’re more of a nightbird and feel more productive during the late-night hours, you can choose to work later.

You can take a break, get sick leave, or go on a holiday whenever you feel like it. As long as you respect the agreements and deadlines made with your clients, you can organize your work hours to better suit your lifestyle.

Conclusion

Although working as a 3D rendering freelancer can seem frightening at first, it offers wonderful benefits. You can expand your portfolio with unique projects, work at a pace that suits you, and create a working environment that keeps you motivated and productive.