3D Product Animation

According to recent statistics, 68% of customers prefer to learn about new goods by watching a short video or 3D product animation. That leads to business owners investing in video content even more in the future.   

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that shooting a real video is quite expensive and effort-consuming — you have to hire a director, writers, a filming crew, rent a studio, build a set… the list goes on and on! In turn, product 3D animation doesn’t require a large team and building actual sets though it looks no less realistic than the real thing if done by CGI professionals. 

But how to start a collaboration with animators and make sure it goes smoothly if you have never used 3D rendering services before? Leading CG studios always provide their clients with convenient tools so they can participate in the project even remotely and effectively communicate with 3D artists. Just take a look at how our 3D rendering company manages the workflow process and makes it an easy and hassle-free experience for our clients.

#1. Submitting a 3D Product Animation Brief

First, we need to know what are the main features of the product that the client wants us to highlight in 3D animation. The brief also includes a script or storyboard, video references as well as notes on visual effects. And, of course, the clients should mention the required resolution and, most importantly, the deadline.

If the client doesn’t have a script and storyboard for 3D product animation, our CG artists can create it from scratch. We send our ideas to the manufacturer or retailer for approval and start working on the project once we get a “yes”. The whole process of writing a script may take 2 or 3 business days and will cost $160.

#2. Approving a Product 3D Model for Animation

Upon receiving the brief, CG artists start creating a 3D model of the product for animation — it should be accurate, lightweight, and as realistic as possible. To make sure we got everything right, our managers send a clay/grayscale 3D model to the clients i.e. with no textures or materials applied. And only after we get their approval of geometry and dimensions, we proceed to the next stage.

#3. Checking a 3D Scene and Camera Path

Our CG specialists build a scene and fill it with 3D models in grayscale, surrounding the main product. Next, the animators design a camera path and the movements of all the objects in the scene. They make a preview video of the intermediate result using Grab Viewport (GVP) in 3ds Max and send it to the clients for approval. If they wish for some changes, the artists make them and show another GVP until the preview will be fully approved. 

#4. Approving Materials and Textures

After getting feedback on the scene and camera path, 3D modeling artists start working on setting realistic lighting and applying textures and materials to all 3D models. The CG team needs confirmation that the product looks just like in real life. So the client has to carefully check if all the textures, materials, and colors are exactly what they need. Therefore, we render several most essential frames of the video and send these pics to the clients for approval.

#5. Getting the Final Version of 3D Product Animation

Now all that’s left to do is to make minor adjustments to all the mentioned aspects of 3D product animation before the final rendering takes place. Please, check the renders a few times before approving the results or ask for more rendered sequences if you’re unsure because this is the last stage when the clients can make corrections.

CG specialists start the final rendering process in FullHD 1920 x 1080 resolution. It takes 5 to 10 days via a render farm depending on the length of the 3D product animation. And voila — the photorealistic CG video is ready. It’s important to note that all the corrections after the rendering process will be considered a new task and charged separately. 

Examine case-studies of CGI projects to see real examples of using 3D technology for marketing purposes.

See our case studies

By choosing our 3D company for product 3D animation, you get control over all the stages of the workflow process. Our CRM is easy to navigate so you can make corrections and comment on the progress after every update up until the final rendering. Moreover, we have a powerful render farm that accelerates the final stages of the project even more. 

Now, if you’re ready to try 3D animation for your products, contact us asap. Using our 3D animation services, you will get photoreal 3D product animation for effective marketing campaigns in no time! 

Max Kharchenko

Senior Account Manager

An ultimate problem-solver and skilled negotiator, Max provides first-class advice to clients. He is an extrovert, a dog person, and a sheer pleasure to talk to. In his spare time, Max enjoys playing basketball and watching Netflix.