How to Choose a Product CGI Company

Launching new products and starting marketing campaigns implies large-scale rendering as furniture brands need lots of images. The problem is that not every CG company has enough in-house 3D artists to manage a big pile of work. Therefore, furniture manufacturers and retailers have to hire different outsource studios for 3D modeling and rendering.

However, collaborating with multiple CG providers causes communication confusion about each party’s responsibilities, file exchange, and deadlines. Due to possible misunderstandings and delays, furniture brands put their promo and marketing campaigns at a big risk. The solution lies in hiring one CG studio that has enough resources and expertise to manage intense workflow.

But how to find a reliable and versatile 3D rendering company for your large-scale project? Use these 8 surefire tips to pick a multi-disciplinary CG contractor!

#1. Opt for a CGI Studio that Has a Large Team of Specialists

A large-scale rendering project can’t be done by a small group of enthusiasts. A CG studio needs client managers to communicate with customers, project managers and mentors to manage a team of CG artists that work on 3D modeling and rendering. That’s why professional CG companies hunt the best specialists and invest time and money in their training.

It takes years to create a team of CG experts but that’s the only way a CG studio can get certified in-house specialists of various profiles. In CGIFurniture, we have more than 100 in-house artists and can regroup them for large-scale and urgent projects. This way, we can deliver 3D renderings of any complexity within the fixed term. We even give an on-time guarantee, so with a failed deadline, our clients get renders for free.

#2. Make Sure the CG Artists are Well-Equipped 

A CGI company that constantly works with large-scale product CGI projects, provides its 3D artists with the best software and hardware. On top of that, they use additional CG tools that optimize the workflow. Let’s take a look at the two most important ones.

In-House Render Farm

A render farm is a cluster of computers united for large-scale 3D rendering. They could be cloud-based or in-house. Reputable CG companies don’t use online render farms because of long queues. CGIFurniture has an in-house render farm that allows our CG artists to accelerate the 3D rendering process and make a large amount of CG images in time.

Extenstive 3D Library

To accelerate workflow, forward-thinking CG studios utilize extensive 3D libraries filled with high-quality assets, including both low-poly and high-poly models. For example, our collection features 6,000 scenes and over 60,000 prop models in a variety of styles. Clients have direct access to our 3D library, allowing them to select any furniture or decor piece they need for their lifestyle 3D renderings.

#3. Check a CGI Portfolio for Quality and Consistency

Whether it’s a product rendering on a monochrome background or a lifestyle image with varied scenes and lighting schemes, maintaining a consistent style and mood is essential for a cohesive product catalog. However, with large-scale rendering projects, brand managers often overlook this aspect, resulting in a collection of images that appear mismatched and can confuse buyers.

The key difference between a professional and an amateur CG artist lies in the ability to uphold a unified visual identity across all renderings. A skilled CG team carefully reviews the client’s requirements and mood boards before beginning the 3D modeling and rendering process. Under the guidance of a mentor and project manager, every visual is crafted to meet high-quality standards, ensuring that the final images maintain a consistent style, mood, and level of excellence.

#4. Make Inquiries on Which CGI Services They Provide for All-In-One Solution

A multi-disciplinary 3D visualization studio must provide all the CG solutions needed for a large-scale rendering case. Otherwise, brand marketers will have to distribute the tasks between several outsource CGI studios which leads to chaotic communication and failed deadlines.

At CGIFurniture, our diverse team allows us to offer a complete range of CG services, delivering everything needed for high-quality visual content. Our expertise includes 3D models for rendering and AR, silo renderings, lifestyle images, wireframe and millwork 2D drawings, 3D product configurators, 3D animations, 360-degree spins, and more. Whatever the project, we provide seamless solutions to bring your vision to life.

#5. Ask a Client Manager about Project Communication Tools They Use

A large-scale rendering process demands flexibility and effective communication, which is often a stumbling block for most outsourcing CG studios. In turn, client-oriented companies don’t rely on chaotic messengers where materials and edits can be easily lost. They adhere to strict discipline and a well-established ongoing communication procedure. For example, CGIFurniture has two main communication tools.

CGI CRM

Our CGI CRM platform is called Archivizer and every client gets access to their personal account. This is where they can communicate directly with a CG team, send them files, and make adjustments. Moreover, Archivizer also safely stores the adjustments history, all files, and invoices, and guarantees data security.

Personal Communication

Before starting a project, we arrange a general video conference where we introduce the team and discuss a brief and project implementation strategy. We also schedule milestones and the final deadline. During the large-scale rendering process, we often have video calls with screen sharing to clarify some aspects. After the work is done, we can call a client to recap things and find out what we need to improve to adjust the workflow.

#6. Pick a CG Company that Uses a Scope of Work Template

Scope of Work Template or SOW is an application form that clients fill out for a CGI studio. It defines the work that has to be done and includes all the data 3D artists need to know. By filling out the SOW form, clients can eliminate additional questions and calls, hence, saving their own time and money.

In CGIFurniture, we have a ready SOW template on our website, so clients can fill it out right there or download it as a PDF. Our SOW contains all the data on what 3D artists need for a project. Once our project managers receive the filled brief, they approve it and distribute the tasks between CG specialists. This way, a large-scale rendering process goes fast and smoothly from the very start.

#7. Ask How They Store all Materials on Large-Scale Rendering Projects

File storage is an important issue, especially when it comes to large-scale rendering cases. Such projects contain lots of assets and data so storing them in online cloud systems can cost a fortune.

In the best-case scenario, a CG company must provide universal and user-friendly file storage. For instance, we keep all the files in our CGI CRM. Every client has access to “My Library” where they can find every single 3D model, scene, or material sample used in their renderings. With this storage solution, they don’t have to worry about buying cloud storage. Moreover, if a 3D model or scene becomes outdated format-wise, we update it with no sweat.

#8. Give Preference to CG Studios that Know How to Optimize the Visuals for Your Website

When selecting a CG studio, it’s essential to choose one that understands how to optimize visuals for your website. High-quality 3D renderings and animations should not only look stunning but also be web-friendly, ensuring fast loading speeds and smooth performance across all devices. Poorly optimized visuals can slow down your website, negatively impacting user experience and even SEO rankings.

A professional CG studio will tailor images to your platform’s requirements, balancing resolution and file size without compromising quality. They will also consider factors like background transparency, lighting consistency, and responsiveness to different screen sizes. By working with experts who prioritize optimization, you ensure that your visuals enhance your website’s aesthetics while keeping it functional and efficient.

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

See our case studies

Before entrusting large-scale rendering projects to an outsourced CG contractor, it’s crucial to ensure they can handle high-volume work. This means they should have a large team of skilled CG specialists equipped with the latest software and hardware, access to extensive 3D libraries, and an in-house render farm for efficient processing. Additionally, seamless project execution requires well-established communication tools and secure storage solutions to ensure smooth collaboration and file management.

At CGIFurniture, we have the expertise and infrastructure to manage complex rendering projects effectively. Our commitment to quality and efficiency has earned the trust of industry leaders such as Bisley, DHP Furniture, Hilti Furniture, Dorel Living, and Urban Ironcraft—who not only rely on us for their visualization needs but also return with new projects time and time again.

Ready to outsource your large-scale rendering project to make workflow more effective? Contact our managers for 3D rendering services right now, and get top-notch realistic CGI made by a professional CG team within deadlines!

Irene Lewis

Content Writer

Irene is a content writer. She previously worked for interior and chess magazines. When not writing articles, Irene finds great pleasure in collecting Star Trek memorabilia, reading Medieval poetry and playing banjo.