3D product visualization has become popular with many industries as it helps them develop and present their products. Moreover, advancements like 3D printing, AR, and VR make it easier for them to save time and money and improve customer satisfaction.

If you are curious about this process and wonder if it is right for your business, you’re in luck! This article will take you through the concept to help you understand if your business can benefit from it.

Now, let’s get to it!

What is 3D product visualization?

3D product visualization is the process of creating three-dimensional models of products. This process uses 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering to create stunning visual product representations. The goal is to help viewers visualize a product in a way that text descriptions and images can’t.

There are different ways to present product visuals. Some are VR-based product showcases, AR-based product showcases, photorealistic images, animations, and 3D product configurators. This process can help businesses and customers in many ways. Some of their benefits are as follows:

  • Gives superior product presentations.
  • Allows customers to “try” before buying the item.
  • Boosts sales by making products more engaging.
  • Reduces return rates as customers can accurately visualize the item before purchase.
  • Improves communication between teams.
  • Allows for easy customization.
  • Boosts creativity as designers can experiment with different design possibilities.
  • Allows businesses to explore new product ideas without wasting time and money.

Now that we understand what 3D product visualization is, let’s see which industries benefit from this technique.

Which industries benefit from it?

  • Manufacturing and product design

    Manufacturers and engineers often deal with complicated components. It is not easy to communicate the requirements through drawings and product images alone. 3D product visualization helps them create detailed product models that anyone can understand. These digital models can be customized and tested for design options and features.

    Manufacturers also use this technique to create virtual prototypes that can be tested in simulations. They then analyze the data to identify and fix potential flaws and dangers in the design. In this way, they can test to see if the product meets international safety and quality standards. Virtual prototypes help manufacturers save time and money as they don’t need to make physical ones to test in real life.

  • Architecture, interior design, and construction

    Professionals in this industry use this technique to create detailed and accurate visuals of their designs. Realistic props help highlight the exteriors and interiors in a way that makes it easy to understand complicated site maps. Some companies use 3D walkthroughs to help clients visualize the layout, designs, lighting, and other parts of a project. It becomes easier for clients to identify issues or make changes to suit their style and taste before construction begins.

    Rendered images and videos from this process also help companies promote their projects. These photorealistic visuals help construction companies attract customers and investors before construction begins.

  • Entertainment

    3D visualization has been a great boon for various sectors of the entertainment industry, which rely on visuals to impress viewers.

  • Gaming

    Thanks to technological advancements, the gaming industry has grown by leaps and bounds. While there were many games at the time, Atari’s Pong was the one that helped kickstart the video game industry upon its release in 1972. It was the first commercially successful arcade game. Pong is a simple arcade table-tennis game with two rectangles for bats, one square for a ball, and a dotted line for a net. Games like Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and others followed. Since then, gaming companies and artists have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible with technology.

    Artists use 3D visualization to create hyper realistic games with detailed characters and scenes. With the emergence of AR and VR technology, gaming companies can create more realistic and immersive games for customers to enjoy.

  • Cinema and TV

    In cinema and TV, this technique is used to create set pieces, character designs, vehicles, imaginary creatures, and more. Some directors and producers use computer-generated elements to create imaginary creatures and worlds, perform dangerous tasks, or enhance the viewing experience.

    An excellent example of a movie using 3D elements would be James Cameron’s Avatar (2009). Here, 3D imagery and advanced stereoscopic filming methods were used to create alien worlds, aliens, and weaponry. This movie was so revolutionary that it is still widely considered the best 3D movie ever.

    A bonus of this technology is that it helps filmmakers create realistic scenes and environments that would be very expensive to do in real life.

  • Public attractions

    Theme parks have been integrating new visual technologies to captivate customers for a long time. Thanks to 3D, AR, and VR technology, they can keep developing unique ways to enhance the customer experience and make them return for more.

    Disney’s theme parks, for example, are famous for using cutting-edge entertainment methods. They stop at nothing to make their customers feel like they have entered another world. One of their attractions that uses 3D technology is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It is a ground-breaking, trackless dark ride that takes audiences through scenes from various Disney shorts.

    Museums, on the other hand, have struggled to get customers through the front door. Their biggest competition is no other museums, but other sources of entertainment like Netflix and Candy Crush. But with cutting-edge visual technology, they are enhancing the customer experience and generating interest.

    Museums have digital models and interactive displays to keep customers engaged during their visit. Some general ways museums use this technology are:

    • Using interactive 3D floor plans to help visitors navigate the museum.
    • Using interactive displays to help visitors learn about the exhibits.

    A brilliant example of how this technology is used in museums is the Paris Louvre’s Mona Lisa: Beyond the Glass. It is a VR experience that helps visitors explore and experience Renaissance paintings.

    Video Credit: HTC VIVE

  • Retail and eCommerce

    3D product visualization services help retailers and online stores, mainly when it comes to marketing. In eCommerce, 3D product visualization is used to give customers a 360-degree view, so they get a better idea of a product.

    You can use 3D modeling to create a three-dimensional concept of your merchandise for interactive product visualization. Combined with AR and VR technology, it helps customers understand the product’s features, quality, and fit. It allows them to “try” a product before buying it.

    Prime examples of this are Amazon and IKEA. These eCommerce giants have apps that allow customers to get a 360-degree view of products and place them in their rooms to see how they look.

    When customers can easily buy the right product, retailers reduce costs and time. It has the added benefit of boosting customer engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty, leading to higher sales.

  • Fashion, apparel, and jewelry

    Easy customization, faster production, and lower costs and return rates are essential for this industry. 3D visualization makes all this possible. Using this technique, designers can easily create and customize clothing, jewelry, and accessories. They can be as creative as possible with styles and materials.

    This technique also helps manufacturers identify mistakes before sending the designs for production. It helps improve product quality, reduce wastage of materials, and lower return rates.

    Visualization tools like 3D product configurators allow customers to personalize the products. An excellent example of this is Nike by You, a tool where customers can personalize their Nike shoes. Similarly, Japanese fashion brand Kashiyama allows customers to personalize suits before purchasing.

    Visualization also aids marketing efforts, as products can be displayed in stunning visuals. Customers can also interact with the apparel and get all the necessary information before they buy it.

  • Medical devices and life sciences

    3D product visualization has been a great boon to the healthcare industry. Combined with MRIs, and CT scans, this technique makes designing and developing medical devices that can save lives easier. Body scans can be converted into 3D models, which can then be used to create custom prosthetics for human and animal patients. It is a great step forward for amputees and those born with improperly formed limbs.

    Manufacturers in the healthcare industry can also use this technique to design and develop new medical devices.

Summing up…

As you have seen in this article, there are several benefits to using 3D product visualizations in your business. This is especially true if your business is in the manufacturing, retail, eCommerce, fashion, or entertainment industries.

We hope this article has been a great learning experience for you. If you want to adopt this technology to further your business goals, you can always outsource your needs to 3D service providers. With 3D, your future will be bright! Good luck!

Christa Elrod linkedinDribbbleBehance

Christa Elrod serves as a senior graphic designer at ProGlobalBusinessSolutions. She is a creative designer with robust skills in typography, UI/UX designs, printing designs, video post-production, and 3D designs. Possessing years of experience across diverse industries, Christa loves to educate fellow designers with her experience and domain knowledge.