The Ultimate Guide to the World of 3D Renderings
When it comes to interior design, you’ll have a collective of design ideas colored to suit the rainbow of your client.
Yet, it can sometimes be difficult to portray the sense of style, individualism and valor you have in mind.
This is where I come in. When you’re discussing design options, layout freedom and creative empowerment, it can be handy to provide tangible interior design visualization through photorealistic rendering.
As opposed to the alternatives of printing out a floor plan or mood board while trying the age-old 'point and describe' method with your clients.
Therefore, I’m here to shed light on what 3D rendering is and how using photorealistic renderings of interior design visualizations should become part of your everyday arsenal as an interior design provider.
With that, here’s all the discussion point’s I’ll be covering today:
An Introduction to Rendering: Your Questions Answered
a. What on Earth is 3D Rendering and Where Did it Come From?
b. What is the Importance of Photorealistic Rendering?
c. What Can Interior Design Visualization Do for You?The Complete List of Benefits to Using Computer Aided Design
Everything You Need in Order to get Started with 3D Rendering
How the Quality of Each Photorealistic Rendering Can Differ
The Most Common Programs of Software Used in Interior Design Visualization
a. AutoCAD
b. SketchUp
c. Chief Architect
d. Lumion
e. 3Ds Max
f. V-Ray
g. BlenderThe Definitive Breakdown of Rendering Service Prices
The Duke Renders Exclusive Process
a. Gather
b. Clay Draft
c. Delivery
As we humans continue to plow through advancements in technology, we can generate photorealistic renderings of anything we put our minds to. While my mind is firmly set on helping you bring creative interior design to life with 100% accuracy, other minds collaborate on bringing the latest dinosaur disaster movie to the big screen or elaborating on the newest prosthetics in the medical industry using similar technology.
So you’re probably wondering how using 3D rendering to generate interior design visualization can be such a crucial part to your branding. And, that’s why I’m here.
1. An Introduction to Rendering:
Your Questions Answered
When it comes to rendering, there is a purpose unique to everyone, yet, some questions remain universal. Such as: understanding what 3D rendering is and what they can offer in terms of top-spec client relations. Without further ado, I’ll begin to answer some of these questions.
a. What on Earth is a 3D Rendering and Where Did it Come From?
In the most basic of explanations: 3D rendering in the interior design world is the act of using computer aided design (CAD) alongside mathematics, floor plans and mood boards in order to transform an image.
In reality, the image will be 2D, because a computer screen is 2D and paper is 2D. Yet, as you will be working with a computerized image, adding keynotes of texture, geometry and lighting techniques mold the image and make it appear 3D. When these additions are finalized; they become a 3D rendering.
For example: with a cushion, you will have a tiny geometric shape such as a square or triangle, then you add more and more until they form a cushion.
Then, if you tell each triangle to show a texture and color slightly darker or lighter than the next, it will begin to look like a light source is hitting the cushion. And, you can effectively trick your eyes into thinking it is seeing something in 3D. Much like shading on paper but much quicker and mathematically sound.
The Utah Teapod
The most famous example of a photorealistic rendering is called the Utah Teapot. In 1975, Utah PHD researcher Martin Newell was experimenting with a new form of CAD.
Throughout this research he developed models to rasterize and transform into a 3D photorealistic image. At first, he was creating plain shapes including the donut and chess pieces but became stuck at the next hurdle when at home with his wife.
When speaking about his dilemma with wife, Sandra, she suggested he design a teapot. So, he did. To this day, it has become a pinnacle for computer aided designers known as the Utah Teapot with many cameo roles in 3D photorealistic rendering images and 3D animation design. For example; Toy Story.
b. What is the Importance of Photorealistic Rendering?
Photorealistic rendering can be a crucial part of a modern world, especially as we reach generations of people who grow-up to base their lives on being able to visualize and see a concept.
When it comes to brand identity, conversion rates and finding new clientele, your website and business needs the support of 3D photorealistic rendering in order to showcase your visionary designs. And, they’ll speed up the process of hard approvals by not allowing the client to question your conceptualization.
As per recent studies on interest and attention of internet users, images speak louder than words. In the US, a webpage with images and videos have an engagement rate 94% higher than those without. And, for good reason too.
For years, research has shown that we as people have magnificent brains that respond better to images than they do to words (no matter whether they’re written or spoken). Plus, there’s the added benefit of creating a more memorable experience for site or shop visitors.
c. What Can Interior Design Visualization Do for You?
In terms of how 3D rendering image conceptualization and computer aided design can uplift your interior design company, it’s a case of taking you out of the pool of being ‘just another designer’.
You’ll be a game changer holding a creative advantage over competitors and turning the heads of both clients and suppliers. There are so many angles. For example: such in depth imagery can benefit your website, employee base, client base and more.
Yet, the key take-away would be maximized profits. With efficient ways to present models of interior and exterior renderings, clients are able to visualize and adopt their new spaces quicker.
While floor plans, hand sketches and 2D layout imagery can be useful in securing business, these outdated methods don’t correlate with an ever-online consumer base throughout the US and worldwide.
A final consideration is to get ahead of the game and begin to incorporate next step 360° panoramic photorealistic rendering. Clients with smart phones and VR headsets can experience their new spaces in a whole new light that immerses them into your world.
While their popularity is growing, it is still not an industry norm and – believe me – it can position you higher above your competition.
2. The Complete
List of Benefits to Using Computer Aided Design
The last thing you need to do as a designer is spend many an evening trying to sketch your ideas down on paper, or simply finding a way for floor plans and mood boards to convey the right message. When, if you start using computer aided design to generate 3D renders, you don’t have to.
You can simply take your evenings to relax in front of the latest Netflix show with your partner and favorite tipple. In the meantime, just one photorealistic rendering has given justice to your vision in the light and fashion you see fit.
There are no more long meetings with clients trying to convince them to envision the perfect Art Deco chaise in the reading corner of the new and improved study: it’s right there in front of them.
I’ve put together a list of all the other benefits your interior design company could reap by directly creating 3D renders through using computer aided design to bring concepts to life:
They bring your vision to fruition
They effectively showcase your abilities
Your clients can truly love their new concept home or office space
It can save you time and money
You will have one less ‘hat’ to wear around the office
There will be more and faster hard approvals from the clients
The clients are made truly aware of the vision their space will transform into
Fewer down-the-line purchases with paint color testing
Your designs will be instantly validated
There’s more creative freedom to focus on your concept evolution
Communication cohesiveness between you and the client in regard to visions
There’s a considerable portfolio of tangible design ideas to demonstrate
You’ll become happier and more confident with presenting designs
Client meetings can become far more efficient with visual references
There’s no need to fret about the client not liking the final room restoration
You’ll be ahead of interior design competition
Having an online portfolio can be great for new client traffic
High quality imagery will help you rank higher in Google
3D photorealistic rendering can help you win competitions (on and offline)
Your office will become a more professional space
Watching your designs come to reality without the stress or hassle of waiting to see the final product after restoration has completed can be an instant weight off the shoulders, believe me. With so many designers and clients clashing on the final day, it can be a source of monetary pressure, time constraints and the possibility of bad reviews that can all be avoided.
For example; have you ever fallen in love with not one but two design concepts and you are not sure which one to go with? You can see both before spending a dime. Take a look at this example:
This problem is completely removed with photorealistic renderings prior to commencement of production. And if you’re able to use a VR headset and take a true look around your world in the 360° panoramic application, even better!
3. Everything You Need in Order to get Started with 3D Rendering
When it comes down to the nitty gritty of it all, your role in 3D interior design visualization really comes from your mind. But, as with most people using computer aided design, there needs to be a base structure and reference to work from.
So, to get started, you’ll need a copy of the floor plan, mood board, elevations, a list of furniture and decorative items, your wish list, any existing images of the space, storage and an idea of the arrangement alongside anything else the client may demand.
Then, you’ll need to think about the types of software you want to use alongside any libraries of pre-rendered spaces and furnishings. However, it’s key to not let good deals and prices sway your opinion on worthy imagery. You don’t want to learn the hard way that price truly reflects the quality of photorealistic rendering in this industry.
For example: As with many industries, the experience and portfolio of the provider will rise alongside costs. And, while it can be tempting to sway in the realm of cheaper rendering service prices of software, you’ll be creating lackluster photorealistic rendering that ticks all the boxes of ‘tacky’ in the interior architecture industry.
Here’s some things you might want to look out for:
Too much scenery that simply distracts the client from the building whether it’s interior or exterior
Too many trees on the top of a skyscraper, especially when said skyscraper isn’t even the topic of the image
Too many stock images plastered over the walls that makes the client wonder how many different families could live in one space
Too much reflection on items you didn’t even know could reflect; can black walls reflect?
Too many irrelevant details; while the Utah Teapot is a classic, who needs to see the array of miss-matched toothbrushes?
Too little atmosphere which, while minimalism is ‘in’, you’re allowed to have more belongings than your Armageddon rucksack
4. How the Quality of Each
Photorealistic Rendering Can Differ
Understanding how your photorealistic rendering can vary is – interestingly – rarely a case of the software used.
These choices are often down to personal preference. However, the quality of your interior design visualization will stem from the type of rendering completed.
The most common, and the most recent form, of rendering is called path tracing. You’ll often find this style of rendering a part of the newest Disney movies with 3Ds Max such as: Star Wars, Up and Toy Story among others. And, this all comes down to the place of the camera, light, texture and refraction.
I understand you’re probably thinking the majority of this segment will go over your head if you don’t have any sort of background in CAD, but it can be a simpler process than you might believe.
In order to get a real grasp for how using a 3D rendering design structure will boost your clientele through high quality imagery, we’ll have to go back to the basics. A computer screen is a flat image: it is 2D. But, there are effects that can be harnessed to create the illusion of true-world imagery.
After gathering all the necessary data and research to construct your client’s interior design visualization, you can begin to build objects using ‘quads’.
Quads are small triangles and squares that build the basis of everything whereby the more quads you use, the more detailed the object will be. And, they equate to the pixels; meaning each quad is given their own color code that changes depending on the light in the space and how it reacts to the texture of the object.
For example; if you had a granite table, it will reflect more natural lighting from the window onto other objects than a dark fabric couch.
These objects are built on the model coordinates of XYZ (across, up and away) and then placed on world coordinates to define their position in the room. Building an object with the properties of being 3D (using the z-axis) allows the computer to calculate how light will react with its size, shape, color, texture and position in the room.
This way, using 3D rendering for room conceptualization doesn’t have to take months of shading every pixel by hand.
Then, it’s a case of creating the ‘camera’. In basic terms, it’s positioning the screen in the way you will see the image through a window. I.e. put the ‘camera’ in front of the kitchen in order to see a face-on view of the countertops. What will your window show you?
In interior design, it’s important to be able to depict the room in its entirety for your client to gain a true perspective and provide the hard approvals you’re looking for.
Finally, the rendering process. To generate photorealistic renderings, there are different methods that have evolved over the years. It began with rasterizing in the 80s where a camera would look to ‘find’ what is visible by projecting from the object to the camera. And, whichever is closest in terms of the z-axis, is what can be seen.
However, path tracing is the newest and most common due to its efficiency. It builds upon previous methods but effectively sends millions of ‘rays’ from the ‘camera’ through the ‘window’ to bounce off objects continuously until it reaches a light source. At every point the ray touches something, it sends a ‘snapshot’ of information back to the camera to tell it what to portray in terms of color.
Ok, maybe it is a little confusing. But, the point remains, as path tracing is a better way to determine the color of a pixel in respect to the light source, other objects around it and its texture, it can provide a much higher quality 3D interior design visualization.
Therefore; quality can differ through the 3D photorealistic visualization company’s choice of render.
5. The Most Common Programs of Software Used in Interior Design Visualization
The industry of photorealistic rendering is not a monopolized culture in any aspect. Meaning there’s a variety of different types of computer aided design software used to produce your interior design visualization
And, they’re pretty much all down to personal preference.
It might interest you to hear the entire process isn’t often done over one piece of software. Many designers who complete visualization and rendering will use two pieces of software: the modelers and the renderers.
Why?
The difference between the two simply comes down to the order of action. While both are part of the CAD world, one of them (such as: SketchUP) is design software allowing you to build the quads, set up the camera and begin to add detail. The other, is the rendering software (such as; Lumion) where the texture and lighting are added to increase photorealistic rendering.
Here’s a few of the most popular modelers and renderers you might come across when using a 3D rendering to uplift your company:
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a fantastic computer aided designing tool that can be used across multiple platforms. And, while it is consistently praised for its 2D capabilities, the software’s efficiency with 3D design can sometimes lack.
In fact, it is one of the most common pieces of design software used throughout colleges to help students get off the ground with CAD systems.
The yearly costs of AutoCAD - $1,690 USD
AutoCAD Rendering
SketchUp Rendering
SketchUp
SketchUp is one of those design software’s that can often make everything seem simpler.
Yet, so are their results. With a design style resembling ‘The One’ it allows each modeler to focus on highlighting specific components. Meaning the finished pieces don’t present so much of a photorealistic rendering.
However, they do offer access to their warehouse of models for free with their subscription, making modeling a far quicker process.
The yearly costs of SketchUp - $1,199 USD
Chief Architect
Chief Architect reflects its pricing structure with its capabilities. Not only is the modeler able to model, they can create professional construction documents to pair with the interior design visualization.
The software features smart design to auto-generate 3D objects while featuring their own model warehouse. However, it has been criticized for its rendering capabilities.
The yearly costs of Chief Architect – $2,995 USD
Chief Architect Rendering
Lumion Rendering
Lumion
Free for students, the Lumion interface has been praised for its ease of use, yet this can sometimes result in game-like renderings rather than photorealistic rendering.
However, it does contain automatic file recovery in the case of power outages or computers crashing; large files can be picked up at the last autosave.
The yearly costs of Lumion - $4,276.45 USD
3Ds Max (my favorite because it’s the one we use!)
A software offering both powerful model creation and effective rendering capabilities, it is a workhorse for designers. One of the best features includes being able to render previews while in operation, making the need for changes seamless.
However, as no one piece of software can be the perfect fit for everyone, there have been reviews stating difficulty with the interface as it has so many bells and whistles. With this, it has a notable learning curve where it can take 6-months to a year to master.
The yearly costs of 3Ds Max - $1,650 USD
3DsMax Rendering - one of ours!
3Ds Max Rendering - another one from us
More from us!
V-Ray
This package is designed to be used in conjunction with other modeling software such as 3Ds Max or SketchUp. And, its biggest feature is the ability to render in real-time with specific light techniques for exterior and interior design visualization.
It can be a large time-saver for those needing exposure during the day or night with light fixtures and can help to generate the ultimate photorealistic renderings.
The yearly costs of V-Ray - $1180 USD
Blender
Another package commonly seen scattered throughout colleges and universities across the world, Blender has implemented training and videos within their software to build experience.
For interior design visualization, it is a great platform with an Archimesh add-on that can help with simplistic design.
However, with all the buttons, it can still be a very difficult piece of software to master.
The yearly costs of Blender – Free
Blender Rendering
Maya Rendering
Maya
Maya is a recognized tool when looking to 3D render an object, especially when it comes to the likes of characters and effects.
And, while it is still an effective tool for creative textured photorealistic renderings and interior design visualization, you also need to have rendering software called Arnold in order to rasterize and finalize.
The yearly costs of Maya - $1,620 USD
6. The Definitive Breakdown of Rendering Service Prices
When it comes to finding the best options for 3D photorealistic rendering through computer aided design, it’s always important to understand the likely pricing you’ll run into.
You might be thinking about cost, time, manpower, plus all of the software I’ve just mentioned and how that can impact your experience using 3D rendering.
As we’ve already mentioned, there is modeling software and rendering software that need to be installed and accessible by the team, often meaning multiple licenses and plans.
Then, there’s having access to modeling warehouses. As mentioned, a couple of pieces of software have their own rendered objects, meaning they might have a kitchen cupboard or a lamp, but it won’t equate to your entire vision as an interior architect.
Plus, these can sometimes be limiting and seeing the same three lamps in a range of interior design visualization renders might be tiresome. Something border-lining on the whole ‘tacky’ thing I mentioned earlier.
As a ball-park figure, each piece of furniture begins at $5 USD depending on the size, style and the library it’s excavated from.
Otherwise, it could add weeks simply to create unique and tailor-made objects for your visualization. Of course, this would cause a detriment to any time constraints you may have with a client.
And, that’s all after you’ve chosen the equipment and hardware capable of running the software. You may need a new desktop which could bring your total up another $3000. Especially in the case of finding the equipment with the powerful graphics card you need.
So, there’s probably more to 3D rendering than initially thought, right? But, it’s not all doom and gloom.
This only include some of the basic software on a yearly basis and a starter workstation. Also, is not taking into account he steep learning curve to master each software in terms of hours.
Workstation: $2,499
AutoCAD: $1,690 yearly
SketchUp: $1,199 yearly
3Ds Max: $1,650 yearly
VRay Plugin : $1,180 yearly
TOTAL: $8,218 for the first year!
But there’s good news, there is a better way…
7. The Duke
Renders Process
Finally, we’re at the most fun part of this article. The part where I get to tell you that Duke Renders are architectural storytellers with the sole purpose of bringing your interior design visualization to life through 3D photorealistic renderings.
And, it couldn’t be easier to get in touch and see the beautiful results. In fact, we only have three steps and a fixed pricing structure.
Here is a quick 3 minute video of the whole process…
NEXT STEPS…
Thank you for reading our guide. We are certain that 3D renderings will be a game changer for your design process, giving you confident and faster approvals so:
We Want To Offer You a FREE Strategy Session To Plan Your Next Project
CLICK HERE To Get Started!
In it we’ll show you exactly how to:
Instantly bring your vision to life
Show your designs with more confidence
Inspire your clients immediately
Have more efficient meetings
