Rendering Your Products in 3D vs 2D Static Images

Gone are the days of relying solely on 2D product photos to showcase your catalogue. Rendering your products in 3D for real-time viewing has immense advantages over static 2D imagery, and this goes for almost any industry or product type.

With today’s 3D modelling software and computing power, creating hyper-realistic and interactive renderings are now within reach for businesses of any size. In other words, you’ve got no real excuse. These 3D-rendered models can be viewed by your customer in real-time, from any angle, and can even be configured.

Interested? Well, you’re in luck, in this article we’re going to give you everything you need to know about 3D rendering for products and how they benefit both you (the business) and your customers. Keep reading to learn more.

What are 3D-rendered product models?

3D-rendered product models are essentially digital versions of your products, we like to call them digital twins. Models are used for visualisation purposes in product design, marketing, sales, or anything you could need them for.

To create a 3D-rendered model, the physical product first needs to be created digitally. 3D models will carry the same specification as their physical counterparts, including geometry, dimensions, textures, and materials. We then use software and algorithms to apply lighting, shadows, and environmental reflections to the 3D model to make it look like the real thing.

The fully rendered 3D models can then be used to generate 2D renderings, animations, interactive models, and even augmented reality (AR) experiences. At REYDAR, we create 3D-rendered product models to be used in 3D and AR viewers. Check out the example below, and freely explore the product before pinging it into your own space by tapping the AR button:

3D rendered products vs 2D static imagery

Well, aside from the obvious fact that one is 2D and one is 3D, there is much more to 3D rendered models to just distinguish them and characterise them as 3D.

2D product photos capture a single static perspective, to show other angles or variations, you need more pictures, simple. But you see, 3D-rendered product models offer an experience that immerses customers in a brand’s world. 3D models evoke more emotion, allow customers to notice new details, and unlock levels of engagement simply not possible with static imagery.

3D-rendered models inspire interaction in many ways. For savvy shoppers, it’s the ability to inspect it from every angle and explore configurations. For the design aficionado, it’s appreciating the textures, materials, vision, and craftsmanship. For the learner, it’s grasping the product through dynamic visualisation.

What benefits do 3D-rendered product models bring businesses?

Rendering your product catalogue in 3D doesn’t just unlock benefits for the customer, business can reap the rewards too, you might not have even thought of some of these benefits.

Get new customer data

Rendering your products in 3D offers unprecedented opportunities for collecting valuable data to enhance your customer engagement, refine your strategy and drive lead generation efforts. By gaining insights into how customers interact with 3D models, you can develop a deeper understanding of shopping trends and behaviours to optimise the customer experience.

Unlocking this wealth of analytical data allows you to make informed decisions that can foster long-term success.

You could use data from 3D rendered models to:

1. Provide personalised product offers or recommendations

2. Inform future product developments

3. Tailor marketing efforts and improve product experiences

All of the above allows you to gain deeper insight into how customers engage with your 3D-rendered products, which in turn will allow you to adapt and improve strategies to generate more quality leads.

Integrating 3D-rendered models into any website or platform makes collecting this data easy. Simply plug the models in and start gathering valuable analytics into consumer behaviour and trends.

Competitive edge

Want your brand to really stand out? Well, not much makes you stand out more than having your product catalogue rendered as 3D models.

Photorealistic 3D-rendered product models are designed to be incredibly interactive, offering a complete view of products. They give the customer the opportunity to understand products more, allowing them to make more confident purchase decisions.

Great for you, as it means that it is incredibly likely that customers are going to trust the brands offering superior product experiences more than those who don’t. Ask yourself, are you more likely to purchase from a place where you can interact with a product before purchasing or somewhere you only get shown an image?

Future proof your assets

That’s right, 3D-rendered products do not just help you in the present, they set you up for the future too.

One of the key advantages of 3D models is that they are flexible and adaptable to whatever the future may hold. As new technologies and applications emerge, like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and spatial computing, you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way.

3D models can seamlessly transition to support new applications. Simply update the existing 3D data to optimise models for the new use case, whether it be creating interactive AR experiences, immersive VR product environments, or even holographic models.

What benefits do 3D-rendered products bring customers?

Let’s take a look at some of the top customer-facing benefits of 3D-rendered product models now…after all, this is who is going to be actually using them most often.

Superior product visualisation

Offer a more complete (360-degree to be precise) view of your product, allowing shoppers to view items from every angle imaginable.

Although there has been a shift in shopping, with more people than ever shopping online now, consumers still want the most complete experience possible. Many still prefer to in-store as it allows them to see the options in person and get a better understanding of them. 3D product rendering can match, or even surpass in-store shopping.

Consumers can control, manoeuvre, interact, and with AR, see products in their own space or virtually try them on before purchasing, allowing them to make more confident purchase decisions.

Improve buyer confidence

This one’s a no-brainer. By providing an interactive and complete 3D experience, you allow customers to understand products far better than flat 2D images. When shoppers can spin and zoom around photorealistic models, they visualise your products’ features and configurations more clearly.

3D-rendered models actively encourage exploration. Shoppers can cycle through countless variations from your catalogue to find the perfect fit. Details impossible to portray in 2D come to life in realistic 3D. Customers gain confidence in assessing if a product matches their needs, making faster and smarter purchase decisions.

Differentiation is another key benefit. The more engaging 3D experience you offer, the more customers will trust your brand over competitors still displaying static product photos. They’ll appreciate a business providing the next-level visualisation they expect in today’s digital world.

Customisable and configurable

With 3D product renders, customers can preview tailored variations of your products specific to their preferences and needs. You can make your 3D models configurable by colour, materials, components, size, and more with just a few clicks.

By providing tailored and contextual 3D previews, you empower each shopper with a bespoke buying experience. They can confidently purchase products knowing it fits their needs down to the smallest detail. Personalised 3D models build deeper connections between customers and products.

Need a 3D product rendering company?

Bring your products into the future with REYDAR’s 3D rendering services. Our experienced team creates stunning interactive 3D models to showcase your products from every angle.

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