When you learn more about Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) from product design services companies, you will see two phrases that are usually used. These phrases are 3D visualization and 3D rendering, which may sound like the same thing but are actually very different.
What Is 3D Visualization?
As product design companies explain to us, 3D visualization and 3D modeling are exactly the same.
While the product manufacturing process is taking place, the most challenging part of the job is designing the product. The design process itself has to go through various steps that consist of ideation, concept design, rough sketch, market research, manufacturability analysis, modeling, and prototyping. For the duration, a product design and development company’s designers have to think about the aesthetic aspect of the product to be manufactured as well as other factors too, such as the way it works and the user’s experience.
Definitely, most product design services can agree that 3D rendering designers have to carry out a joint analysis with factories or other manufacturing facilities to find out whether the new design makes technical and financial sense to make in the first place. If the product design services team feels that the design is too elaborate or complex, changes in design are probably necessary. And for that reason 3D visualization steps in.
So, rather than going through an ineffective trial-and-error process, designers use CAD software to come up with a working model of the product based on the specifications that have been passed on by factories or clients. Fortunately, with 3D CAD, product design services are accurate enough to the smallest details since every single piece of it is digitally processed on a computer.
As a result, a digital image is produced that includes a slew of information that is appropriate to your specifications. Besides the shape and dimension, the information may also consist of materials, textures, colors, the inner workings of mechanical parts, and test results from usage simulations.
Therefore, in a nutshell, 3D visualization can be thought of as the process of creating three-dimensional images of an object, and not just the product, using specialized software. The image that is produced from the process is referred to as a 3D model, which can be digitally deconstructed and reconstructed bit by bit.
What Is 3D Rendering?
In contrast to 3D visualization, a 3D rendering may be visually less elaborate, but at the same time technically more complicated. The reason being is you cannot go ahead and process 3D rendering without having a 3D model to start with.
A 3D rendering of an object will show up (on-screen) just as it would appear in real life. This can be very difficult to understand, but in reality, photorealistic 3D rendering services will change a 3D model into a two-dimensional visual file.
To help you make it more understandable and clear, imagine you were to take a photograph of a room. You can still see the realistic proportions among all the other things in the room and sense three-dimensional space from the photo, however, you cannot actually notice the room in 3D.
At the end of the day, all you are really left with is an image printed on a piece of paper, and just like everything else printed on paper, nothing there screams 3D. The same thing goes for when you video record a room. What you believe as a 3D view is just an illusion of depth in your mind, which occurs because the photograph and video are the best possible truthful representation of the room.
A far cry from a photograph and or video is a 3D commercial rendering service because it is a lot more resource-demanding. A camera just records physical objects and all the details that are naturally encircling the object.
For instance, lighting, light intensity, shadows, and color. If we presume a video is recorded in an outdoor environment, there can be natural movements of objects because of wind or other forces such as clouds, sunlight, the sky, and so on.
Overall, 3D rendering is the process of producing photorealistic imagery of 3D models. As a result of this, you get a true-to-life snapshot or video of objects that have not been physically built yet. This helps designers and clients go over the whole design and how it is supposed to look like in real life.
To provide the imagery with lifelike features, the software has to offer options to make artificial light sources, outer layers or textures of models, simulations of moving objects, and adjustments for viewing angles. A 3D rendering of a room can offer clients a 360-degree walkthrough of the space, viewed online using a virtual reality rendering device.
What Are The Differences?
When you know the differences between 3D rendering and 3D visualization, you can achieve more effective and productive communication among CAD professionals and clients. So, since you should now understand these terms cannot be used alternatively, take a look at their differences in more detail.
File Information and Formats
A lot more information is within a 3D visualization than in a 3D rendering. One 3D model can consist of detailed specifications of the object including but not restricted to parts, shape, dimension, volume, weight, materials, colors, and maybe even estimation of cost to produce one physical object.
The file format relies on the software being used to make the model; common file formats are STL, DWG, OBJ, 3DS, IGES, and so on. Some formats are proprietary, which signifies that they solely work in their native software.
Visualization First, Rendering Next
As pointed out above, you cannot begin the process of 3D rendering without a 3D model. In many situations, the 3D model can be very realistic, to start off with. Nevertheless, the object only exists digitally on its own without any surroundings whatsoever.
The Use of Different Tools
You will find that there are a few CAD drawing artists that can do 3D visualization as well as 3D rendering, however, it does not mean the processes use the same type of software. In some cases, professionals will use various tools.
A few of the most popular 3D visualization software include SketchUp, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Blender, and Rhino3D. While software for 3D rendering includes V-Ray, Blender, 3Delight, and RenderMan.
DesignStein Studios, LLC 