3D visualization types: how to choose the best one for your marine project?

Choosing the right 3D visualization types for your marine or yacht project is key to get an effective visual identity for your new design. Today, with various 3D technologies that we can choose from, making the decision might be hard.

But in this article, I explain to you what kind of 3D visualization types are the most common and effective these days. We go through each of them, by estimating price-effectiveness relationships as well.

After reading this article you will gain the essential knowledge to decide on the type of 3D visualization you should choose for your next design idea.

3 questions you need to ask yourself before making a choice

But first, let’s start by taking a quick glance at your needs. Thanks to the questions asked below, you are able to briefly chose the right type of 3D visualization for your future projects.

#1 What is the purpose of the visualization?

First of all, you need to decide for which purposes you want to use your 3D visualization.

Should it be placed on your website or printed in your paper materials as a part of your marketing strategy? Maybe you want to create an added value to your tender proposal with professionally rendered images? Or maybe it should serve as a preview of your project to discuss it further with an engineering team?

The professional 3D studio will perfectly discover your real needs and will guide you through the decision making process.

#2 Who do you want to show it to?

If your visualization has strictly marketing purposes and should grab the interest of your audience, you can let the 3D visualizers’ imagination run wild and create for you an artistic looking images.

But if the main purpose of the visualization is to explain the features of your yacht or ship, then studio shots, animation or interactive models are a better choice.

#3 How quickly you want to get your visuals

For many types of 3D visualizations, timing is a huge factor. Still images are in general quicker to make. While animations and walk-throughs require more work hours to be finished.

Remember that 3D visualizations are not something that you should wait with to the last moment. If your vessel consists of complicated design and many tailor-made solutions, 3D artists might require a little more time to create every tiny detail. And when it comes to 3D visualization, the perfection hides in those details.

8 most common 3D visualization types for the yacht and marine industry

Now let’s take a look at the most effective 3D visualization type for the marine industry.

And if you want to take a closer look at how Sodoma Atelier can create them for you, click here to see our samples.

#1 Environment visualization

The most common among the types of 3D visualization is the external visualization showing the vessel in the surrounding environment. It does not only include your ship operating at the high seas but also sailing among the Scandinavian fjords or the Caribbean islands.

The biggest advantage of the environment visualization is showcasing the vessel in the real-life. This type of 3D visualization has a huge influence on the imagination and helps your client see his designed ship in the situations he will see it after it’s built.

Environment visualizations are also a perfect marketing tool. You can use them to promote your projects on your own website, in social media, or in the brand magazines. If you decide to order the visualization in better resolution, you can use it in your print materials during brand events or in paper press.

#2 Studio shots

Studio shots are often the most basic type of 3D visualization for the marine industry.

They consist of rendering your vessel without any other object like the sky, or even the water. On studio shots, we treat them like photo models that we place on the white background in a photography studio, light up precisely, and take camera shots from different angles.

This kind of 3D visualization allows you to check your design with the client and the engineering team. In Sodoma Atelier, we deliver studio shots in PNG files, with a transparent background. It allows you to paste them into your company’s business presentation layout and use them effectively during your sales meetings. It’s a perfect way to present the details of your design.

Read more: 5 Practical Ways to Use Vessel Studio Shots in Your Business

#3 360° interactive model

The idea of 360° interactive models is an extended version of studio shots. It’s also way more interactive.

Thanks to a custom app, you can see the 3D model of your project like in any 3D modeling software. The main difference is that it’s already rendered so it looks exactly like in the real-life.

Because of its visually-appealing look, the 360° model is a perfect tool to discuss the details of the project with your final client. The interactivity of the app consists of possibilities to rotate, zoom, and move around your model. It gives you way much bigger opportunity to showcase any part of the ship in comparison with still images.

At the beginning of July 2020, we will be implementing the 360° solution to our clients. If you want to receive the explore video with its functionality, click the button below and join our list.

Click here to check out the 360° solution

#4 Interior visualization

Some marine projects emphasize the crew and guests’ comfort on board. It especially considers yachts and cruisers but also commercial ships designed for demanding owners.

To showcase the interiors of your ship, the best solution is to create photorealistic 3D renders of cabins living spaces. Presenting your exceptional interior design through visualizations adds beneficial value to your sales presentations and marketing materials.

Interior visualizations on commercial ships are still a little underestimated. But you should remember that they are an excellent tool for showing the operation spaces, such as a bridge, control rooms, switchboard rooms, or even a galley.

#5 Panorama

Interior panoramas, or 360° camera shots, are the more interactive version of basic interior visualizations. But you should remember that they can also perfectly showcase the exterior decks from the crew perspective.

Creating a panorama is about taking a 360° camera picture that is implemented to a dedicated app. It allows you to walk into virtual reality and get the real feeling of the interior.

If you wish, we can include your set of panoramas into one piece, thanks to what you are able to jump from one room to another to take a closer look in the most important spaces on your ship. Including the external decks of course.

#6 Virtual walk-throughs

Virtual walks, unlike panoramas, allows you to freely walk around in your ship or yacht, just like in a video game. You can enter any room you want, estimate the space inside, and simulate real-life situations.

This kind of walk-through is a perfect idea for presenting your design to the most challenging clients who put special attention to the deck operation or interior comfort.

Read more: Should I hire a 3D artist? 7 cases when your business truly needs it

#7 Animation

These days, video is one of the most powerful marketing tools. It’s obvious then, that attractive animation can present your company as professional and ambitious.

You can order animation for the marketing purposes where you showcase your main fields of expertise, the most exceptional designs, and your workflow.

Creating an animation is also a great idea to get your clients’ attention. The luxury yacht project, presented through the video, encourages your potential customers to build their dreamboats according to your design. The powerful commercial vessel, whose features are shown in the animation, entice shipowners to purchase your projects to operate in their own companies.

Video has the power to explain design ideas in any way you want. It’s a 3D visualization option that is worth considering if you want to take your company’s services to the next level.

#8 Profile view

I cannot complete this list without mentioning the good, old, traditional profile views. Among the innovative 3D visualization techniques, 2D profile views still play a huge role in presenting ship design ideas.

If your project presentation does not require advanced 3D visualizations, I recommend creating at least an eye candy profile view. It adds the necessary attractive feature to your design offering and makes your client better visualize his future vessel.

Sodoma Atelier is happy to create any kind of the mentioned 3D visualization types for you. We constantly develop new solutions to make them better fit your needs.

Follow us on LinkedIn to get an eye on any new feature that will take your project’s attractiveness to the higher level.