What is a 3D render?

A 3D render is an image calculated by a computer from a 3D model. The software simulates how light travels through the scene and hits each surface, and the result looks like a photograph of a space that doesn't exist yet.

How a render is made

1. Modelling: the space is built in 3D: walls, floors, windows, furniture and objects, at real size.
2. Materials: each surface gets a finish: wood, stone, fabric, paint, glass, with its colour, texture, shine and roughness.
3. Lighting: sun, sky and lamps are placed, with their strength and colour.
4. Camera: the viewpoint is chosen like a photographer would: height, angle and lens.
5. Rendering: the render engine calculates the image. It can take seconds or hours, depending on quality and size.
6. Finishing: small adjustments to exposure, contrast and colour.

What renders are used for

• Homeowners: to see a renovation or new apartment before work starts, and to choose layouts, colours and materials.
• Developers and agents: to sell properties from plans, in brochures, listings and ads.
• Architects: to present designs to clients and in competitions.
• Furniture makers: to show pieces in a room before they're made.

Render, model, plan: the differences

• The 3D model is the digital space you can move around in the software.
• The render is an image taken from that model.
• The plan is a flat, top-down technical drawing with dimensions.

What makes a render look real

• Accurate sizes and proportions.
• Physically correct light and shadow.
• Detailed materials with small imperfections.
• Realistic camera angles.
• A bit of life: a book, a throw, a plant.

Our software

We model in SketchUp and Blender, and render with V-Ray, Cycles and Lumion, choosing the tool that suits each project.