What are 3D infographics?

After the summer holidays, with “back to school” we have been discussing within the forma team what to write about in our blog this month. We have been thinking about it and finally concluded that, with the “back to work” in mind September is a good moment to refresh some concepts.

That is why this first post on forma’s blog in September will be dedicated to3D infographics and the multiple opportunities they offer.

3D infographicsuses computer graphics to generate images and animations as if they were real. This technology is useful to create products that may significantly impact our customers from a visual point of view.

3D infographics allow generating the image of any product, project or idea even before it has been produced with an extremely high quality, as the human eye perceives it is seeing a photograph, not a computer design.

How is a 3D infographics made?

When hiring a service for creating a 3D infographics, it is key that companies know how it is made. The process may vary slightly depending on the provider, but we can establish that main steps in creating a 3D infographics are:

  • Modelling: It consists of adding volume to the project. Leveraging it helps understand the space. This phase is very useful as it sets the limits of what can and can´t be done, which is more difficult to see in a two-dimension project. It is the equivalent to a wooden or any other material scale model from the old times.
  • Matte painting: At this second stage, the materials of which the volumes will consist of are developed. Here, we create the wood, concrete, plastic, stone, marble, metallic etc. elements. Realism is achieved through a thorough work of various layers superposition. The experts believe this is the phase of the project that makes the difference between a render or infographics and other type of representation. It would be the equivalent to painting the scale model.
  • Lighting: Reproducing the lighting that better suits the project, we highlight materials and values. This technic allows transmitting a special atmosphere to the spectator. It would be like adding lights to the scale model.
  • Rendering: This stage consists of creating the scene in three dimensions. It usually takes hours; the more volume processes and materials, the more complex the rendering process will be.
  • Cameras: The following process consists of placing a camera in a particular point and focus on the model from there. This is a key step, as it will be the final framing of the photo.
  • Postproduction: At this stage, aspects such as contrast, colour or exposure are improved. Plus, effects such as brightness and glitter are also improved and other ambience details like people, rain or other elements can also be added, all of them scaled. This would be the equivalent to the finishing touch of a traditional scale model.

 

What are the uses of 3D infographics?

3D infographics are a big advantage: it is the ideal support to present a project. For example, if we show what an apartment will be from inside with a 3d infographics before it has been built, this will help our customers understand and fall in love with the project in its whole dimension. We may be able to show them very specific details of what the finalised project will look like and will help them be confident in a way that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

The tools provided by 3D infographics become great support to explain, communicate, present and promote a wide variety of product and services within videogames, special effectsadvertisingarchitecture industry, info architecture, architecture visualization, engineering, urban planning, industrial design, landscaping and even gardening.

Who can benefit most from 3D infographics? 

3D infographics are very useful in architecture for:

  • Architecture Studios: this technology helps them through the development of the project, defining spaces and finishes. It allows them seeing beyond the sketches and get faster than building a traditional scale model.
  • Interior Design Studios: willing to show and design spaces to see how the different materials, lights and furniture fit and match with each other.
  • Construction companies: this type of organisation may be willing to consider changes during the execution of a project and 3D infographicsmay help them get a good overview of the project to make adjustments and correct deviations.
  • Real estate developers: willing to bring their products closer to their target in a simple and attractive way. So, the selling process gets simpler and faster, becoming more fluent thanks to the 3D infographics highlighting the strengths of the promotion. What type of 3D infographics can we find?

Rendering. 3D infographics rendering is carried out both for spaces and for objects. Infographics can therefore be developed in four different formats:

  • Fixed image.
  • Images or video sequence.
  • 360º image.
  • Interactive virtual tour.

Infographics in a fixed image are the most common ones and are made with a virtual camera placed in the scenes with all the features of a real reflex digital camera. It may also have features absent in a real camera, such as looking through the walls.

Presentations made with 3D infographics provide a high visual impact image to the projects and companies using them, allowing them to stand out from their competitors in a simple but impactful way. Surround yourself with the best team to execute your projects!

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