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VR Has Arrived: But What Will Be its Most Viable Applications?

Let’s start with a basic assertion; virtual reality (VR) has well and truly arrived in the mainstream market. This is just the beginning too, with Digi-Capital already predicting that the industry will be worth a staggering $30 billion by the year 2020 and Goldman Sachs suggesting that the medium will be bigger than television by 2025.

 

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Despite the impact that VR has already made in the consumer market, however, there appears to be something of a chasm between the industries current performance and its suggested growth path.

Much of this has to do with the diversity of the medium and its isolating nature, however, which makes it difficult to identify viable applications and opportunities for monetisation at present. In this post, we will discuss the near-term future for VR and the markets in which it is most likely to make a decisive impact.

3 Viable Applications for VR

In truth, VR’s breakthrough in 2016 owed much to its obvious affinity with the gaming industry, which provided an immediately accessible outlet for developers. Over time, we will see VR technology diversify into new and exciting markets, creating even more opportunities for growth and expansion. These markets include: –

Film and Entertainment

If gaming has emerged as the most natural market for VR technology, the entertainment niche is not far behind in terms of compatibility. From music and live streaming to films, VR has the potential to bring entertainment to life and enable users to share a physical space with their on-screen or on-stage idols.

Make no mistake; however, it is music and film that offer the most tantalising and lucrative applications for VR. Imagine attending a live concert from the comfort of your own home, for example, where the best real-time performances are instantly available on demand. In terms of film, VR creates the incredible prospect of developing the ultimate cinema experience, while potentially enabling viewers to assume first-person roles in their chosen narratives.

Retail

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Next up is retail, which offers a less glamorous but potentially more lucrative (and practical) outlet for VR. After all, VR and its sister technology augmented reality have the unique potential to change the way we browse and shop for products, creating new consumer experiences that we could not have imagined years ago.

Imagine attending virtual stores that have a single, physical base overseas, for example, as the e-commerce experience is brought to life in glorious 3D. The integration of game engines and haptic technology also presents brands with brand new ways of interacting with their customers, while also creating a virtual, tactile experience through which shoppers can interact with physical products from their armchair.

Sport 

Over time, sport may actually be the application through which VR achieves its full potential. This is quite an assertion, but one that reflects the value and immense possibilities that exist in the sports market as a whole.

Broadcasters are already exploring the ways in which sports can be consumed through VR in the future, while major teams and athletes across the globe are also beginning to leverage the technology to aid their training and enhance performance. Clubs and television stations are also joining forces to create new ways of watching sport in a 3D setting, while the concept of virtual stadium tours may also provide a highly lucrative income stream in sports such as football and cricket.

As you can see, VR will benefit from a number of natural applications in the months ahead. If you would like to learn more about VR, or understand how this can help with the development of your business, get in touch with the team at 3drenders.co.uk today to make your enquiry.

The Top 3D Printing Trends to Look Out For in 2017

To many, 2017 is set to be a breakthrough in the 3D printing industry. While we have already seen widespread evolution within the sector, it is generally accepted that the next decade will bring even greater levels of innovation and more exciting opportunities for brands.

For businesses themselves, capitalising on these opportunities and identifying the trends that will drive the industry in the coming months will have a critical bearing on their success.

With this in mind, here are the most compelling, 3D printing trends that are likely to have the biggest impact on the market in the years to come: –

 

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The Rise of SLA Printers and the CLIP Process

In the 3D printing industry, SLA or stereo lithography has emerged as the pre-eminent technology. In fact, 2016 saw SLA printers become increasingly popularised, thanks to the development of cheaper machines that print more refined objects in incredible detail.

Not only will this trend continue in 2017, but we will also see one of the fastest and newest 3D printing processes increase the popularity of SLA processes. Pioneered by the company Carbon, this process is referred to as Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP), while it enables brands to accurately model a wider range of products and complex mechanical components at an exceptionally high resolution.

This will create numerous opportunities in across various markets, while ensuring that 3D printing is increasingly accessible and lucrative in 2017.

 

 

Multicolour and Material Printing is Heading Your Way

As the technology behind 3D printing becomes increasingly sophisticated, so too its range of applications will become more complex. This will pave the way for multicolour, 3D printing to enter the mainstream in 2017, after this made a huge splash in the industry during the last 12 months.

This is a significant and long-overdue development, as single colour printing as hindered the growth of the industry and its underlying technology for years.

Not only this, but we may also see multi-material, 3D printing become accessible in 2017. This will mark a move away from the traditional use of plastic filament, although this technology may not fully impact on businesses until 2018.

We Will See Significant Improvements in Metal Printing

In 2016, brands and businesses began to look beyond consumer grade, 3D printing materials, as they considered the ways in which they could enhance their three-dimensional propositions. This saw some businesses experiment with the use of various metal printing solutions, which despite delivering high quality output were renowned for their prohibitive cost and production limitations.

These barriers are set to be eradicated in 2017, as metal printing solutions will become increasingly accessible and cheaper to implement. This is largely down to increased levels of demand and improved technology, which has driven down costs and help businesses to refine their use of alternative materials.

Additionally, this will also enable brands to model larger objects using metal, although such a practice may take a little longer to enter the mainstream.

As you can see, the 3D printing industry is in for an exciting time in 2017. To learn more about this and how your brand can capitalise, get in touch with the 3drenders.co.uk team at your earliest convenience!

 

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The Best Examples of Rendering in Advertising

There are a number of factors that have driven the use of rendering in advertising, from the cost of complexity of using standard photography to the natural advantages offered by photo-realism. After all, photo-realistic images can showcase products in an appealing and engaging light, while also communicating their main selling features more clearly to customers.

Despite this, rendering products (particularly those still at the concept stage) requires a specific skill-set, especially in the competitive world of advertising. So, here are two of the best examples of how photo-realistic renders can add value to modern advertising campaigns: –

Capturing the Penguin Books’ Brand

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Whether you are advertising a product or looking to drive brand awareness, high quality renders can help to communicate by clear and abstract messaging. Take the example set by Penguin books, for example, which partnered with the Y&R Kuala Lumpar advertising agency to raise awareness about its numerous architectural editions.

The result is this impressive, towering structure, which clearly replicates the shape of the publisher’s world-renowned logo. Its vastness also represents that the amount of information that sits within Penguin’s collections, while its unfinished nature reinforces the brand’s sustained pursuit of growth and excellence.

Altogether, this photo-realistic render does an excellent job of engaging and raising awareness, both from a visual perspective and the communication of key messages.

Back to Basics with Staedtler

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When it comes to communicating messaging through visuals, however, this advert by German pen company Staedtler remains our personal favourite. These stunningly rendered pencils capture the very purpose of the brand, which continues to resist the advances of technology by creating classic drawing tools for architects.

Not only this, but the use of sculpted tips (which have been moulded to reflect iconic landmarks) also speaks to the global and aspirational nature of the brand. The image also plays with scale in a creative and visually striking way, reinforcing the importance and influence of the brand’s products in the digital age.

Above all else, this is a spectacular render which takes a simple, mundane product and transforms it into a captivating proposition for customers. 

If you agree with us that these images are stunning and extremely effective marketing tools, you may well want to start using renders to advertise your own products. We can help with this at 3drenders.co.uk, so why not get in touch with the team today to find out more?

How Are 3D Renders Changing the Way That You Shop ?

In the digital age, there are numerous things that have impacted in the typical shopping and consumer experience. From the emergence of e-commerce at the turn of the century to the way in which VR will soon allow consumers to interact with products in a virtual environment, the process of sourcing and purchasing goods almost unrecognisable in comparison with previous generations.

The concept of three-dimensional rendering is also having a profound impact on the way in which we shop, although this is not necessarily obvious to the untrained eye. Make no mistake; however, photo-realistic images are gradually replacing traditional photography, while creating new opportunities for forward-thinking brands and their consumers alike.

 

 

So, how exactly are 3d renders altering the way in which you shop? Consider the following: –

Pushing Boundaries to Excite the Consumer’s Mind

Photo-realistic renders are more prominent in some markets than others, with the automotive sector offering a relevant case in point. An estimated 80% of promotional imagery within this space is now created digitally, as opposed to just 20% 10 years ago. Over time, auto brands have also learned how to leverage this technology to push new boundaries and showcase their products in a more aspirational light.

This is a lesson that all markets can heed, but particularly those looking to sell high-end products. After all, 3D rendering enables companies to replicate any physical background or setting for their product, whether they are looking to highlight a core selling point or simply present their offering in a more engaging, aspirational environment.

This not only informs and excites the mind of the consumer, but it may also offer a competitive edge outside of what your product has to offer.

Customers Can Now Make Purchasing Decisions Earlier

Historically, customers would have to wait until a product was released before making a truly informed decision. 3D rendering has changed this state of affairs, however, as it allows companies to create accurate, photo-realistic images of product concepts that have yet to be manufactured.

Evident in the smartphone and automotive markets (where renders are often used to showcase key design elements), these images can capture the attention of consumer’s ahead of time and help brands to steal a march on their competitors.

From the perspective of customer, this also enables them to save time by making purchasing decisions earlier, allowing them to complete pre-orders or compare the market for the best possible price.

3D Renders Can be Combined With Augmented Reality to Inform Customers

Have you ever wanted to buy a car or piece of furniture but were unsure as to whether it would suit (or fit) a particular space? This is an issue that 3D renderings can help to resolve, and not only due to their accuracy or the excellent use of scale.

In 2013, 3D rendering techniques were combined with augmented reality to create the Dodge Dart mobile app. This innovative tool allowed customers to access a rendered image of the dart their iPhone camera, which could then be positioned to replicate how the car would sit on their driveway or in their garage. This instantly helped to inform customers in a tangible way, improving the value proposition of the product and guiding them to the right decision.

 

 

With augmented reality now increasingly accessible, this is a technique that can be used across multiple, product-orientated markets. This is a significant space to watch, while it may yet have the most profound impact on shopping and consumerism in the future.

There’s no doubt about it; concepts like photo-realism and augmented reality will continue to change the way in which consumers shop in the future. If you would like to learn more about these technologies and how your business may benefit from them, contact the 3drenders.co.uk team at your earliest convenience.

Do You Have What it Takes to Be a 3d Render Artist? Let’s Find Out

While the nation’s unemployment rate may have tumbled to a record low of 4.8%, the lack of skilled job opportunities remains a significant cause for concern. This is something that visual and render artists can testify to, particularly in an age where some employers have yet to fully appreciate the benefits of photorealism and 3D technology.

There is no doubt that this is beginning to change, however, and in this respect there has never been a better time to pursue a career as a visual or render artists.

The question that remains, however, is whether you have what it takes to make  this objective a reality? Let’s consider the following skills and attributes that will be crucial to your success: –

A Willingness to Constantly Improve and Develop Your Skills

 

 

As an increasingly influential and cutting-edge technology, rendering places huge demands on visual artists. Most importantly, it requires them to maintain an open and ambitious mind, and one that is constantly seeking out ways of developing new skills.

This mind-set is something that has shaped our own experience at 3drenders.co.uk, as we have strived to partner with some of the nations’ most reputable course providers and CGI trainers. As a result of this, own own team of artists are consistently being challenged to develop new skills and rendering techniques, while understanding how and when to apply these.

Make no mistake; this is something that will be become increasingly important in the future, as pace of technological advancement quickens and the capabilities of photo-realistic renders continue to evolve.

Knowledge of One or More Programming Language

 

 

While this is not typically a prerequisite for working as a render artist, having knowledge of a programming language can dramatically increase your appeal as a candidate.

In technical terms, this will enable you to produce more complex and diverse visual effects, which in turn translates into a wider range of potential solutions to an employers’ challenges. Beyond this, the process of learning a relevant programming language alters your outlook and encourages you to approach visual challenges from alternative perspectives.

Above all else, learning one or more programming languages helps you to develop a greater understanding of rendering processes and the tools that you use to create photo-realistic imagery.

An Appreciation of Mathematics and Physics

 

 

While topics such as maths and psychics are notoriously complex and hardly renowned for boasting a fun factor, they are central to the processes that underpin rendering. Look at the basic sphere, for example, which is constructed using mathematical principle and the concept of fluid simulation. Similarly, geometry may be considered to be the founder of contemporary rendering, as it is concerned with factors such as the size, shape and relative position of figures within any given space.

The same principle applies to trigonometry, which explores the connection between lengths and angles and has played a pivotal role in computer graphics since the mid-1990s.

While there is no requirement for you to be an expert in these fields, a rudimentary level of knowledge is something that can help you to understand more complex propositions. It also helps the process of composition and the effective use of scale, which ensures that 3D renders have the desired visual effect.

At 3drenders.co.uk, we understand what it takes to be a successful visual artist, and make numerous resources available to empower our own employees. To learn more about our work and the advances that we have made in the market, why not check out our portfolio or speak to one of our team today?