Tornado Studios

3D Assets – What Are They And How To Use Them

Tornado Studios — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The demand for top-quality 3D assets is increasing on a daily basis. This is no coincidence as these assets are used in almost every industry. In this blog post we are going to share with you what 3D assets are, who and how uses them and for what purpose. You are also going to find out some of the best 3D stock marketplaces for 3D models out there. So stay with us until the end to discover this and much more. Now it is time to begin!

What are 3D assets?

Perhaps you have encountered the term “3D models”. In fact, 3D assets and 3D models are synonyms. In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a digital representation in three dimensions via specialized software of any surface or an object.

That object can be a living organism or inanimate. They are known as assets when they are being sold on 3D stock marketplaces like the ones we are going to discuss later in this post. 3D models are created by qualified 3D artists that use specialized 3D modeling software and tools.

Why use 3D models?

3D models, like the world around us, vary in terms of shapes and forms. But unlike mother nature which had millions of years to develop all of the complex forms, 3D artists have only days and hours. That is why everything that can help speed up the process of 3D modeling and designing must be taken into deep consideration. Thus 3D assets enter the scene!

There are 3 primary reasons why 3D assets are used

They save time

3D presentations and animations in particular can be very complex. Even simple 3D models require several steps to bring to fruition. There are many decisions to be made in the creation process. The size, proportions, and shapes are only a small part of everything that has to happen before the model gets created. Then comes the modeling itself as well as the decision of what techniques are to be used.

After the modeling stage is time for the texturing. There are different approaches depending on the end-use of the product. One of the established techniques is called PBR or physically based rendering method. Depending on the size of the asset as well as the amount of details and UV sets, texturing can take anything from an hour or so to several hours and even days. That is why the alternative of getting a pre-made 3D asset will save you that time. Then you can simply focus on the more important actions.

They reduce costs and bring in quality

Any passionate 3D artist will always want to make 3D models with the best quality possible. However, in some cases, there are lots of things that need consideration and preparation.

And again time and effort are part of the investment that needs to be made. When the deadline is near and the client’s requirements are all about quality, then the usage of 3D stock assets on which you can build up your project is the best solution there is.

Also in most cases, the client is on a very tight deadline and at the same time doesn’t have a clear enough vision of the final state of the project that they are after. In those cases, 3D stock assets are a tremendous help to save time and effort.

They allow you to focus on the big picture

Any professional 3D artist needs to leave behind the temptation to prefer only a specific part of the 3D production pipeline. To have an eye-catching professional 3D portfolio one must have experience in all phases of the creation process. That is why using 3D assets can help you achieve just that without taking too much effort on specific tasks. Of course, there are specific cases in which 3D artists do have a very narrow focus. For example, in big studios, there are 3D modeling artists, texturing artists, riggers, animators, etc. However, they all can benefit from buying 3D assets online to meet the production deadlines.

Also in terms of high-budget projects, 3D assets can help build more detailed 3D scenes with many objects.

How are 3D assets used?

3D assets are used in various industries. We are going to share with you some of the uses here.

3D assets in Games

3D models play an important role in the 3D video game world. From old-school titles like Super Mario 64 to recent gaming masterpieces such as Cyberpunk 2077, the world of 3D gaming has been constantly evolving. 3D game assets bring the realism of scenes and actions that contributes to the high levels of engagement that every gamer is after.

3D assets in games are used in every aspect imaginable, from production down to the user interface. These assets include characters, streets (in cities, villages, highways, etc.), particle effects, foliage, and others. In a 3D video game, basically, everything that you can interact with is a 3D game asset.

In today’s video gaming creation process the focus is put on lower polygonal models. This is to ensure that the game runs smoothly and fast while at the same time that there is no loss of quality. The former is one of the most important aspects of a game that each gamer desires to achieve! However thanks to the rapid 3D technology improvements, games may be utilizing high polygonal models and real-time solutions. With the newest versions of Unreal Engine 5 for example we see that games of the future would run smoothly even when using billions of polygons.

3D assets in Movies

3D assets are used in a similar way in Movies. However, there are some key differences. First of all a movie, unlike a game, has a fixed plot structure. This means that the events will follow a chronological order without any changes. This is why movie productions can use highly polygonal models that they can render in advance. With recent technological advances, real-time productions are finding their way into movies as well. Up until recently, real-time content was used by games only. There we have limits of the level of detail and amount of polygons that can be used. Movies generally render out the CGI scenes in advance which allows them to use an insane amount of polygons and details. In that way, most of what we see in 3D CGI scenes is indistinguishable from reality.

The next thing to take into consideration is the movie budget.

Movies tend to require budgets of hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. Modern video games rarely exceed $100 M. Therefore it is expected that the 3D assets that are going to be used will be of higher quality than the ones needed in 3D video games.

Next is development time. Unlike a video game where this time is occupied mostly by the creation of 3D models and scenes, a movie with CGI in it will most likely need the, at last, a year before its release – i.e. only the post-production phase is dedicated to the implementation of 3D assets.

Unlike the lower-polygonal 3D assets in video games, movies tend to utilize high-end hyper detailed 3D models. This is absolutely acceptable based on the requirements and budget for a movie compared to the ones for a video game.

And let’s not forget that the main goal for each movie is to be viewed as much as possible in cinemas. So to meet the demand for superb photorealistic quality on the big cinema screen, a modern movie needs high polygonal and hyper-realistic 3D assets.

3D assets in Presentations/Animations

Nowadays a presentation can either grab the viewer’s attention and generate sales or lose the customer. So to achieve the desired goal you have to make it as attractive as possible. It also has to be short in terms of text but rich in visualizations.

That is where 3D assets come to the rescue. Any modern presentation software (like Microsoft Powerpoint) can work with 3D models. So the question is not if they can be used, but why don’t you use them? 3D assets in presentations/animations enhance the experience of the audience and bring it to a whole new level. Last but not least – some presentation programs can even allow you to create your very own 3D models directly inside it and are completely free.

3D assets in Marketing

3D in Marketing is a long-established tradition. It empowers advertising and increases sales. Not a single ad nowadays is created without at least a single usage of a 3D asset. And all of this is due to the immense impact that 3D can create. 3D modeling in advertising has been rising over the years.

With the help of 3D models, art directors can create powerful marketing visualizations. 3D assets allow marketers to customize the product themes and adapt the strategy for any scenario. This allows the easiest creation of seasonal offers, short-term sales offers, new recipes or a complete product modification.

3D models are feature-rich which means that you can integrate all features of the product into its digital representation.

This allows to effectively grab the attention of the ad target group as the audience can get a clear idea of the capabilities of the product.

Last but not least – 3D assets allow marketers to utilize the powerful “white background” presentation method. Various studies have confirmed that people tend to check out a product if it is presented in 3D and on a clear white background

This removes any unnecessary distractions and allows potential customers to focus on the product. Also if the product is not very photogenic, then presenting it with the help of a 3D asset can eliminate the need for a complicated photoshoot process. Another factor is that in 3D you can easily show products rotate, open up, lift up from the ground or assemble and disassemble. This is something that is very hard to achieve without the help of 3D technologies.

3D assets in 3D printing

3D printing is one of the industries that rely on high quality and optimized 3D assets. A 3D model that will be used for 3D printing will have to be prepared according to specific requirements. This is the minimum required thickness that a model should have at any given point and it depends on the printing technology and the choice of material. Also considering the size of the printing area and the final product, the 3D file may have to be split into several interlocking parts.

The best 3D assets for 3D printing are also watertight.

This means that the models are completely closed and this is achieved by creating a 3D mesh suitable for 3D printing. This must be done before exporting the asset to an STL, OBJ, or a different 3D print-compatible file.

To make sure that the 3D print will meet the requirements, the creation of 3D assets has to take into consideration the printing technology’s limitations as well. Again this is related to the choice of material. The best 3D assets are strong, robust, and durable and aim at the creation of a strong base when they are designed.

This ensures that the first layer of 3D printing will not fail due to a lack of adhesion. Such 3D assets are also ensuring that vulnerable areas will be thickened. This will reduce the possibility for outstretched appendages from the core of the model to snap off during printing.

3D assets in VR/AR

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are rapidly growing industries that heavily rely on high-quality 3D assets. Thanks to them the viewers can get a photo-realistic experience when watching a VR/AR presentation, playing a favorite VR video game or by using the app to determine the new in-house redesign.

However 3D assets for VR/AR must take into consideration the limitation of polygons so that their usage will be effective. In this aspect, the preparation of 3D models for AR or VR is similar to the one currently used for video game production.

3D assets in Design

From using them as references to the improvement of the bigger picture, 3D assets are in help of the design process. It will save up time and effort and will allow 3D artists to create complex and detailed scenes.

3D assets are versatile, easy to work with, and can be changed very easily. With them, you can easily re-design an already created and selling product. The 3D model can be used for factor manipulation like the size of each component and many others

3D assets in Prototyping

Thanks to 3D modeling, prototyping has entered a new era. Never before was it so effective and fast. 3D assets help with time and cost reduction for the creation of product prototypes. And the product can be tested via simulations digitally way before it is produced in actuality.

They also reduce the flaws and allow creators to focus on potential problem areas with ease. An accurate 3D model that is used for a prototype is of supreme quality.

This reduces human errors for physical prototypes and as we all know – there is no room for mistakes especially if the prototype is aimed at a product that has to protect human lives.

With the usage of 3D multiple variations of the prototype can be created with ease. This allows for fast testing of the product and making effective decisions about design, usage, and strength.

3D assets in Simulations

Prototyping is one thing, but testing the product is the next step that ensures its effectiveness and safety. Thus enter 3D simulations. They utilize 3D models that are created with extreme accuracy. This allows the engineers to take the prototype into several testing phases by reducing costs.

It is also safer as no real-life interaction will be performed during the tests. Thus a product can be checked multiple times from different angles with extreme precision and it will guarantee that the final physical version will be of the highest quality and effectiveness. Such simulations range from the creation of endurance tests, crash tests, functionality tests, ergonomics, etc.

Who buys 3D assets?

One of the key customers of 3D models is 3D studios. The reason for purchasing an already created asset instead of developing one from scratch, as stated above, is because this is cheaper and more time effective.

When a complex gaming or movie project is at hand or deadlines are causing pressure in the team, the best way is to purchase some 3D assets and to integrate them besides your own. Some studios focus solely on the creation of animations or presentations and do not create their own 3D models. They buy them for their specific needs and in some cases modify them before usage.

That is why in such cases 3D studios are hiring specialists for the position of Asset Manager or Creative (Art) Director. In some cases, especially if we are talking about small to medium level studios, even the CEO can be the one who searches for high-quality 3D models and purchases them for the needs of the studio.

Another key customer type for 3D assets is advertising agencies. They need high-quality 3D models for marketing purposes, as stated above. And again it is more cost-effective to purchase an already created 3D model instead of paying for the creation of one.

If a company develops or markets products, then it is most likely for them to search for 3D assets in some of the best 3D stock marketplaces around the world.

Designers and 2D/3D freelance artists are also key customer types for 3D assets. Especially if we are talking about individuals who have taken the responsibility to develop an entire project on their own. In such cases finding the needed 3D assets is a breath-taking experience.

Where to buy 3D Models?

There are many 3D stock marketplaces worldwide. In this post, we are going to mention some of the best ones that have proven themselves and earned their reputation.

Turbosquid

We are going to start with the very best marketplace – Turbosquid. This marketplace offers the best price guarantee for 3D models exacting the specifications of the 3D industry’s quality standard CheckMate as well as world-class protection for your purchase. In case you need a refund for a non-suitable 3D model or support, the reliable Turbosquid team will have you covered 24/7.

Turbosquid is the best choice for game developers, news agencies, architects, visual effect studios, advertisers, and creative professionals worldwide. Some of the top 3D studios in the world regularly purchase models from Turbosquid. The main goals behind this marketplace are: saving 3D artists time to make a great model whilst letting them add their own personality to their creations and focusing the 3D artists’ creativity for continuous library model improvements. Turbosquid is the marketplace that we have chosen to sell our 3D assets and we couldn’t be happier about that. We signed an exclusivity contract which gives us the opportunity to receive higher revenues and gives us access to the best perks that Turbosquid has to offer.

CGTrader

Next in our top selection of marketplaces for 3D assets is CGTrader. You are able to find the most suitable 3D model from thousands of high-quality ones already available for sale.

This website also offers 3D services for your enterprise needs. CGTrader’s team can turn any number of products into photorealistic 3D models for your e-commerce website or app or for other specific business needs.

This is a place to discover great 3D assets for your gaming, AR/VR, advertising, animation, movie, or 3D printing projects.

Sketchfab

One of the leading platforms for 3D assets and AR is Sketchfab. With it you can manage your 3D assets and distribute 3D & AR experiences. There are also collaborative options as well as showcasing for your work.

On Sketchfab you can buy or sell various 3D models. This marketplace is the choice of millions of 3D artists and businesses around the world. One of the distinct features of the platform is the possibility to share & embed 3D models anywhere online. Sketchfab has earned the trust of leading brands such as Nike, Dell, Yamaha, Tefal, and others.

Artstation

Any 3D artist is privileged to have their portfolio shown on Artstation with its simple, yet powerful presentation style. This opens the doors for many possibilities to get noticed by the right people in the 3D industry. Some artists even prefer to host their own websites on Artstation. And let’s not forget the wonderful 3D community that has grown thanks to the platform.

Customers on the other hand can search and discover high-quality 3D assets on demand for their business needs. On Artstation you can find models, brushes, tutorials, reference packs, assets, and many other digital products.

Unity Asset Store

If you need high-quality 3D gaming assets for the leading Unity engine, there is no place like the Unity Asset Store. Here you can find top-quality free and paid assets and you can kickstart or empower your gaming projects with ease. Besides that, you can find many other tools and services on the Unity Asset Store.

Shapeways

If your project is aimed at 3D printing then probably you will be able to find the most suitable 3D assets on Shapeways. With its various categories and options for purchase, you can really consider yourself to be at the right place!

We are proud to share with you that our collection of 3D assets can be found on Turbosquid!

During the past 15 years, we have created various 3D assets for different themes and topics. We are committed to the creation of photorealistic 3D assets that can be used across the industry in games, movies, animations, presentations, etc.

Our catalog on Turbosquid contains more than 10 000 products (by the date of this blog post) and is rapidly growing. Make sure to check it out from this link.

We are also happy to announce that Tornado Studios’ team is one of the top artists on Turbosquid and our studio is also an exclusive vendor there. Our library is in second place for the most certified 3D models with Checkmate Pro/Lite.

Like we mentioned above, Turbosquid is the biggest 3D marketplace in the world and the only one with certification for quality (created by the top minds in the industry). This means that our team is among the top producers of high-quality 3D assets in the world!

This concludes the topic of 3D assets.

You found out what they are, who creates them, and where you can buy and sell them. You also discovered who uses 3D assets and how they are used in various industries.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us. If you like our collection of 3D assets or you are in need of specific 3D models, our professional team will be delighted to assist you in any way possible! See you soon!

The post 3D Assets – What Are They And How To Use Them appeared first on Tornado Studios.

Turbosquid Becomes Part of Shutterstock

Tornado Studios — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The 3D industry is thrilled about the upcoming acquisition of Turbosquid by the leading creative platform Shutterstock. The transaction is set to close in early February 2021. With this Shutterstock will become the world’s largest 3D marketplace with strong strategic fit and meaningful revenue synergies. The 3D world truly enters a new era!

We have always been proud of the fact that Turbosquid is the marketplace we have chosen to sell our 3D assets. Our exclusive contract allows us to receive higher revenues and gives us access to the best perks that Turbosquid can offer. You can read more about 3D assets and our relationship with Turbosquid from our blog post – 3D Assets – what they are and how to use them.

Turbosquid kept its supreme position as a 3D industry leader for over 20 years. At that time the marketplace offered a unified 3D workflow and provided customers with more than a million 3D models. Additionally, a 2D marketplace derived from the 3D objects on the platform later on. Founded in 2000, Turbosquid has helped top 3D artists worldwide to receive accelerated time to market and reduction in development hours via its proprietary technology. With Turbosquid the creation, optimization and monetization, and publishing of 3D models became easier and profitable.

The new owner of Turbosquid is constantly aiming for innovation and monitoring the creative roadmap with the help of its clients. Shutterstock will utilize the experience and potential of Turbosquid to make the distribution of 3D accessible to its community of creators and marketers in various industries such as gaming, video, e-commerce, and beyond.

The move is both a talent and an IP acquisition and with it Shutterstock’s customers will get access to raw materials for making images from scratch. Therefore the future of photography might not need to involve a camera at all. Bear this in mind next time when you take a look at some stock photos. They might actually be CGI representations instead of real-life objects.

Shutterstock is not just a stock photo company. In fact, in addition to its stock photos and content and image editing tools, the company is also known for its content creation platform – Shutterstock Studios. The acquisition of Turbosquid suggests deepening interest in content creation and the possibility to help 3D models of going mainstream. This might happen with an easy to use toolset that markets without any photo editing expertise can use for their work.

According to TurboSquid’s Chief Executive Officer Matt Wisdom, Shutterstock is the company in the world that best understands the creative landscape. This visionary leadership and tech innovation of Shutterstock creates the perfect conditions that will allow Turbosquid and its employees to continue doing what they do best – the creation and building of a 3D powerhouse and cloud-based digital asset management solution.

The post Turbosquid Becomes Part of Shutterstock appeared first on Tornado Studios.

How 3D Technologies Empower Industries Around the World

Tornado Studios — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever been wondering how 3D technologies empower the industries? Imagine having to create an animation by drawing each character on each scene by hand? Or maybe create a detailed model of a building by using cardboard? How about adding a fictional character in your advertisement next to the actors by using costumes or camera tricks?

While this may sound bizarre nowadays, all of these actions and many more were achieved in the past by either using handwork or other various techniques. All of that changed when 3D technologies entered the scene and started making life easier and more entertaining for everyone.

In this post, we will present to you how 3d technologies empower various industries. You will be able to understand their importance and where they are heading. So let’s jump right to the topic!

3D Technologies in Games

One of the most empowered industries by 3D technologies in the gaming industry. It has grown immensely in the last 10 years by introducing next-gen rendering techniques and glamorous virtual effects. All of this is happening thanks to the rapid advance in the development of graphics cards, processors, and other related hardware. Modern game consoles allow the player to immerse into an ocean of realistic adventures right from the comfort of their couch.

In the current COVID-19 pandemic where the mantra of social isolation and distance is placed on а pedestal, more and more people rely on the gaming industry to make their lockdown time interesting and more entertaining. That is why it is no surprise that the process of growth in the industry is accelerating with each day.

What 3D technologies are 3D artists and game makers using in the creation of today’s games?

Motion tracking

One of the common technologies is motion tracking. It is also familiar as motion capture and this is the process of recording the movement of human actors or objects. This allows for the creation of realistic movements of characters and 3d objects into the video game. The motion capture technology has eased the creation of realistic movements of humans or objects that will fit perfectly in the photorealistic environments and scenes. With the usage of flexible and accurate motion capture software, 3D artists can create extremely fast animation pipelines in the gaming industry. Game animators rely on motion tracking to produce significant amounts of animation data. This causes great cost reduction and reduces the needed post-production time as well as animating by hand, which is a slow process and not as accurate as using tracked 3D data.

How does motion tracking work?

It uses special cameras that capture the movement of actors or objects with the help of motion tracking markers. They send the gathered data to a computer. There a motion capture software creates a virtual skeleton of each actor/object. It can move like the actor/object in real-time. Once the desired performance is achieved, the character can be animated over the skeleton. This can happen in post-production or in real-time.

VR and AR

The virtual reality (VR) and AR (augmented reality) 3d technologies allow gamers to experience games in a whole new way. Thanks to these technologies you really become part of the gameplay. VR and AR games let you interact with any 3D object. Special helmets, sensors, and other devices are being developed and improved for each generation of games.

3D Scanning in games

Thanks to 3D scanning, video games can get more photorealistic models and scenes. A modern 3D gaming hardware can compute a vast amount of polygons in the scene. The result of this can be 30 to 60 full HD frames per second. And the trends are that this is going to improve even further in the near future.

Achieving the best graphics quality in video games is not only a matter of having the best hardware for rendering. High-quality content is needed in the first place and here 3d scanning enters the scene. Thanks to this approach, 3d game artists can capture real-world objects and reconstruct them as digital 3d representations. This might save time and effort compared to manual sculpting and painting of each 3d model. And as we are all aware a great game has many detailed models in each scene. There are different variations of 3D scanning. For example thanks to 3D facial and body scanning artists can create human faces and bodies with ease.

Unreal 5 Engine

The recently released PS5 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo impressed all gaming fans. And there is a good reason for this. According to the game developer Mike Bithell, Unreal 5 could be a breakthrough for video game artists.

In theory, an artist can produce a high poly 3D asset and use it in the game without manually creating different levels of detail versions or “LOD” models. The engine will be able to automatically scale models for the needs of visual fidelity and game performance.

Another important aspect of Unreal 5 is its Lumen technology. It is the engine’s approach to lighting and it could save a lot of work for the developers. Using Lumen and other ray-tracing methods, 3D game makers won’t need to pre-create the perfect lighting conditions for their environments. We can all hope that this becomes a standard in the industry. As for Unreal 5 – the future games that will rely on that 3d technology will definitely be mind-blowing!

3D Technologies in Movies

A movie with special effects is nothing new to the audience. And all of these effects are created with the help of 3D technologies in movies nowadays. Almost every movie uses some sort of 3D effects. From adding fictional characters to incredible explosions and other disasters. 3D technology in movies helps to represent impossible conditions with ease. They also allow movie makers to create scenes that are out of this world – for example, Avatar. Or back in time or in the future – you name it! What about the depiction of anti-utopian worlds? Most of these movies and tv series (like “The man in the high castle”) exist thanks to 3D technologies.

The photorealism of the scenes nowadays is extremely accurate. In fact, it has grown so much that even experts are having a hard time spotting CGI scenes from real-live ones.

What 3D technologies are used in movies?

Most of them are similar to the ones in video games. And this is not a surprise as both industries try to create visual stories with vast amounts of realism. So it should not be shocking when we mention once again the motion tracking technology. Actors are wearing costumes with the same tracking markers that are used in the creation of video games. A specialized 3D software manipulates the gathered 3D data and digitally inserts the final result into the scene. The only difference is that here the idea is either to slightly change the shape of the actor or to create a fictional character based on his physique.

3D Scanning and Photogrammetry are also very important 3D technologies that aid the movie industry. With their help, many objects, buildings, and even people and animals can be recreated and re-used in different scenes.

Real-time rendering in movies is another very important 3D technology that allows directors to create “live” projects as soon as they start producing it. This means that any changes to lighting, characters, scenes, camera positions, etc. can be made at any point and the results can be instantly visualized. This eliminates the need to wait for post-rendering like before. Real-time rendering also originates from the video game industry but nowadays it is extremely useful in movies as well. With this 3d technology, all departments that are responsible for the CGI effects in a movie or the animation can start working simultaneously, and collaboratively.

A special case is the rise of AR and VR 3D technologies in movie making.

While these technologies have been a long time only present in sci-fi concepts, now they are truly empowering the movie industry. They made the successful shift from a prediction to reality. One example of VR usage is virtual cameras. In the second Star Wars trilogy, they are able to “film” digital models of spacecraft. This allows a very natural camera motion which actually brings the audience right into the scene.

Another great example of VR is the movie, Lion King. The lions there are photorealistic and they are filmed using virtual cameras. And the interesting part is that a local network of devices was set up. That allowed the director and the camera crew to move and film the lions as if they were really on the stage. The final result is a photorealistic first-person perspective.

VR usage also improves animations. With that technology, the 3D artist can draw or model in three dimensions and walk around their creations. This adds a new dimension to storytelling.

3D Printing in the creation of sets and decors

Here the 3D printing technology allows an easier and more realistic set and decor creation. You can basically have any building, any object, any plant, etc. in your movie set. The usage of 3D printing reduces the costs of having the same set created entirely as CGI. As the movie industry is known for the competition and tight schedules, the importance of having cheaper, yet easier and realistic sets and decors is very big. 3D printed materials are such a solution and that is why many movie makers accept this approach. Here some of the best examples that can be given are:

The 3D printed suit of Iron Man;
3D printed stormtroopers in Star Wars;
3D printing in animations like the short movie “Chase me”. Here the technology allowed the creation of a custom made and the strange universe;
3D printed fashion for Black Panther and many more;

3D Printing, AR, and VR have risen to be separate industries of their own

These 3d technologies are so prominent that experts consider them as separate industries. Nowadays studios are creating game and movie content, especially for VR. The rise of VR games is incredible. Special technologies exist that allow players to dive into virtual reality and to interact with objects. Special sensors are added to gadgets for touch and feel. This means that players can actually feel the virtual objects that they interact with.

A great example of how 3d technologies evolve and empower gaming is Virtuix Omni.

This is a device that fits perfectly even in small places. Omni supports people over 6 feet tall and allows them to really join the 3D realms of all games – 3D VR first-person shooters especially. Imagine grabbing a gun and entering a field of combat together with your squad? With Omni, you can literally do this! Holding a gaming gun in your hands will allow you to see the VR weapon that you will be using inside the game. This is also your controller for the game. You can walk, run, crouch, sit, strafe, jump – and all of this without getting motion sickness. You have to wear special shoes with sensors on them and then you can enter Omni and start playing and fragging like a professional soldier!

Movies created for VR

As for the movie industry – there is a movie now that is made entirely for VR. The short documentary “Zero Point” (a project by Condition One) is an immersive project. This movie utilizes the full potential of the Oculus Rift. In fact, it is made especially for it. “Zero Point” is a 180-degree video tech that allows the viewer to “enter” the movie.

Another movie that utilizes the potential of the Oculus Rift and Gear VR is “Miyubi”. This movie shows one year in the life of a robot in a family during the ’80s. This toy is a gift for one American child for Christmas

VR in movies grows and expands. Vive Studios’ “7 Miracles” is the world’s first feature-length virtual reality film. It brings the Gospel of John to life and this is done in a glorious 360-degree VR. The movie is filmed in Rome and Matera. It is a 7-part episodic film with a total of 70 minutes of content.

3D Printing and its many applications

3D Printing is one of the 3d technologies that find application in many industries. It is widely used in manufacturing, architecture, product development, and designs. With 3D printing, you can create almost everything – from small models to entire houses that you can live in.

The technology is so advanced that you can even 3d print food! It all started in 2006 with NASA’s first research and development on the matter and the result was a pizza that just had to be put in an oven. Nowadays there are some great masterpieces that you can eat. From a sugary homage of the Versailles palace to cute 3D printed dinosaurs that your kids will love (spoiler alert – there is broccoli inside). The latter is a clear example that 3D printed cuisine can not only look attractive but also be healthy. This technology helps reduce food waste and in the future, you can get 3D printed food without the need to actually bake/fry/cook it.

3D printing has a wonderful future ahead. One of the usages that scientists workaround is the 3D printing of human organs and body parts. This will help to mitigate a shortage of donor organs. Thus more lives can be saved. Currently, no one has managed to print a fully functional human organ, but scientists are getting closer to achieving that goal each day.

Architecture, Engineering, and Manufacturing are all tied together and overlap in the use of 3D Technology.

Without 3D Technologies, you cannot design a building or a product nowadays. You cannot also allow its future inhabitants or the investors to get a proper idea and feeling of how it will look when completely finished. And any great product, tool, machine, you name it is 3D designed in advance with all the small details virtually tested to brilliance, before actually producing it. This saves time, materials, effort, and most important – money. And all of this is very important for the world that we live in.

3D scanning and 3D printing are commonly used together to create not only models and CGI representations but great final goods in all industries.
With the help of AR and VR, you can visualize your future home, furniture, decorations, cars, etc. These technologies ensure the supreme quality of the final product.

3D Technologies in Marketing

Not a single commercial today is without even a slight presence of 3D effects. From the logo in the ad to the CGI character that explains to you how you can make your floor spotless – all of these are just examples of the use of 3D technologies in marketing.

Most successful marketing campaigns are showing you how to use a product or a service and how it will solve a specific problem for you. With the help of 3D technologies, this is very easy now. Presenting a photorealistic CGI animation that provides guiding material in depth is of great value to the consumers.

Any catalog (printed on paper or virtual) also utilizes 3D. Let’s assume that you want to choose a rotary tool for your next DIY project. The images that you will see on the e-commerce website or in the catalog in your hands are 3D models rendered as images. This saves time and effort to photograph the real product in the perfect light and condition. Simply showing its 3D visualization is enough to grab the attention of the customer. Plus, once you have the 3D model of the tool you can also visualize the movement, the specific way in which it operates, and its inner workings.

As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, many businesses had to adapt to the new reality of social distancing and remote work. An industry that flourished is the video-conferencing and streaming software. 3D technologies offer aid not only in changing your background dynamically and in real-time, but also in terms of easier communication and productivity.

Science & Forensics

Science utilizes 3D technologies to get a better understanding of different cases and hypotheses. 3D simulations and models are invaluable when it comes to testing conditions and experimenting. Any research and development department is more than lucky to have data in advance. This can prevent wasting time on useless solutions and will grant focus on real possibilities. Not to mention that 3D simulations can save lives instead of real testing of hazardous prototypes or chemicals.

Forensics utilizes 3D technologies to help investigators solve crimes and arrest highly intelligent criminals. Rule number one in law is that no one is guilty unless proven so. A typical crime scene has many riddles that require solving. This is key to determine what happened and who is responsible for the crime at hand. 3D laser scanning devices exist to aid detectives and their teams so that they do not miss crucial evidence or a clue. With their help, the crime scene documentation receives highly detailed accounts of evidence. The 3D technology captures millions of data points of a real-world environment. Thus it creates a 3D point cloud. The end result is a virtual environment that can be inspected from different angles and in-depth. It contains realistic and very accurate 3D computer graphical models.

3D Technologies are indeed empowering multiple industries!

In this post, you found out how and where 3D technologies are used. You discovered what the future holds and what you can expect.

What do you think about 3D technologies? Which ones have you used or will use? Share your thoughts and questions with us and let our professional team handle your 3D needs!

The post How 3D Technologies Empower Industries Around the World appeared first on Tornado Studios.

Covid-19 Financial Aid

Tornado Studios — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Nobody imagined that the scar of the COVID-19 pandemic would mark 2020. Millions of lives have been threatened by the deadly virus and its effects on the human organism. The pandemic, however, had even more far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the disease itself and efforts of all governments, businesses, institutions, and civilians to quarantine it – the most massive global recession in history.

As a responsible 3d design business, we do our best to ensure the safety of our employees during these times of uncertainty, fear for the health, and economic turmoil.
Our task was simple – make sure that the business continues as smoothly as possible with all the necessary safety measures demanded by the Bulgarian government and the World health organization.

And we managed to continue doing our best in terms of client satisfaction, CGI project rollouts, and deliveries. However, the pandemic made the economic conditions very hard for all parties in our industry. That is why even a promising business like ours needed a sound stimulus to be able to keep up with the pace of productivity.

Thanks to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Bulgarian government, and the Operational Programme “Innovations and Competitiveness”, we managed to receive а stimulus in the form of economic aid in the amount of 10 000 BGN (8500 from European co-financing and 1500 from national co-financing).

These financial assets allowed us to ensure that we could manage with the possible lack of funds and the loss of liquidity that the COVID-19 pandemic caused to various businesses from all industries worldwide. Furthermore – that economic aid gave us the confidence to continue expanding and growing in these uncertain times.

That is why we would like to thank the ERDF, the Bulgarian government, and the Operational Programme “Innovations and Competitiveness” for providing the needed support for our business. Their investment in prospective companies strengthens the economy and ensures the desired economic growth. Such aids make it possible and easier for digital orientated businesses (like our studio) to shift from in-office to online home office schedules thus allowing the continuation of the work with the preservation of human lives by social distancing.

The post Covid-19 Financial Aid appeared first on Tornado Studios.

3D in Movies – A gateway to endless possibilities

Tornado Studios — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

3D movies are much more than the IMAX effects you know from your local cinema. From this post, you will find out how and when 3D in movies was initially used and how it affected the movie industry. You will discover its exciting present and future applications. Read now:

There is not a single industry that has encountered 3D and remained the same as before. However, one industry, in particular, has been taken on another level thanks to the new technologies.

3D in movies changed the way they are produced, filmed and most of all experienced. Most folks consider 3D movies to be the ones you need to watch with 3D glasses in cinemas or at home. While this is true, there is much more to the story.

Stay with us until the end of this post to find out what is a 3D movie, how it evolved, how computer animation empowered the movie industry and what you can expect from the future.

The first usage of 3D in movies – the game is changed forever!

Ever since the movie industry was born in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries the producers wanted to improve their films in all possible ways. The concept of using some sort of 3D technology has been born.

The first attempts were stereoscopic 3D films. They were broadcasted on two separate screens. With the usage of a stereoscope and the merging of the images of both screens, the viewers could experience a 3D motion and at the time this was great!

Some may argue what was the first 3D movie. There are two popular picks – the 1903 short “L’arrivee du train” and the 1922’s “The Power of Love”. The first one was so realistic at its time that the viewers really thought that the arriving train would run through them.

However “The Power of Love” is considered the first 3D movie that was commercially released. Another important aspect of this movie was the first usage of anaglyph glasses (maybe the first-ever 3D movie glasses). Their lenses are in opposite colors (mostly red and cyan were the preferred choices) and this combined with a matching film strip would result in a 3D effect.

Next came the Teleview System created by Laurens Hammond and William F. Cassidy. This happened in late 1922. However, this format was too cumbersome and was eventually abandoned.

The experiments continued with other technologies however with the Great Depression these would become very expensive and eventually the industry took a brief halt. Only one notable success story exists during this period and it is the Audioscopiks. The 3D effect was achieved with the usage of anaglyph format utilizing red/cyan colors. The movie won the Academy Award in 1936.

When 3D in Movies really catches on?

The attack of the movies 3D craze was during the 1950s. It went for a short while and then it was reborn in the 1980s. This happened with the 1981’s Western “Comin’ at Ya!”. During this period 3D in Movies took several improvements and even animated features were introduced.

And this takes us to the ’90s where 3D proved its quality, endless possibilities and great viewer experience. Entering “Robocop 2” – the first usage of early real-time computer graphics to create a movie character. Also known as digital puppetry.

Another great example from the era – “Jurassic Park” from the director Steven Spielberg. It was the first movie to introduce the first photorealistic CG creatures.

“Babylon 5” – the first TV series to use CGI as their prime visual effects method. “The Matrix” – first usage of interpolation achieved with CGI. This was combined with the famous bullet-time effects.

“Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace” – the first extensive usage of CGI in a movie. The list goes on and on! And the first 3D animation movies also appeared during this period. Also classics like the original.

Star Wars trilogy was re-released in 3D effects by utilizing CGI characters and elements. Other movies also went through 3D conversion so that they can be more appealing to the younger audiences.

3D is used within every movie nowadays

Hollywood eventually became dependent on the possibilities and benefits of digital 3D movies. After all 3D in motion pictures made it simpler to create your set.

No more need for risky live action! Why? Because most (if not all) special effects are created thanks to CGI.

Want an incredible explosion, without killing some of your set crew or actors? Do it with the help of CGI! Want a gigantic wave to drown a megalopolis? Create both with 3D! Non-human characters do exist thanks to 3D technologies.

Take Thanos from the Avengers’ movies. The actor wore a special helmet and suit and did his part. All his moves were recorded, analyzed and re-created entirely in 3D. His face and body were modified so that he could be transformed from an ordinary human to the mighty titan Thanos.

And what about Gollum from the “Lord of the Rings”? Similar techniques were used to transform the actor.

But that is not all! 3D in movies allows the creation of entire worlds and even universes. Sci-fi movies cannot be created without 3D. They depend heavily on 3D technology to represent impossible conditions and places around the universe as well as forward or backward in time.

What about 3D animations?

A special case of the evolution of 3D in movies is Disney and Pixar. We all know the Disney animated classics. However thanks to the collaboration with Pixar an entirely new type of animation arose.

What was the first 3D animated movie? It was the first-ever “Toy Story” released in 1995. From then to the modern 3D animation we have seen the great evolution of these movies thanks to the constant efforts and creativity of 3D video movie makers and the technologies that they use.

The graphics became smoother and incredibly realistic whilst keeping the feeling of animation. That is why Disney and Pixar have created and will continue to create some of the best 3D animated movies!

With a good example of these studios, many other 3D animations are created from other 3D movie makers. Quality constantly improves. We have all sorts of animations nowadays – even great looking 3D animation action movies!

Prepare to be mind-blown

There is another important aspect. We can all agree that some movies will never be the same without certain actors. And if there is another movie in the series that needs to feature the same actor it would be disappointing (at least) if he is changed with another one.

Unfortunately, there are times that replacement is the only way. Sadly, we have seen such situations where a beloved actor passes away.

The other important aspect of 3D in movies is the possibility to resurrect actors from the dead, sort of speak. Take Paul Walker from the “Fast and Furious” series.

Another example is Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”. Peter Cushing – “Rogue One” is yet another example. The list goes on and on!

Some critics debate the moral aspects of resurrection with the aid of CGI, but one way or another it is a great way to see a loved familiar face once again. Of course for this resurrection, a real-life actor may still be needed, but he is only the carrier for the CGI image that the viewers are going to see. The procedure is similar to the creation of non-human characters and similar technologies are used.

Last but not least – 3D cinema

We have finally reached the part where we talk about 3D cinema. For most viewers, it is the only appliance of 3D in movies. However now we know that this isn’t entirely correct.

3D cinema utilizes the same CGI effects as its non-3D version. Here are added additional features that allow the images to come out of the screen.

Modern IMAX 3D movies provide a great viewer’s experience. You are part of the movie – it is happening in front of your eyes! Some of the best movies of all time have been presented with the help of 3D cinema!

It is no coincidence that most people thought that James Cameron’s “Avatar” (released in 2009) was the first 3D movie. In fact, it was the first 3D movie that revolutionized 3D cinema. Cameron revealed that initially this movie was planned to be filmed right after “Titanic”.

So originally we were to see “Avatar” around 1999. However, James Cameron considered the current technology not suitable for what he had in mind. With the latest 3D technology he was finally able to create history!

The success of Avatar is because of the combination of its exciting storyline, related to the exploration of outer space and the conquering of the foreign planet Pandora, plus all the non-human characters and worlds.

When it was announced with all its wonderful CGI effects and of course IMAX 3D shots, this movie caused the box office to literally explode! It set a new standard for future 3D filmmaking. People instantly fell in love with the new way of watching movies! That is why it was no surprise that soon many other great movies would follow!

Two years later another famous director decided to give 3D cinema a try. Martin Scorsese has produced his first 3D movie – “Hugo”. Again the audiences were thrilled! Hugo won 5 Academy Awards (out of 11 for which it was nominated): for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects.

Hugo was also nominated for eight BAFTAs and ended up winning two of them. This 3D movie is also the reason for Scorsese’s third Golden Globe Award for Best Director. Thanks to its wonderful storyline and effects, Hugo grossed $185 million against its $150–$170 million budget.

As of today – 3D cinema is a norm for movie makers! Most movies are made in two versions – 3D and non-3D. However, the recent practice is to always have a 3D debut on cinema and the non-3D versions are to be set for the small screen so that viewers can enjoy the movie at home.

How do 3D movies work?

Well, thanks to the special glasses that you are wearing in cinemas you can see a clear image and not a double one. The way this is achieved is by polarizing the light with two separate filters so that you can see a 3D picture. One is intended for the left eye and the other one – for the right eye.

This comes to answer the long asked question “can you watch a 3D movie without the glasses”. In short – you can but you will be seeing a double image with each of your eyes and that will be neither comfortable nor with great quality.

However, there are some technologies that allow this to happen. There are special displays that can bring 3D cinema to the audiences without the funky glasses. But these are not yet commercially available.

And while there are other solutions that can offer this for the home 3D television set, they cannot be scaled to larger screens such as cinemas’ yet. Nevertheless, the technology improves every day and maybe sooner this will be a reality.

There are also side by side 3D movies. A side by side 3D movie still requires glasses or other suitable peripherals to be seen as “coming from the screen”. The movie is split into two parts and each features the same image.

If you wear Anaglyph Red and Blue 3D Glasses (yes, like the ones from the dawn of 3D movies) you can again enjoy a 3D movie even at home. Some TV channels are created especially for 3D side by side movies and shows so that they can provide you with better experience. And such 3D glasses can be very cheap so that you can have as many as needed for your family and guests.

Is 3D cinema dangerous for your health?

Ever since the revolutionary return of 3D cinema people have been wondering if it is safe, especially for children. It is important to know that, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there is no evidence that watching something in 3D could damage a child’s vision. The same can be applied to adults as well.

In fact, if you watch 3D movies then the reception is pretty much the same as watching something in real life. Of course, some effects may cause dizziness but the cases are very few. Just to be on the safe side – always try to not watch too many 3D movies at once or if you do, then at least try to have a reasonable amount of breaks and physical activities between them.

What is the future of 3D in Movies?

Like other industries that have benefited from 3D, movies will soon rely on holograms. This will allow an even more immersive viewing experience and an entirely new line of movies. Imagine a large holographic cinema?

Mixed reality (AR & VR) will surely impact movies too. If you wanted to be part of the movie, touch, and feel, then these technologies are what will bring this dream into reality.

Another future usage of 3D in Movies is the AI deep fake, real-time productions. However, this must be approached with caution.

Deep fake can be dangerous. Why? Because such videos might be misleading and may lead to people believing false facts.

Deepfakes are produced by sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI). The result is a video manipulation that appears to be real in means of sound and looks.

Now imagine having this technology applied to a famous politician. Imagine hearing horrible things that seem true. Mass panic is only one of the disasters that may occur.

That is why such technology should not be used with illegal intentions. On the other hand, it can be extremely useful for the future of cinema and television if used correctly!

How do you feel about the endless possibilities and viewer experience of 3D in Movies?

In this post, you have found out what can be produced by skilled artists with suitable 3D animation and movie making software. You discovered how the best 3D movies of all time came to life since we took you on a journey to the dawn of 3D in movies. We have presented the way technology is used in movies and you know what to expect from the future. If you need help with your next movie project or have questions, do not hesitate to contact us!

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3D in Architecture – The Embodiment of Quality

Tornado Studios — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The modern architecture has come a long way from its original form. Today’s buildings and installations are not only stable but beautiful and cost-effective. The reason for this success is the introduction of 3D in Аrchitecture.

In this post, you will find out why this collaboration can easily be called an embodiment of quality. We will go through a brief history of 3D architecture.

You will learn why it is useful for the architects and how it helps them not only to attract clients or to create demonstrations but to ease the completion of architectural projects with surgical precision. Prepare to discover the future of 3D in architecture and what to expect from a modern 3D architectural firm.

How did 3D in Architecture come to life?

To learn this we have to go to the origins of architecture. And this means to return many years back when the ancient civilizations discovered the usefulness of architectural models or maquettes.

At first, they were used as gifts or to be placed at tombs. However, the first architects found out that these models could actually help them to investigate building techniques and to improve the quality and stability of the earliest constructions.

After this discovery the generations that would follow perfected the architectural models and introduced sketches and drawings for the purpose of architecture presentation, strict planning, and execution of the architectural project. For example, the construction of the dome for the Florence Cathedral by Filippo Brunelleschi was achieved with ease and precision due to the physical model that he made.

Thanks to it, he was able to guide the craftsmen and avoid flaws. Other great examples of physical models in architecture are Gaudí’s catenary arch models, Tatlin’s Tower, Liverpool Cathedral by Edwin Lutyens and many others.

When was 3d architectural model making introduced?

Despite the reliability of the tried methods, architects needed something that would allow them to design with perfection. They needed a model that would allow the client to see and feel the design of the future building as if it is already created. Drawings and ordinary physical models could not achieve this. And let’s not forget to mention the time wasted on creating them.

The solution was introduced in the digital era. The first 3D shapes in architecture were created. These models were the needed elegant and effective solution that the architects were seeking.

Thanks to the cutting-edge 3D technology the unthinkable came to be! Full-featured presentation of unbuilt projects?

See the unfinished building from all angles and edges? Architecture planning and modeling would never be the same!

All of this happened in the ‘80s when Jim Blinn became the first person to apply texture and bumps mapping in a 3D model. Thus the first simple and plain three-dimensional models came to life. Since the introduction of Blinn’s blobby models and texture mapping concepts, the usage of fractals in computer graphics allowed the architects to improve their work.

3D animations in architecture and 3D architectural rendering were both used with the latter being the favorite choice of many architects during these years. The 80’s also made 3D architecture software more readily available.

How the relationship between 3D and Architecture grew?

Early usage of 3D in architecture

The benefits that 3D architectural design software could offer helped some of the best architects and artists to make the decision to leave hand drawing in favor of digital design. One early (if not the earliest) 3D visualization in architecture was “The Peak” by Zaha Hadid. It was done with the help of computer graphics in 1983.

Developments of architectural software

The 90’s introduced the world to the early versions of programs that we are still using today. This is the various Autodesk 3D modeling and rendering software. They are based on ray tracing. In 1990 was released the first version of Autodesk 3D Studio.

Thanks to that architects could now draw spline lines and create geometric primitives. This software also allowed the creation of lofted surfaces and basic mesh editing. These are the fundamental features of the latest version of this program as well and this comes to show that the foundations of 3D architectural software were solid!

And 50 years later what started with the first 3D architecture design has grown into a powerful industry thanks to the developments of architectural software. Now architects could easily deal with 3D architectural exterior rendering, architectural 3D floor plans, 3D architectural mapping, the creation of 3D architecture diagrams, 3D architectural illustrations, 3D Dimensional Images in real estate and so on.

AutoCAD – used to plan the creation of a building

A specific type of software came to life eventually. This is AutoCAD and it became a staple of constructional engineers and architects. During its development towards the present Autodesk (its creators) have added some powerful features that are specifically useful for building design. AutoCAD is also packed up with architecture toolkits.

So it is no surprise that this tool was the standard solution in the past for 3D architecture building models and 3D software architecture diagrams. Even today many architects are still relying on it.

The caveat, in this case, is that this software is still firmly aligned to older working practices. There are newer solutions that allow the transition to a Building Information Modelling application (BIM) future.

The great news is that AutoCAD files can be used with other software which provides some unique features for architects to create masterpieces. Some of the best 3D software for architecture nowadays are 3DS Max, Revit, Civil 3D, Chief Architect, and others.

How is 3D used in architecture and how it helps in the building process

Different scenarios

What does 3D architecture entail is many process optimization techniques that lead to the superb quality of the final project? Thanks to 3D architectural visualization & rendering architects can easily examine various scenarios and choose the ones that suit the best purpose. If a flaw occurs in the plan it can be changed and the design can be improved with ease.

Detailed process planning

Because of the usage of visualization 3D architecture can allow detailed process planning. Thus everyone connected in the building process can be kept aware of the important communications and any following developments on the project.

All roles can be clearly defined through the model. Thus project engineers, suppliers, architects, and contractors will know exactly what to do and when. This allows the elimination of chaotic actions that may disrupt the project. Also, the project execution is totally improved as field interferences and reworks are minimized whilst productivity is increased.

Speed

Speed is another factor. Competition in the architectural market is high and the faster a design is created and delivered, the better. The sophisticated software and tools for 3D house architecture are offering faster design proposals with detailed control over the elements in the rendering.

Interior and exterior design improvements

3D models for architecture interior designers are greatly beneficial. They now have the ability to show clients their finished home with all the furniture, plants and even paintings placed on the walls.

This provides clients with an attractive and extremely persuading view of how their dream home or maybe desired office space will look like after the completion of the interior designing process. Exterior designers are also taking benefits as any modern 3D model architecture exterior design can offer details and precision.

Apt measurements

Architectural 3D models for visualization can also help with the display of apt measurements. This allows the digital representation of physical objects and their relations with accurate proportions. 3D models in architecture are also self-explanatory because of the provided instructions that come along as 2D drawings, 2D sketches, and representations.

3D printing for detailed physical architectural models

A 3D printed architectural model can persuade any client that wants to see a physical but yet very detailed model. The different filaments can provide a look and feel for various materials – wood, metal, grass – you name it!

This allows visualization to comprehend elevations, dimensions, and spatial relationships between structural elements. And not only that 3D printed architectural models are extremely detailed – they are easier and faster to make than traditional physical models from the past.

3D as a tool for selling and presenting buildings and architectural projects

In the end, all comes down to faster lead generation and client approvals. Marketing is important for any architect if he wants to profit from his work. 3D models are the perfect tool to win the client and to get the project up and running.

A 2D image will always have limitations and an ordinary physical model cannot compete with a 3D one (printed or digital). Thanks to 3D in Architecture the offers are more compelling and they can remove client uncertainties and doubts with ease.

Modern innovations in Architecture that bring the future to the industry

The definition of 3D architecture is quality! To provide as much as possible of it, designers are utilizing the modern VR and AR technologies that allow superb visualizations mixed with reality. This will also improve the overall planning and project execution process.

And if you have thought that 3D in Architecture has already reached its full potential then think again. Thanks to the Zebra Imaging Inc. the cutting-edge holographic imagery has finally arrived! Holograms can provide an even better understanding of an architectural design without the need for additional wearables (as in the case of VR and AR).

Now architects can attract investors and clients even easier as they can use the power of holograms to explore imaginary spaces with ease. This can be used to influence the further developments of ideas and plans.

And 3D printing will continue to improve thus allowing even more detailed and realistic physical models to be presented to all sides.

3D in Architecture is indeed an embodiment of quality!

In this post, you discovered the importance and history of 3D in Architecture. You now know what you can expect from a modern architect or interior/exterior designer. You have also found out what the future holds for this technology and how the architectural software has improved during the years.

If you have any questions or maybe need a team of dedicated professionals to help you with architectural 3D rendering and design services, then drop us a call or contact us by email.

The post 3D in Architecture – The Embodiment of Quality appeared first on Tornado Studios.

3D in Games – An epic tale of a new world

Tornado Studios — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Electronic games took their first steps in 1947 and since then their development and fan base are rapidly increasing. Nowadays gaming is a way of life and some may even say it is a vocation! With that being said – there is not a single true gamer that would imagine a modern game without 3D. Why? Because 3D is the engine powering the gaming industry and taking it to new heights with every title released! In this post, we are going to present to you the epic tale of a new world where 3D in Games is dominating the industry. Let’s kickstart, shall we?

What are the origins of 3D in Games?

The first games on electronic displays are around since 1947. In 1950 appeared the first true video game. The first consoles, arcade machines, and all-time-favorite classics were born during the ’70s and ’80s.
Then gaming reached mainstream popularity and after a brief cooldown caused by the video game crash in 1983 (also known as the Atari shock in Japan), the industry was reborn.

What was the first 3d game? What was the first 3d game?

As for the first 3D Games – they began to roll out after 1974 when the development of “Spasim” and “Maze War” started so it is hard to name a single title for the “first 3D game”. In the first one, the gamer is flying between space networks with the possibility to see other players doing the same around him. The second one can easily be named the great-grandfather of all 3d shooting games (first-person shooters to be more exact).

How graphics in 3D video games have evolved during the years?

During the ’80s were introduced the pseudo-3D graphics (an illusion of 3D is created for the gamer while the game is entirely in 2D). A great example of this technique is the original Starcraft game (released in the ’90s and re-mastered a couple of years ago).

In the ’80s the world also saw the first 3D racing games and car games 3D development. And during the 90’s thanks to the constant re-developing of first-person shooters and 3D gun games we got Wolfenstein 3D and later on the Quake series and other subsequent titles utilizing the same 3D game engine.

During the 90’s we were also introduced to the fifth generation of consoles. The Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and SEGA Dreamcast were changing the world forever! We saw the first 3D fighting games, 3D pixel games and many other types of 3D games.

What is more important is that in Nintendo 64 the 3D game models relied on clever sprite placement and manipulation. So despite the more advanced hardware capabilities of the console, the techniques used to achieve a 3D experience were merely the same as before its time. The first game with 3D game assets that were truly 3D and not just sprites and pixels was Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast!

The 90’s also laid the foundations of the PC gaming as we know it today. With constant upgrades and new software, the PC gamers were getting awesome 3D games with great looking 3D game objects.

What about modern games and gaming platforms? How important is 3D in Games today?

The biggest players on the console market nowadays are Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony. The world is expecting the next generation of consoles that rely heavily on 3D full HD and 4K graphics, precise controls and online multiplayer.

As for the PC games – the hardware is improving constantly and the next generation of NVIDIA and AMD video cards as well as AMD and Intel processors will blast our minds away. Even today a modern PC configuration can easily run a heavy 3D game with 60 FPS without any hassle. Online multiplayer is also important among PC gamers.

There are many platforms that can provide you with high-quality games of any genre on the PC. Steam, Uplay, Origin, Epic Games and many others are not only selling games but helping with the building of gaming communities as well.

A new type of 3D games is on the rise in the last decade. Mobile gaming! With the high demand for more powerful smartphones and tablets, the gaming capabilities of these devices are also constantly improving. Modern mobile GPU’s and CPU’s allow gamers to enjoy many great 3D games on the go.

There are many choices for your mobile device, no matter if it’s running on Android or iOS. Have your kids play their favorite 3d toy game or maybe their favorite 3d coloring games and 3d shape games?

Not a problem! Play first-person shooters, racing games, strategy games – you name it! And all of this is in your pocket!

Modern 3D platform games (consoles, PC, mobile) are entering a new era. AR & VR gaming! In these games, you are truly part of the gameplay. You can interact with any 3D object in the games with ease.

Mixed reality gaming brings 3D into the real world. You can basically play on the go. The capabilities of these technologies will soon allow you to play any game in 3D.

There is another important segment of the gaming market – board games. While most of them are physical games they do rely on 3D. How? Well for starters many board games will have figures which require 3D design and 3D printing.

Also, many of the board games are already re-created as 3D video games thus allowing online multiplayer with friends from all over the world. And let’s not forget the great possibilities that AR and VR can offer! With these technologies, board gaming is taken to the next level.

There are already some platforms like Tilt Five that allow friends to play a unique form of a board game in 3D! The feeling is the same as before as friends are gathered around a table playing and having fun together. And this is improved by bringing a unique point of view to the game to each player allowing them to secretly plan a new strategy for their next turn.

Thus board gaming can offer new experiences, supreme graphics for the maps without the need for large fields (and of course large tables).

All of this entirely in 3D with glamorous virtual effects! And yes – the possibility for online multiplayer is still present. You can play remotely with all your friends. The future for board gaming is here now!

Despite the fact that online multiplayer is on the rise, there is also a never-ending demand for high-quality 3D single-player games. In them, the player plays against the game. To be more challenging, these games need a powerful AI.

Want to beat a tricky boss? That’s what we are talking about! Having a virtual co-op with an NPC (non-playable character)?

Again you need a powerful AI to aid you according to your actions. And this is something to expect from the latest 3D games.

What will be the future of 3D in Games?

Mixed reality will surely be on the rise and 3D game creators are constantly aiming at improvements. You can expect interactions with holograms and more in-game immersion due to the constant development of 3D game making tools and 3D game creation software. You can also expect even more realistic graphics. Undoubtedly sooner or later they will be so good that they will be extremely hard to distinguish amongst real-life objects.

A specific case for virtual reality is the improvement of touch and feel the experience. New controllers are made that allow the gamer to not only see and move a 3D game object but also to fully interact with it by feeling its presence.

This is achieved by the integration of multiple sensors – muscle, 3D motion, and others. Multi-channel electronic muscle stimulators and vibration motors are also included. With their aid, the gamer body will receive haptic feedback impulses from the game and therefore can touch and feel the virtual objects as if they were real-life ones.

Non-virtual gaming will also continue to flourish. With better monitors, video cards and CPU’s 4K gaming will become the next standard for both PC and consoles. Mobile gaming will also continue to improve with next-gen devices already on their way.

With the increased realism of graphics and the possibility of touch & feel, as well as AI improvements one can begin to wonder if one day humans will decide that the real world is not for them and will prefer the virtual reality where they can be god-like. If virtual reality becomes part of the day-to-day life then lots of people might prefer spending their time in such virtual spaces, especially if their social needs are fully met.

However the possibility of becoming 100% virtual humans cannot be taken into serious consideration. While the virtual escapism might be compelling for some, others will still prefer the real life with real in-person communication and interaction.

However, risk of overusing virtual reality is at hand and gamers need to take their health into consideration. That is why it is important to have rested with physical activities between gaming sessions.

Speaking of a healthy lifestyle – virtual and mixed reality can help for keeping you fit. There are many sports simulators and 3D running games. All you need is a treadmill and a compelling terrain to unleash your run. And all of this without having to leave your home!

3D games are a wonderful thing!

In this post, you were introduced to the world of 3D games. You found out more about their origins, present, and future. An endless possibility is ahead for everyone who intends to create and sell 3D models for games.

The development of technologies will require better designs and 3D models. That is why 3D artists have accepted the challenge and are giving their very best to create the realism that a true gamer can expect from a high-quality 3D game. 3D game makers will continue to create compelling storylines.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us and if you need assistance for your next 3D game project, you can count on us!

The post 3D in Games – An epic tale of a new world appeared first on Tornado Studios.

3D Modeling Software – Origins and Purpose

Tornado Studios — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

We are surrounded by 3D models! They are practically used in almost every industry – animations, movies, video games, education, engineering, architecture and so on. The examples are endless and this means only one thing – the demand for 3D models of the highest quality is increasing on day-to-day basis!

These models are created by qualified 3D artists. And the tools that are needed to craft these masterpieces are called 3D Modeling Software. In this blog post we will share with you the origins and purpose of the 3D modeling tools and if you stay with us until the end you will also discover what the future holds for them. Let’s do this, shall we?

What is 3D Modeling Software?

To better understand this we have to first explain what is 3D Modeling itself. In 3D Computer Graphics this is the process of creating a digital representation of an object or surface in three dimensions. Consider this to be a realistic drawing. However, there is much more complexity involved for its creation which on the other hand allows for the incorporation of real-time data and interaction with the model using a computer.

To do this you need to use 3D software. The users of these 3D modeling programs are called 3D Artists. Their 3D modeling skills allow them to create advanced graphics with a high level of realism and attention to detail.

What are the origins of the 3D modeling software?

Software 3d modeling, as we know it, can be traced back to 1960. In that year Ivan Sutherland created Sketchpad – the first 3D digital modeling software. And the world was changed forever! Artists had new horizons, new possibilities, and new challenges.

By introducing Sketchpad to the world, Ivan Sutherland started the 3D era in which we live today! The creation of the grandfather of all modern modeling software caused the developers to react and to think for new and improved versions and other options for 3D imaging software. As of then the development of 3D modeling software was constantly improved so that each new addition to the family can provide more value for the clients and more flexibility and options for 3D artists.

What types of 3D Modeling Software exist?

Modern 3D modeling programs combine both 3D and 2D features under one hood, however, some of them are marketed to provide these features into separate packages. And all of them have the ability to produce high-quality 3d models.

Many of the programs overlap in terms of capabilities. This means that they can be used in all areas of graphic, environmental and product design. However, if you think that there is a “one size fits all” principle for the usage of 3D models, then think again.

So what is the difference between all the players on the market? It depends on the type of 3D artists and their needs. There are vast job possibilities for them.

For example, a 3D artist may decide to create animations. In this case, the best 3d making software will be the one that can provide capabilities like NURMS that allow the creation of faster and highly detailed 3D models.

An artist who will create models for the gaming industry will need one of the top 3D modeling software capable of crafting masterpieces that can simulate real-world with mind-boggling visuals. And even AR and VR designs as this is a thing for modern games!

When we are speaking for 3D product marketing, then the best 3d modeling software will be the one that is capable of polygon modeling, spline (NURBS) modeling or 3D sculpting. An artist that creates 3D models for prototypes will need good 3D software that puts the focus on creating CAD 3D models for 3D printing. Other artists are dedicated to 3D marketing animations and designs, architecture modeling and so on. You can clearly see the pattern.

What is the best program for 3d modeling?

Again this depends on the usage of the 3D modeling itself and the type of 3D artist. That is why it is very hard, almost impossible, to name the best software for 3d art.

However, most specialists will point to Autodesk Maya. The reason for this is because it is used the most, especially in animation studios (including Pixar). And this is for a good reason, as Autodesk Maya provides 3D artists with a massive array of powerful tools in a single package.

The application is also capable of truly jaw-dropping live rendering features as well. That is why it is one of the best software for making 3d models.

Then what are the top 10 3D modeling software that you can choose from?

Autodesk Maya

You already know why it is on this list. Despite its advantages, there is a downside to choosing this program. It is expensive and not beginner-friendly. This means that you will have to spend some time learning how to use it before creating 3D Models with it. However, if you have the time and money, Autodesk Maya is 100% worth the investment as it is entirely capable to help you create an awesome portfolio that will catch the clients’ attention.

Autodesk 3Ds Max

Our next pick is Autodesk 3Ds Max. One of the programs that can provide you with the best 3d software modeling. 3Ds Max has been around for a long time. It is safe to say that it is one of the pioneers in 3D modeling.

Considered to be one of the most stable and one of the best modeling software, this gem brings power with it! Need a gigantic library that gives access to countless functions? Want to make the process of modeling less tedious? In this case, you can safely consider 3Ds Max the best tool for 3d modeling.

On the downside of things, it is not cheap, however, there is a free student license. This means if you are a student and want to learn how to unleash the power of 3Ds Max you can do this without limitations.

And if you are considering to purchase a license for your business but are not sure if the program is the right choice, there is a free trial mode. During the 30 days exhibition period, you will have access to all the features and this time is enough to make up your mind.

AutoCAD 3D

If you consider using a powerful Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software then here is a tool to take into deep consideration. AutoCAD 3D has a solid modeling functionality. Provides photorealistic 3D rendering and it works with multiple formats such as DFG, PDF and DNG.

This program has a wonderful tool palette. With it you can import model data from online sources and even mobile devices. Another unique feature is the possibility of collaboration. This means that multiple users can work on a single project.

Houdini

Moving on to the next nominee for the “best software to make 3d models” award – Houdini. This program is another industry-standard tool that packs powerful features.

The methodology used by Houdini is a little different. It uses a node-based procedural style of production. What is so special about this?

Well, if you are a 3D artist that wants a vast amount of control over the modeling process, then for you Houdini might be the best software to create 3d models with. Do not think that it is easy to use though!

Like Maya, you will have to do some learning before creating 3D art. However, with some persistence, you will be crafting masterpieces in no time. Another disadvantage is the fact that Houdini is on the expensive side.

Modo

If you are wondering “What 3d modeling software should I use that stands out of the crowd?” then your search may be over! Modo takes its pride in doing things differently than the other applications on the market.

And it is not a coincidence! Modo is created with art in mind – not just animation! That is why its selection of tools is quite interesting and can offer great results.

Another advantage is its user-friendly interface. Thanks to it Modo can be titled as one of the easiest to use 3d modeling software.

Even a novice user can start using it with relative ease. This means that you do not need years of training and perfection to start creating 3D art. Its powerful rendering engine is good enough to allow you to create professional models on the fly.

Autodesk Mudbox

One of the easiest to use 3d modeling software and part of the Autodesk family. Its focus is placed on editing and sculpting 3D models. The toolset that comes with Mudbox is simple and intuitive.

With it, you can handle more complex 3D tasks without problems. Some of the features that will make you fall in love with Mudbox are:

on the fly polygon count increase;
gradual adjustments of 3D models for absolute perfection;
the ability to set up layers;
powerful texture creation;
correct meshes and more

On the downside – if you want to focus on rigging, texturing, and animation, then Mudbox is not your best option. But if you want to create 3D art from scratch and sculpt models then your bet is safe with it!

Cinema 4D

Another serious player in the 3D Modeling Software market is Cinema 4D. It gives you the capability to produce perfect motion graphics design.

The quality is superb and it is very easy to learn. A perfect choice for beginners. However, it is very expensive but a free trial option is available.

ZBrush

Do you want to sculpt human shapes, animals, places? Then ZBrush is a choice to be considered. Especially for the video game design industry. It is also suitable for 3D printing purposes as well.

This sculpting tool combines 3D and 2.5D modeling, texturing and painting. Its proprietary “pixel” technology takes to care for the storage of color, lighting, orientation, material and depth information for all points that make up the objects on the screen.

With ZBrush, you can create high-resolution models. It is so powerful that it is able to reach over 40 million polygons. Its user interface is perfect for art creation – it provides all the necessary tools for you to unleash your creativity from scratch. Another great plus of ZBrush is its price, compared to the previous options.

Rhinoceros

Packed with an easy to learn toolset, this 3D software allows you to start creating instantly. Its high compatibility and well-designed rendering engine allow the processing of complex animations without considerable slowdown. Free to use for 90 days – a time which will be more than enough to decide if Rhinoceros answers the question “What is the easiest 3d modeling software to use?”

Blender

One of its main advantages is that this is a free open-source multiplatform 3D modeling software. If you wanted to know what’s the best 3d modeling software amongst the free options, then you have a definitive winner. It comes with all the needed tools that allow you to create 3D art.

For example:

Texturing
Sculpting
Rigging
Animation
even UV

Blender is equipped with a solid rendering engine. You can expect constant updates and improvements – again free of charge and always up-to-date. This is the power of open-source software!

A few honorable mentions for our list of free 3D modeling software:

You already know what is the best 3D modeling program in the open-source world. However, you may check some of these free options as well:

3D slash – free with a premium option. Suitable for beginners;
TinkerCAD – supports multiple file formats and it is a CAD software for newbies that runs in a browser;
FreeCAD – free multiplatform software for intermediate users;
Daz Studio – this software was recently made free and it can be used for 3D art using human, animal and other assets;
Houdini Apprentice – the free version of Houdini;

What is the future of 3D modeling software?

Constant improvements are a thing to expect. Some of them are related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Auto-generated 3D models will be created with little or no effort from the human artist. All it will take will be some slider adjustments and usage of specific libraries.

Even now there are AI tools that can convert any 2D photo or image into a 3D object in seconds.

However, do not expect that AI will be able to fully replace human 3D artists. While machine learning will allow it to grow a larger knowledge base and to adopt even better techniques, human artists will be needed to create libraries, requirements and so on. And for high budget projects (movies and AAA video games) they will most likely be irreplaceable.

Another expectation for the future of 3D modeling software is the focus on 3D printing so you can expect improvements there as well.

3D Modeling Software was, is and will be a game-changer!

In this post, you found out more about these programs, learned about their origins and know what you can expect for the future. You also learned that there is not a single answer to the question “What is the best 3d modeling software?” but you were presented with some of the best options for specific cases and projects.

What do you think? Which is your favorite choice? Share with us and if you need help with deciding or want a professional 3D modeling service, do not hesitate to contact us!

The post 3D Modeling Software – Origins and Purpose appeared first on Tornado Studios.

3D Rendering – a brief history of its evolution

Tornado Studios — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

3D models surround us, and sometimes they are so realistic that we cannot even realise they are just a piece of rendered art. Movies, architecture, engineering, video games, medicine – you name it! Unless you have been living under a rock in the past few decades, you have probably asked yourself questions about the world of 3D. One of them is “What is 3D Rendering?” and you might have also been wondering since when it has been around?

In this post, we are going to give you all the answers to these questions and much more. Stay with us to the end to discover the exciting history of the evolution of 3D Rendering. Are you ready? Then let’s go

First things – first!

3D rendering is a creative process in which modellers and renderers produce an image based on a 3D model stored in a computer. It is very similar to photography and cinematography, and this is not a plain coincidence! When you are taking pictures with your camera, you know what you are photographing. The scene is in front of you. Same goes for making a movie.

But the 3D scenes that you will be rendering are imaginary. This means that everything you want to appear in 3D rendering is created in advance in the computer. When you have this done, you can start rendering the 3D computer graphics. The 3D visualisation that is going to be created is based on the idea that is portrayed. That, on the other hand, will determine a few critical things – specific colours, textures and materials for particular objects in the images.

The whole process can be summarised in a few steps:

The client requires a 3D Renderings and provides precise specification and description;
A 3D artist creates the scene, which is also known as “3D computer modeling”;
All the needed materials and texture mapping are set up. Wood, glass, bricks, marble, etc.;
A suitable light source is chosen, and the lighting is set up next;
The 3D computer software starts creating the image – a.k.a. Renders it;
The client receives the render and starts using it;

It may sound simple, but you need to take into consideration that the more detailed the 3D computer modelling needs to be, the more effort it receives from the designer and more computing power and processing time is required. That is why you need 3D experts with professional equipment to take care of all of these things for you.

3D Rendering for interactive digital media (computer or console games, simulations) is displayed and calculated in real-time at approximately 20 to 120 frames per second (FPS). Non-interactive digital media animations (videos, films) require longer rendering times.

More information on the topic can be found in our blog.

When and how 3D Rendering was born?

3D computer graphics can be traced back to 1960 when the graphic designer William Fetter explored the perspective fundamentals of creating computer animation for a human body. Thus he became the pioneer of creating such figure as a 3D model!

What was that first figure? Well, it was a pilot in a Boeing cockpit. The idea was to simulate the needed space for that cockpit. The model became known as the Boeing Man and later as Boeman. Fetter is also responsible for the coining of the term Computer Graphics (CG).

Next, in 1963, a miracle happened. The first 3D modelling program Sketchpad was created. The author Ivan Sutherland took care of this during his time at MIT. For his creation, he became known as the Computer Graphics Father.

The newly born baby needed to learn to crawl. This happened in 1975 with the creation of the “Utah Teapot” by the researcher Martin Newell. What is so special about it? If you are familiar with computer programming, you may have heard that there is a default program that each beginner creates for each programming language. It is called “Hello world”, and its idea is to display the same text on the computer screen. In the realms of 3D modelling, the “Utah Teapot” is so iconic that it can be safe to say that it is the “Hello world” equivalent and thus it became the standard test render.

What 3D Rendering Techniques, Tools and Computer Software exist?

There are several techniques that artists can use:

Rasterisation – one of the oldest methods. It treats the model as a polygon mesh with vertices with embedded information. These vertices are projected on the camera, and they act as borders thus allowing the pixels to be filled with colors, textures, etc. Rasterisation is fast, and it is still used today. Especially when it comes to real-time rendering.
Ray Casting – this technique solves to overlapping problems that rasterisation faced. The idea behind this technique is to cast rays on the model from the perspective of the camera’s view.
Ray Tracing – allows the proper simulation of shadows, reflections and refractions. This is the improvement to Ray Tracing, even though the latter provides various advantages on its own.

Speaking of the suitable tools and software, here we need to define three categories:

Hardware:

Your computer is the primary tool that you will need. The more powerful, the better! You will also need a well-calibrated monitor and other suitable peripherals.

Plugins and 3D rendering software:

Some of the popular programs that allow you to create high-quality 3D renders are 3Ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D and Blender. They can be aided with various plugins. Currently, some of the best ones are Vray, RailClone, Ornatrix, thinking Particles and Arnold. There are also free and paid 3d rendering software and plugins, and even some of them can run under various operating systems.

And what about suitable 3D Rendering engines?

There are 7 of them that are worth mentioning. The leaders in this category are:

Lumion – most used by designers, architects and urban planners. A standalone engine.
Iray – owned by Nvidia, his engine focuses on material behaviour and light. By using Iray, you can set up the duration of the rendering process. This control over time makes it the desired choice when the requirement is not only high-quality render but also a mere draft so that the artist idea can be illustrated. This engine is widely used for architecture, design, engineering, advertising, movies and marketing purposes.
KeyShot – you can use it with native CAD file formats as well as many others. The total supported 3D file formats are over 40. It is used for product design, animation, advertising, engineering and other industries.
Mental Ray – currently belongs to Nvidia. This engine utilises ray-tracing, and it supports distributed rendering – a popular choice for the architectural industry.
Maxwell Render -is considered to be one of the most realistic rendering engines. It is also a standalone engine that offers camera adjustments after the start of the rendering process. This may result in increased time, but the result is worth it. Most applicable for architectural visualisation, movies, animations and product design purposes.
Corona Renderer – this engine has plugins for many applications and also a standalone version. Famous with its unprecedented speed and quality and ability to handle complex post-production. There is only one engine that is more popular than Corona Renderer, and it is:
V-Ray – considered to be the ultimate leader in the 3D rendering industry. Available also as standalone 3d rendering software. It is known for its remarkable quality, superb handling of motion blur and other effects, extraordinary speed and the support of distributed rendering. V-Ray is not only the favourite choice of architects and designers but also for films, TV, animations and others.

How did 3D rendering affect the industries?

The creation of 3D rendering quickly changed the work processes in various industries. Let’s take engineering and architecture, for example. Prototypes and presentations are more detailed with the aid of computer-generated images. Not to forget to mention that 3D modelling is efficient in terms of costs and time-saving.

Another good example is the movie industry. 3D computer graphics allow studios to create movies with perfect quality by providing high-definition effects and images to the general physical effects of the film. The 3D animation movies cannot be created unless using 3D rendering.

Want another application? Video games! The gaming industry is flourishing. The consumer’s demand for constant graphic improvements and realism is satisfied with the evolution of the rendering techniques, engines, software and tools.

What about the future?

First, we have to say that in the present, there are some critical applications for 3D Rendering. Here we are speaking about VR – virtual reality, MR – mixed reality and AR – augmented reality. The difference between them is that AR uses the live view and adds digital components to it, while VR is an entirely computer-generated world that shuts out the physical one. In VR, everything is digital. MR, on the other hand, combines elements from both VR and AR.

Now, since we have cleared this out, let’s talk about the future of these technologies and their connection with 3D rendering. It is not a secret that the gaming industry will continue to upgrade and rely more and more on them. It is expected that around 59% of the current and potential projects utilising AR, VR and MR will be relevant to the gaming space.

However, two more industries are expected to benefit from these technologies. Here we are speaking of education and training.

Another expectation for 3D rendering is to be widely used for the creation of holograms. Holography is using light diffraction to make an image. The projection can be used for various applications – exhibitions, service booths, etc.

One thing is certain – 3D rendering is and will be important for our everyday life in one way or another!

In this post, we have learned how it evolved from the earliest computer graphics to the most advanced VR games ever made. You also found out what tools and computer software are needed for modellers and renderers so that they can create high-quality 3D visualisations. We are sure that this evolution will not stop and more industries will soon benefit from 3D rendering. What do you think? Would your business benefit by integrating 3D computer graphics for your processes and marketing purposes? If you have questions, want to know more about this topic or need assistance for your next project, contact us or leave a comment.

The post 3D Rendering – a brief history of its evolution appeared first on Tornado Studios.

Digitalization – Importance and Application

Tornado Studios — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The modern relation between business and customers utilizes new experiences and engagements. To meet that demand, every day a vast amount of content and analog information is transferred from the physical world to the virtual, thus becoming immortal for many generations to come. Industry 4.0 introduced the digital era to the world!

Do you remember that spinning image of the car you wanted to buy? Or that funny non-human character in the movie? Perhaps you recall having a great time with that computer game?

Do you know what is the common thing between them all? The answer is 3D Digitalization! In this post, we will explain it in detail.

By the end of it you will know:

What is the importance and application of Digitalization and Digital transformation
How digital technologies allow the adoption of digital business models
When and how it was created
How it will allow technologies like AR and VR to lead to a future of mixed reality that will be used daily
Why it is important to digitalize processes
Trends and future
So without further adieu let’s kick it off!

What is Digitalization?

In general, this is the conversion of analog source material into a numerical format (analog to digital transformation). It allows various information in different formats to be carried efficiently and to be intermingled. And when we are speaking of 3D Digitalization this means the re-creation of objects from the physical world into the digital one. The output is a digital representation of digital objects, images, videos, etc. Digitalization is also known as Digitization.

Digital data can be easily accessed and shared. That is why many businesses prefer to digitize documents, products, processes and so on. Therefore it is a favored way of preserving data and in terms of 3D this is crucial for the digital preservation of architectural masterpieces, historic monuments, art, objects, products and much more! When they enter the digital world they will remain there for the foreseeable future.

The unstoppable forces of decay over time will not be able to damage the digital object in any way. This also creates possibilities for virtual tours of museums, archaeological sites and so on.

Digitization and digitalization are also cost-effective in the long run and can be used for improved customer engagement. This is also a key characteristic of Industry 4.0. Speaking of the latter – Industry 4.0 combines different technologies to integrate digital information from various sources so that the physical act of manufacturing can be improved as well as the business-customer relationship.

Some of the technologies that are used for this purpose are:

Virtual and Augmented Realities (VR and AR)
Holograms
Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Internet of Things (IoT) and relevant technologies
Analytics

When and how Digitalization started?

3D Digitalization relies mainly on two methods – 3D scanning and Photogrammetry. So our journey back in time starts with the oldest of them. The earliest usage of Photogrammetry was in 1840 when the French Geodeist Arago used a process called Daguerreotype. The name itself was coined by the Prussian Architect Albrecht Meydenbauer in 1867.

After its initial usage, Photogrammetry passed through many cycles, each lasting around 50 years:

Plane Table Photogrammetry;
Analog Photogrammetry;
Analytical Photogrammetry;
Digital Photogrammetry;

Nowadays the latter is widely used as well as 3D Scanning which relies on specific scanners to re-create an object as a 3D Model.

3D Scanning was born in 1960 and the earliest tools used lights, cameras and projectors to perform their operation. After 1985 3D Scanning was improved by introducing scanners that use white light, lasers and shadowing to capture the surface of the objects.

The end result of both Photogrammetry and 3D Scanning is the same – a 3D Model. That is why Digital Photogrammetry can also be viewed as another way of scanning.

Let’s find out more about these two methods for Digitalization!

What is Photogrammetry?

Photogrammetry is the technology, science, and art of capturing reliable information about physical objects and the environment. It relies on the process of recording, measuring and interpreting photographic material and patterns. Initially, this method was used for topographic mapping.

Nowadays it has applications in other spheres as well. Photogrammetry can be used for manufacturing, police investigation, architecture, geology, engineering, meteorology, and cultural heritage.

There are aerial and close-range variants of this method. The first one relies on taking pictures from an aircraft and the second refers to the collection of photographic material from a lesser distance.

To digitize an object by using Photogrammetry you need reliable camera equipment. While any camera might be used, it is highly recommended to consider a few things. First, a DSLR camera will provide you with many different settings, raw image formats and, of course, high-quality images.

Second, you will need a suitable lens that will provide wide-angle, without any distortions. Third, you need to apply a specific set of settings by focusing on the ISO. The lower it is, the better the image quality you will get. A tripod might also come in handy, depending on the objects that you are trying to digitize.

Next, you have to start photographing the object. For the purpose of Digitalization, you will need to take a picture from all sides. After this, the captured photographs need to be processed by using specific software like Autodesk ReCap, Photomodeler, 3DF Zephyr, Pix4D, Reality Capture.

One very important thing to bear in mind is the fact that the processed 3D scan may need optimizing. Sometimes 3D artists may need to re-create it so that it can be used for a specific purpose without causing distortions and lag (especially for video game purposes).

What is 3D Scanning?

Photogrammetry, as it became clear earlier in this post, is a method of 3D Scanning. However, it can also be achieved by using specific hardware – 3D Scanners. The process is again the same – the surface of the object needs to be scanned from all sides and degrees and the gathered data needs to be processed with suitable software so that a digital form of the object is created.

Scanning itself can be challenging especially if the geometry of the object is complex. But thanks to the development of powerful computing systems, the depiction of both the geometrical and chromatic information of the scanned object is processed with great time-efficiency. Because of the progress in the development of such systems, the market for 3D Scanners has been continuously evolving. There are contact and non-contact scanners that allow 3D artists to gather data efficiently.

The usage of 3D Scanning allows faster and better three-dimensional digitalization, compared to other methods. After the scan is over, the software-generated 3D Model usually goes through an optimization process.

How 3D Studios digitize content?

They do it using the methods already mentioned above. However, there are other ways of digitizing as well. For example, 3D Artists can use single or few photographic images as a base with which they can model or sculpt the 3D Model.

Another way is to use the blueprints of an object. These methods are more time-consuming and more effort is needed for the completion of the digitalization projects. But Photogrammetry and 3D Scanning are also not that easy.

Many times the data that needs to be gathered requires a variety of activities. Traveling teams with scanning or photogrammetry equipment are sent to a specific location to scan. And the conditions may be harsh – from freezing temperatures to under-water activities. For example, scanning a shipwreck may involve a mixture of 360-degree video captures and photogrammetry.

Also, many diving sessions need to be performed by skilled specialists. Let’s not forget that the gathered video and photo materials will have a huge size in gigabytes and this will also result in a complex computer processing time. One WW2 shipwreck scanning took 24,307 images with a size of 637GB, processed for about 65 days.

What are the Digitalization trends?

The VR and AR technologies are placing the focus on 3D Digitalization. They have various purposes, but in terms of client engagement, they help with improving the uptime. The old marketing techniques pursued, like motivating the customer to visit a physical showroom, store or another location to try and purchase a product or service. And you can imagine how challenging this is, especially when a business operates in a niche with the saturated competition.

With AR, VR and the future possibility of Mixed Reality (MR), this is no longer the case. With these technologies, you can see how your new couch fits in your home before buying it.

You have full control over its placement, interior arrangement, colors, etc. Like that new dress? See how it might look on a model with your body measurements.

Not sure if that new 4×4 vehicle will fit in your garage? Use AR or VR and find out! There are many other possibilities and that is why more companies are currently in demand for digital solutions that will introduce immersive experience.

A specific example for the digitalization trend is IKEA. The company is providing a way to directly purchase a product that you find suitable for your home interior by using an AR app for your phone. This not only reduces costs for IKEA, but allows clients to be 100% satisfied with the final purchase.

Оther examples for the usage of these technologies are:

Westfield Mall – allowed visitors using the Oculus Rift VR Set to choose suitable outfits;
Volvo – utilized on Google Cardboard to create an imaginary journey that brings the feel of driving their vehicles;
Gucci, Audi, BMW are other great examples as well;

What the future holds for Digitalization?

AR and VR will imminently lead to a Mixed Reality in which the physical and the digital co-exist. Holograms will become more frequently used and their help as self-service booths and exhibit displays will bring extreme value to all sides.

But there is more! Remember when we stated that Digitalization can immortalize the scanned objects? Now imagine immortalizing humans. While this may sound like it’s taken right from a sci-fi movie, there are teams that are exploring this possibility.

The human mind might be digitized by using Machine Learning and AI technologies. And 3D Digitalization can preserve the human body. The combination of both might result in the possibility to enjoy the presence of our closest people in a digital format even after their physical form has passed away. The same can be applied for pets and even dreams.

AR and VR can aid in the training and education of children and professionals alike. While simulators are already used today AR, VR and Mixed reality will bring a new era of virtual schools and professions.

The Digitalization revolution will continue to improve!

From every single piece of paper documents transferred to a PDF file and terms digitization to the most advanced 3D Modeling of the Egyptian Pyramids or even the Moon – the technology will just keep getting better and better. Do not stand in the shadows – make your business attractive and engaging by digitizing your products and services. We can help you with this task!

So what do you think? Will there be a benefit for your clients if you provide them with next-level experience? Share your thoughts with us and in case you have questions, our team will be pleased to assist you!

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