FAQS
Each one of our 3D animation and visualisation projects is different. Here are some of the most frequently asked question about how we work and what we do.
Every project is unique, so time required is dependent upon the proposals size, complexity, detail and the end product required. However, our typical turnaround time is 1-3 weeks from time of commission.
We require the most current drawings, sketches and design information. This can be either sketch, planning or working drawings, but should ideally include floorplans, elevations, site plan, landscaping plan and material specifications.
Yes, of course! The client is at the heart of any visualisation process. As part of our internal QA processes you will receive regular previews by email and we welcome feedback to complete the final image.
Yes we can, although the process takes slightly longer.
You will either receive an email/link containing the completed images/animation or we will upload them to our/your website for immediate download. We supply all our images at 300dpi in high quality jpeg format. All of our short videos/animations are supplied in Mpeg4 format.
We can arrange for professional hard copies or USB drives to be supplied as an additional service.
Yes, we regularly work with architects who choose to supply the 3D model as part of the design information pack. In some cases this approach can help reduce production times.
Glossary
With so many different terms being used in 3D visualisation and animation we’ve put together a handy glossary of 3D terms.
.3DS
Native file format of 3D studio. Old 3D file type widely supported by many software’s for importing / exporting models.
.DWG
Native file format of Autocad.
.FBX
Popular standardised 3d format used to import/export 3D model, with animation data and materials, between software.
.OBJ
Popular 3D file format, used to import/export between software
After Effects
Post-production software developed by Adobe used to composite video and or rendered frames into a final sequence.
Animation
Combining of many still images, either rendered or filmed, displayed quickly in sequence to create an illusion of motion.
AR
Augmented Reality, the superimposing of real-time video with digital models.
ARKit
Apple’s next generation Augmented Reality development framework.
AUTOCAD
Popular 2D/3D drafting software developed by Autodesk.
AVR
Accurate Visual Representation, term used to describe a photomontage with a verifiable visual accuracy, making use of survey data, such images are used in many planning applications. Sometimes knows as VVI or Verified Views
Backburner
Software to manage the distribution of the rendering process over many CPU’s on a local networked render farm.
Biased Render
Render engine that calculates transmission of light using techniques to optimise the ray tracing process to speed up the rendering process. See also Unbiased Render.
BIM
Building Information Model, database that stores all details of a buildings design to allow quick and efficient updating and sharing of information.
Bokeh
Blooming effect, commonly seen in photography, when a bright highlight goes out of focus.
Bump Mapping
Texture map used to create an illusion of surface roughness to a 3D model. See also Normal Mapping.
CAD
Computer Aided Design, any form of design through use of a computer.
Camera
Virtual viewpoints that mimic their real-world counterpart.
Cartesian Coordinates
3D coordinate system based on X,Y,Z planes to define points in space.
CGI
Computer Generated Image.
Chromatic Abberration
Dispersion of light, commonly seen in photography, due to physical properties of the lens refracting light at different wave lengths creating colour fringing artefacts towards the edge of the image.
Codec
Algorithm used for compressing file size of audio and video data.
Compositing
Positioning of camera and objects to produce aesthetically pleasing images and manipulation of the viewer’s attention.
Composition
Positioning of camera and objects to produce aesthetically pleasing images and manipulation of the viewer’s attention.
Corona Render
Photorealistic, CPU, unbiased rendering engine.
CPU
Core-Processing-Unit, the main processor of the computer.
Cube Mapping
A method of environment mapping that uses 6 faces of a cube as the map shape. The environment is projected onto the sides of a cube and stored as 6 square textures, or unfolded into 6 regions of a single texture. Used in 360 panorama’s.
Depth of Field
Used to describe how much of the image is in focus, shallow depths of field will have only small areas of the image in focus.
DirectX
Microsoft’s real-time 3D rendering engine, used mostly in computer game to produce 3D graphics in real-time.
Distributed Rendering (DR)
Means of speeding up the rendering process by harnessing the CPU’s of other computers on a local network.
Drone
Remotely controlled device used to capture aerial photography / video.
Frame
One still image from an animated sequence.
F-storm
Photorealistic, GPU, unbiased rendering engine.
Gear VR
Device by Samsung that turns phone into a VR headset. Only works with Samsung phones
Geometry
Device by Samsung that turns phone into a VR headset. Only works with Samsung phones.
GI
Global Illumination, general term used to describe the transmission and bouncing of light around a 3D model.
Golden Section
Special number found in nature historically used by famous artists as a framework for composition, considered most pleasing to the eye. See also Rule of Thirds.
Google Cardboard
Low tech solution used to convert any mobile phone into a VR headset.
Google Daydream
VR Headset designed for compatible android devices.
Go-Pro
Small, compact and durable hard-wearing sports camera, capable of shooting high quality video from a user’s perspective.
GPU
Graphical Processing Unit, processors for generating real-time 3D graphics and used as a secondary processing unit (separate from the CPU).
HDR
High Dynamic Range, image containing extra pixel information allowing the image to store a greater range of exposure.
High/Low Poly
Term used to describe the resolution of a 3D objects mesh, high resolution objects have more detail but impact rendering performance.
HMD
Head Mounted Display.
Hololens
Microsofts Augmented Reality Headset.
HTC Vive
Virtual Reality headset that is capable of room space VR.
Iray
Photorealistic, unbiased, CPU and GPU rendering engine.
Keyframe
Property used to animate a 3D object, defines key properties or positions of objects at specific points in time, set by the user. The frames “in-between” key frames are calculated by the computer.
LiDAR
Light Detection and Ranging, device that uses lasers to scan and measure it surroundings to create a point cloud used for surveying or creating a 3D model.
Lights
Objects used to emit light into the scene.
Material
General term to describe a texture applied to an object to give it a realistic look when rendered. See also Shader.
Maxwell
Photorealistic, unbiased CPU rendering engine.
Maya
Professional 3D software, developed by Autodesk, popularly used in film and animation industry.
Mental Ray
Photorealistic, biased CPU rendering engine.
Mesh
General term to describe the geometry of a 3D object.
Model
General term to describe the geometry of a 3D object.
Monoscopic
A single viewpoint as opposed to stereoscopic.
Moiré Pattern
Large scale interference patterns that happen when objects interfere with the shape of light sensors in a TV or monitor to generate unwanted artifacts.
Motion Blur
When a subject moves faster than the shutter speed of a camera, the subject can appear at multiple points across the frame which blend together to create a motion blur. This is an effect that is often applied to 3D imagery to create a more photographic look.
Normal Mapping
More advanced form of bump mapping, used to fake high levels of detail onto a lower detail 3D model.
Nuke
Post-production software used to composite video and or rendered frames into a final sequence.
Oculus Rift
Desktop computer based VR Headset.
Omni Rig
Device that allows multiple cameras to be connected together, usually in a cube formation, to photograph and record 360 footage.
Open G
Open source real-time 3D engine, used mostly in CAD software, computer games and Virtual Reality. See also DirectX.
Particle System
Animated points in 3D space used to create special effects such as smoke, sparks, fire etc..
PfCO
Permission for Commercial Operations, accreditation required to fly any UAV in a public space.
Photogrammetry
Technique of generating 3D models from multiple photographs taken at varying angles of an object or location.
Photomontage
Technique of generating 3D models from multiple photographs taken at varying angles of an object or location.
PhotoShop
Industry standard photo-manipulation software developed by Adobe.
Pix4D
Photogrammetry survey software used to create 3D site data from drone photography.
Playstation VR
Playstation’s first Virtual Reality solution aimed at the home gaming market.
Point Cloud
Large collection of points in 3D space, often generated from a LiDAR scan or photogrammetry software. Often used in surveying to measure relative distances, generate accurate plans/sections or 3D models.
Polygon
Basic 3D surface that forms the surface of a 3D model.
Post-Production
Any manipulation of images, after they have been rendered or photographed, such as colour correction or compositing.
Procedural Map
Texture map that is generated by mathematical algorithm, generally uses less memory.
Render Farm
Network of CPU/GPU’s used to speed up and ease the workload of the 3D rendering process.
Rendering
Process of calculating the transmission of light around a virtual model to create a photorealistic or stylised image or animation of a 3D model.
Resolution
General term used to describe level of detail and information in a model or image, higher the resolution the more faces or pixels.
Revit
CAD Software combining both 2D and 3D drafting based on parametric BIM workflow.
Rigging
Technical term used to describe the setting up of a model to allow easy manipulation for animation e.g internal skeletons used to animate characters.
Rule of Thirds
Simplification of golden section, image is divided into a 3x3 grid, points of interest are placed at one or more intersection points on grid.
Scene
Collection of 3D objects in one file that form the elements of a rendered image or animation.
Sequence
Group of frames from an animation that define a section of a larger animation.
Shader
Surface property of a 3D object that describes how it reacts to light and shade.
SketchUp
3D software, predominantly used in architecture to quickly visualise design ideas.
Spline
A 3D shape or line.
Stereoscopic
Two images used side by side, when viewed per eye, produce the illusion of depth. See also monoscopic.
Texture Map
Image mapped to an object to give realistic detail to an objects material.
UAV
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, see also Drone.
UE4
Unreal Engine 4, real-time game engine used in many AAA title computer games and Virtual Reality applications.
Unbiased Render
Rendering engine that accurately calculates the transmission of light without biased optimisations to the rendering process
Unity
Real-time game engine, used on many mobile games and Virtual Reality applications.
UV Mapping
Means of peeling and unwrapping a 3D surface into a 2D layout in order to texture map an object's surface.
Vertex
Points in 3D space that define a polygon that build the surface of a 3D object.
Viewport
Window used to provide a real-time preview of a 3D scene to allow the modelling and production of 3D images.
Vignette
Technique used to frame an image either by subtle darkening of the outer edge of the frame or by natural features in the shot.
Vimeo
Website that hosts and streams both HD and 360 video content.
VR
Virtual Reality, computer generated environment viewable through a HMD.
Vray
Photorealistic, CPU & GPU rendering engine. Commonly used in architectural visualisation.
Youtube
Website that hosts and streams both HD and 360 video content.
Z-Depth
A 2D image has 2 axis, “X” (Width) and “Y”(Height), this can be taken further to include “Z” which is the distance a pixel was from the camera during the rendering process. This extra information is generally used in the post-production process to add a layer of depth to images.
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