CGI rendering is everywhere, but you might not even notice it. CGI rendering has become a part of nearly everything, from video games and movies to less obvious examples like marketing materials and architectural visualisation. If you’re fond of reading online or physical magazines, chances are you’ve already seen the workings of CGI artists.
In this article, we’ll delve into CGI and discuss what CGI is.
What Is CGI?
CGI is short for computer-generated imagery, and its name clearly describes its nature. In traditional photography, where digital cameras are used, images are captured using light present in the environment. CGI images, on the other hand, are created using computer software.
While three-dimensional or 3D rendering is often associated with CGI, it’s important to note that CGI can also produce two-dimensional or 2D effects. Skilled artists maximise 3D modelling software, often using tablets and other handheld devices to draw and bring these stunning visuals to life.
The application of CGI is diverse, ranging from images used in architectural visualisation to the creation of realistic renderings for the virtual world. Thanks to its flexibility, CGI allows it to be integrated into numerous industries, providing a long list of benefits.
Possibilities are limitless with CGI renderings. It offers the ability to create CGI animation and special effects for movies, allowing filmmakers to realise their creative visions. For architects, CGI has become an integral part of visualising interior and exterior spaces before they are actually constructed. As a result, architects, property developers, and designers can present an architectural design that showcases their work in the most accurate way possible. This positively impacts property marketing and gives prospective buyers a deep understanding of the property they want to invest in.
In addition, CGI extends beyond images and animations. Because of the advancements in technology, it’s now possible to create interactive virtual reality experiences through CGI rendering algorithms. This allows users to fully immerse themselves in virtual environments, experience spaces even before they are built, and explore many intricate details.
What Are the Most Common CGI Applications?
As mentioned, CGI is used in almost all industries; there’s no shortage of how it can be used. In this section, we’ll talk about some of the most common CGI applications today.
Real Estate
The real estate industry has drastically evolved due to the widespread use of CGI. From the early stages of the planning process to the final sales, CGI has played one of the most vital roles in the industry. It impacts many different areas in real estate, namely community engagement, shadow studies, and consistent streetscapes.
Through the years, architects have relied on CGI to help clients understand the design and provide them with a clear architectural visualisation before the construction begins. Developers also utilise CGI to highlight their projects through presales, giving potential buyers immersive animations and realistic walk-throughs that give them a better understanding of the property, from the layout to the individual units.
Marketing Campaigns
CGI has become pivotal in modern advertising and marketing, revolutionising how products and services are presented to customers. Let’s start with the automotive industry. Here, CGI renderings have been a huge game-changer, allowing brands to seamlessly incorporate different vehicles for different markets into the same commercial. As a result, commercials have become cheaper yet highly effective.
Aside from the automotive industry, CGI has been used to guarantee consistency and accuracy across a wide range of marketing paraphernalia for different products. From consumer electronics to household items, CGI helps produce materials that leave a visual impact in the eyes of customers. Furthermore, more and more companies are investing in high-quality CGI for their commercials, captivating more viewers’ attention.
Product Visualisation
Similar to how it impacts the real estate industry, CGI renderings also serve a wide range of purposes in the realm of product visualisation — from the early planning process to marketing strategies. Business owners today can come up with CGI images for innovative and new product ideas and leverage platforms to raise funds and bring their concepts to life.
For Amazon and other online marketplaces, using CGI for creating product images has been more cost-effective than hiring a professional product photographer. Aside from expediting the entire process of product visualisation, CGI renders also allow flexibility in highlighting products from various angles, in different environments, and with customizable attributes.
Live Action
Ever wondered why live-action and special effects in movies look too realistic? Simple — it’s because of CGI. CGI has become the forefront of movies and TV as it continues to revolutionise the industry.
Not all movies heavily rely on CGI, but this technology has played a crucial role in improving storytelling and creating more realistic and immersive fantasy worlds for viewers. CGI renderings serve as an outlet for producers’ artist impressions and open more possibilities in bringing adaptations of comics and books to life with stunning visuals.
Let’s talk about two blockbuster movies in the 21st century — the Transformers and Marvel Cinematic Universe. Both franchises depend on CGI to elevate their fight sequences and deliver jaw-dropping scenes. In fact, some scenes and characters in these movies are created entirely through CGI, like The Amazing Spider-Man 2. This creates a lasting impression among moviegoers while blurring the line between the real and digital worlds.
Besides movies, CGI’s influence continues to extend to television shows, like HBO’s Game of Thrones and BBC’s Sherlock. Sherlock uses CGI to enhance its storytelling and visual impact, while Game of Thrones utilises CGI to create realistic renderings of intricate locations, awe-inspiring effects, and lifelike mythical creators that would be impossible to achieve realistically on set.
Because of the seamless integration of CGI with live-action footage, it enables viewers to have the best experience. And as CGI continues to evolve, we can expect to have better viewing experiences in the future.
Why Is CGI Used?
Does the idea of using CGI seem to interest you? If so, this section is for you. Here, we’ve listed nine benefits of using this tool.
Improved Communication and Clarity
If you’re a business owner, presenting detailed visuals to your target audience is one of the best ways to help them understand your offerings. More often than not, visuals are an effective way of introducing a new concept to your target audience.
By working with reliable CGI studios, it’ll be easier for you to accurately represent every aspect of your offering. In addition, CGI renderings also make it possible to communicate effectively with clients who are in different locations. When you integrate video conferencing software with CGI, you can share 3D visuals of your existing products or services or your next concept or idea.
Recognition of Errors
CGI renderings virtually mimic every aspect of the product you want to sell to the market. Therefore, this is a powerful tool that can be maximised to recognize detail and configuration flaws in advance, saving you valuable resources in rectification.
Additionally, CGI renderings allow for in-depth visualisation. By converting all of your ideas from paper to digital models, you can easily detect errors. These errors are often left unnoticed in the early stages of the product development process and are only seen at later stages of the negotiation process. Fortunately, these errors can be avoided through CGI.
Saves You Time
No matter what product you’re trying to sell, conventional photoshoots can take up a lot of time and still have room for errors. Even after investing a lot of time and effort in capturing the perfect angles of your product, it can be challenging to ensure that every aspect is flawless.
CGI photography is faster than traditional photography. By using CGI visualisations and models, developing different variations of your product becomes an easier and faster process. Plus, you can alter the product images to meet your unique requirements without the need to schedule and fund another photoshoot.
Skilled artists can work alongside your needs to ensure that you get the perfect images of your products — images that convey the essence of your product and brand to a T!
Limitless Marketing Potential
The marketing potential associated with CGI renderings is unlimited. Unlike traditional pen-and-paper sketches, CGI gives you the flexibility to present your products in many different ways.
Say you’re pitching your product to a client who has zero knowledge about the industry, your company, or what your product does. CGI renderings can help you showcase your project to your client in many creative ways.
Another unique aspect of CGI is that it can be used on different platforms, like social media pages, email campaigns, and portfolios.
Creation of Multiple Variants
Do you often struggle during the final stages of your business’s production process? CGI can help as this tool produces or replicates different kinds or variations of the same concept or idea. Taking photos to create different products can be challenging and puts your resources down the drain.
Through CGI renderings, you can showcase different variants of your products while paying attention to every product’s colours, features, textures, and styles. As a result, you can produce a blueprint that’s easy to understand, flexible, and impressive!
Better Lighting and Positioning
Taking photos of mass quantities of similar or identical products often leads to inconsistent lighting. Even if you shoot from the same angle, the same lighting isn’t always guaranteed for every product due to a number of factors. Maximising computer-generated imagery or CGI allows you to have the same lighting for every product, regardless of the number of objects.
Aside from lighting, achieving consistent positioning when you take photos of various products can become an issue. Just image swapping out hundreds of similar products just to ensure that all are in the same position in photos. Chances are every product will have a different position, which often leads to less effective marketing materials. Work with a CGI company, and perfect positioning will no longer be a problem!
Reuse and Re-Surface Materials
One of the biggest advantages of using CGI renderings is that you can reuse the resulting images for future projects. While you can still reuse traditional photographs, CGI gives you the ability to make small changes to existing images. As a result, you can save money by repurposing materials you already paid for once.
Want to change the colour scheme of the architectural plans you created for another client? Or maybe improve your existing architectural rendering by turning the space into daytime? With CGI, you can do all of these and more. Plus, the best part is that you change several aspects of the image without compromising its quality.
User Engagement and Satisfaction
Your ad campaigns only have one goal: to delight your audience, so they can become your loyal customers.
You can use CGI to create breathtaking product images, virtual videos, interactive ads, and scenes that enable you to showcase what your product has to offer. The right CGI company can also help you create ad campaigns that allow potential customers to customise and interact with the products you’re selling. This guarantees a unique experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Increases Brand Value
Regardless of the industry your business is operating or the kind of products you create, your audience trusts what they see. They place great value on the technology used and the quality of your products. Most importantly, they consider their experience with your brand as a determining factor in whether or not to buy from your brand.
By using CGI rendering, you can increase your brand value and gain the trust of your audience, as this tool gives them options and allows them to interact with your brand and product online. CGI makes it easier for potential customers to understand what your product is and what it does, which will eventually convince them to buy.
Choose a Premier CGI Studio for Your CGI Rendering Needs
When still images just won’t work, CGI renderings can be just what your business needs. Looking for a CGI rendering company near Bedford? Work with 3D Lines today! Our team works directly with clients to determine the best CGI solutions suitable for their needs. Contact us today, and let’s discuss your next CGI project with 3D Lines!