Not sure if that kitchen renovation would look better in a in a metal or laminate finish? Or perhaps you just need that new development brought to life for marketing purposes? Well, we know that looking for an architectural render can be quite daunting, especially with so many different services out there. Not to mention so many questions and uncertainties - Will it be terribly expensive? Can the website be trusted? Can they guarantee the render will be of high quality?

Well, don’t worry we are going to give you all the necessary information you need to tackle these questions head on!

This guide will help you learn:

1.    Why architectural rendering can help your business.

2.    Where you can find an architectural renderer or 3D artist.

3.    How to choose and hire the right architectural renderer for your business.

So let’s get started, what exactly is architectural rendering or architectural visualization?

Architectural rendering & architectural visualization

Glad you asked! 3D rendering is the process of creating a 3D image from a 2d model, image or picture using computer software. The creation of computer-generated three-dimensional objects started around the 1970’s but, instead of renderings they produced wireframe objects and models. As the hardware and software technology improved, developers were able to control the wireframe objects and move them. At present 3D rendering software has become incredibly advanced and can be used to develop 3D architectural models, 3D visualizations, animated fly through presentations etc.

Why do we use architectural rendering?

Effort vs Time vs Money!

Architectural rendering is often used in architecture, engineering and the construction industry because it gives clients the chance to “walk through your project”, so to speak, before laying the first brick.

This answers lots of questions…Will that living room floor look better in marble or wood? How would it look if that wall was removed completely? Would you like the kitchen with white or grey fixtures?

Well as a designer or an architect, sometimes you know exactly what will work and what will not, however, getting your clients to vision it is slightly more difficult. So rather than pulling out your hair trying to accommodate your clients dream house requests, you can actually bring them to life through 3D visualizations and architectural renderings and show them…

More to the point architectural visualizations give designers, architects and their clients a truthful and realistic sneak preview of their vision. Furthermore, if there are any aspects of the building the client wants to change, the designer or architect could just as easily redesign and re-render – Saving Time and Money.

Architectural rendering has another great advantage. Visualizing buildings and their elements digitally in 3D allow designers, architects and their clients to identify flaws in the design before the construction. This not only minimize delays and unnecessary revisions during the construction stage but it can save the company and the client lots of money in the long run.

Finally, in addition to this, 3D architectural visualizations assist in the marketing of the project there after. Whether you are trying to convince your wife that the garage would look “much better” as a games room or you are pitching a new residential development to investors having a realistic and honest preview of the project certainly does help!

Why should my company care about architectural rendering?

Architectural rendering and visualizations Stand Out

It is well known that great design helps you stand out in a crowded market. Architectural renderings and visualizations do just that in the architectural world. High-quality and high-definition 3D architectural renders, visualizations and animations allow your Clients to realise your vision, fully appreciate the grandeur of the project and invest in it.

Design Pays Off

There has been an increase in the number of organizations (commercial, institutional, and residential) that are using 3D architectural visualizations. This is probably because the advantages of using 3D architectural rendering during the planning, construction and marketing stages are incredibly instrumental to large projects.

As we mentioned earlier, through the use of 3D rendering and visualizations clients can get a real feel of what the structure will “look like” or in the case of interior 3D Renderings, what it would be like “living in the property”. This undeniably increases company sale rates.

Who doesn’t want to save time and money?

Architectural renderings give clients an opportunity to make alterations at an early stage in the project. Here is a comment from a designer on one of our discussions on LinkedIn…

“Just yesterday a client was sure that they wanted to save some money by going with kitchen cabinets that had no glass. As soon as they saw the photo-realistic 3D rendering we put together and we were additionally able to show them the difference between the two types of cabinets and what it did to the space, they immediately reversed their decision and went with our initial design.”

Correcting these faults and making alterations early in a project stages could save your company time and money and avoid disappointment down the line.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Where do you find an architectural renderer or 3D artist?

Fortunately for you, finding an architectural renderer or 3D artist for your project is relatively straightforward.

You could:

• Ask a friend - Do your friends and friends of friends have anyone to recommend?
• Ask Google - Search for 3D rendering studios, 3D rendering services and attend showcase events or even recruit a 3D artist.
• Use a 3D rendering platform – Find 100’s of 3D artists in one place!

Getting a referral from a friend you trust is obviously a great way, however, finding your architectural render or 3D artist online also has several advantages.

Firstly, it is generally quite fast – google is cleaver and usually refers you to rendering studios and firms locally. This can be great because it can be as easy as picking up the phone and giving them a ring. For those of you who live in the capitals of the world – London, New York, Sydney, this could potentially put you at a slight disadvantage because finding a good architectural renderer can be more expensive. So check your settings and search the web – there are some great platforms out there, as well as, internationally based online rendering services to choose from!

Apart from being relatively fast, finding your architectural renderer online also gives you the opportunity to spend time browsing 3D artist portfolios. This ensures that their “technique” and 3D rendering style fits the vision of your project. What's more, the majority of online services provide you with an online quote or in the case of, 3D Rendering Platforms you can receive offers from multiple 3D artists and choose the one that best fits your budget.

So now you know where to find them… but how do you choose the right 3D artist?

How do you choose the right architectural renderer?

Whether you decide to go with the 3D Rendering Platform or one of the 100’s of studios out there (including the one referred to you by a friend!), we usually start by asking the same four questions:

Do you like the architectural rendering style?

With so many different types of 3D rendering software out there, it is important to find a 3D artist whose visual style fits well with your project. If their portfolio doesn't immediately grab your attention, then it is likely it won’t grab your client’s attention either… keep looking!

Do you know who you are hiring?

Now, that you have viewed some great styles and talents it is important that you know who you are hiring, and so we recommend you screen your 3D Artist. This can vary between service to service, however, it doesn’t matter if you are searching on Google or reviewing candidates from an architectural rendering service, what is important is that your 3D rendering service or 3D artist offers you a guarantee of his ability to perform.

This takes me to my next point…Guarantee

Can they meet my deadline?

It is essential that your architectural rendering service or 3D artist offers you a guarantee of the quality of the work and that it will match the portfolio that they are advertising. Or that if they fail to complete the work within the deadline then you are entitled to a refund.

Many rendering studios ensure you only pay at the end of the project, once you are content with the work, while some 3D rendering platforms do just that, for example, Easy Render hold your funds in escrow until the project is complete and only release the funds to the 3D artist once you have approved the work. Having these types of guarantee gives you and your company piece of mind.

I strongly recommend it!

Is that a good price?

This is something you will have to determine based on your budget and the type of service you choose. Most architectural rendering services provide you with a quote upfront, while some 3D Rendering Platforms allow you to get multiple offers from numerous 3D artists so that you can get the best possible price on the global market.

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Well, hopefully you have found this short guide on how to find the right architectural renderer for your company quite useful and you now have all the necessary tools and knowledge to get out there and find the right 3D artist for your business!

All the best and happy rendering!