3D Design is the process of using software to envision three-dimensional shapes or objects. Businesses across industries use it to communicate ideas, create products and customer experiences, teach concepts and more.

Solid models are the most realistic but also the most computationally intensive 3D model type. They provide precise representations of physical objects, including the weight and material density of the object.

Realistic Models

3D models provide a way to gain an accurate visual representation of a project or structure. They can be used for everything from identifying potential problems or conflicts to determining energy efficiency and helping to optimize planning.

Most 3D models are constructed as polygonal meshes. These are points in three-dimensional space, called vertices, that are connected by line segments to make shapes. They can be rendered quickly, but their surfaces are flat and cannot easily approximate curved areas.

Realistic models can be created by applying textures to the surface of a model. This technique involves using pixels to map the color of a surface, creating a texture that gives the appearance of depth and adding a range of other details that make the model more lifelike. 3D modeling can be done by hand, or using computer software. Someone who creates these models is known as a 3D artist or a 3D modeler. There are several online marketplaces that allow artists to sell their 3D content, including TurboSquid, CGStudio and CreativeMarket.

Wire-Frame Models

A wire-frame model is a 3D computer graphics representation of a physical object that utilizes straight lines to roughly outline the objects edges. This technique is used to efficiently represent solid and surface models in computer-aided design (CAD) systems that lack the computing power needed for more realistic renderings.

Designers often use low-fidelity wireframes to visually document their initial ideas about a product, app, or website. These early wireframes typically contain placeholder content to emphasize the product’s structure and layout rather than its visual appearance.

These early stages of a product’s development process require collaboration between diverse teams with varying skill sets and responsibilities. The wireframing process promotes communication and facilitates feedback so that the final product aligns more closely with business and user requirements. ITS uses MindManager to create wireframe models so that team members can collaborate in real-time or asynchronously and quickly share changes. This enables stakeholders to provide timely feedback that drives more effective designs and reduces project timelines.

Surface Models

Surface models use planes, points, lines, polylines, splines, and closed curves to develop an accurate model of an object. It’s less ambiguous than a wireframe model and allows better representation of the entire object. It’s also more useful for checking interference between mating parts and for generating cross-sectional views.

Surface modeling techniques can be used as an intermediate step when solid modelling tools cannot render or create complex model shapes performing features. These skills allow designers to correctly build one face of a shape at a time, which maximizes design accuracy.

This skill is even more valuable when integrated with impactful technology like virtual reality (VR). VR allows multiple people to modify a model simultaneously and in real time, which makes it easier to get feedback and make changes without having to recreate the model from scratch. In fact, this approach makes the process more efficient than the traditional clay modeling method. This is why VR is a must-have tool in the modern design workflow.

Animation

Adding animation to 3D models allows the artist to create an entire virtual world that interacts with characters or objects. This is often a requirement when creating visual effects for film, television or video games.

To add movement, the first step is to create a 3D model with a skeleton or “armature” system. This allows the character to be manipulated and animated according to the artist’s vision. A good understanding of character rigging is essential for this process, especially when dealing with humanoid characters.

Once a character is ready, the next step is to apply textures and materials to the model. This gives the model a realistic or stylised appearance. The final stage is to render the scene. This is a computationally intensive process that takes lighting and shading into account. This can be done manually or automatically. A good understanding of post-processing is also required to complete a high-quality output.