Shopping Experience with 3D Product Images in E-Commerce

HOW TO CREATE 3D PRODUCT IMAGES FOR E-COMMERCE WEBSITES

High-quality 3D product images help enhance customer interaction on your e-commerce website or online store, providing your customers with realistic previews of the products you sell. This, in turn, assists your customers in making better purchase decisions, boosting satisfaction and sales. This blog post will guide you through a five-step process to add 3D product images to your site, supporting your visual commerce strategy.

WHAT IS A 3D PRODUCT IMAGE?

3D product images allow viewers to experience items in your product catalog from multiple perspectives, much like physical objects. Customers can see products from different angles, zoom in, or even virtually explore them in a virtual shopping environment, such as a virtual exhibition space. 3D-rendered product images can also support other options, such as displaying models in different sizes, colors, or styles.

This multidimensional quality makes 3D-rendered product photos more realistic and impressive compared to traditional photography, which consists of 2D flat images. It brings the digital shopping experience closer to that of a physical store.

WHAT IS 3D PRODUCT MODELING?

3D product modeling is the process of creating multidimensional digital models of physical products suitable for augmented reality applications. There are several ways to create suitable product models for 3D advertising:

• Turning 2D photos into 3D presentations.
• Using a 3D scanner to capture reference points from physical objects.
• Creating a 3D model directly using design software.

The first two methods build the foundation of a 3D model from a physical object, while the third method simulates a physical object using digital coordinates. All three methods achieve the same result: a digital model defined by three coordinates and other features like color and lighting effects.

THE BENEFITS OF 3D IMAGES FOR ONLINE SHOPPING

The use of 3D images in website marketing offers a wide range of benefits to e-commerce retailers, including:

• Enhanced product visualization and details
• Multi-angle viewing
• Support for augmented reality applications
• Ability for customers to see products in their physical space
• Superior product presentation for marketing
• Improved customer engagement and conversion rates
• Increase in perceived product value
• Better product comparisons during the buyer decision-making process
• More satisfying online shopping experience

These advantages make 3D product images a win-win proposition for both customers and retailers.

ADDING 3D PRODUCT IMAGES TO YOUR WEBSITE IN 5 STEPS

You can break down the process of creating 3D product images for e-commerce into five steps:

• Choose the Right 3D Modeling Software
• Gather Reference Resources
• Create 3D Product Models
• Add Final Touches to Your 3D-Rendered Product Images
• Publish Your 3D Product Images

Let’s take a closer look at what each step involves:

Step 1: Choose the Right 3D Modeling Software

Choosing the right 3D modeling software or company is the initial crucial step. From a technical perspective, you need to consider factors such as the type of visuals you require, where these visuals will be used, and the file formats supported by the software. For instance, some file formats are specific to iPhones, while others are open-source. Some excel in creating different textures, while others are geared towards video game applications. Some support animations, while others do not. Beyond technical considerations, it’s essential to factor in the learning curve as well, as this can be time-consuming and costly.

The process of creating and optimizing visuals is not beginner-friendly. When starting with an inexperienced team, the destination you reach can be vastly different. We recommend making things easier by opting to work with an expert team like ARIMARS. You can upload your existing files or allow our team to 3D scan your products or create digital 3D models. We support the most commonly used file formats in e-commerce.

Step 2: Gather Reference Resources

Before diving into the 3D modeling process, you can save time by collecting all the necessary references you’ll need. Depending on the method you use to create your files, this may involve gathering high-quality photographs for modeling or physical products to be scanned. In some cases, you may want to source third-party references for elements like different textures, colors, or materials. These elements can be obtained from online libraries or scanned from real-world objects.

After obtaining the necessary images and scans, you will need to store them, organize, and select the ones you wish to use. To make your visual files manageable for online sharing, you’ll also need to optimize their file format and size. ARIMARS provides a tool to assist with this process when uploading your images, but it’s crucial to consider file size while collecting images to later publish them effectively.

Step 3: Create 3D Product Models

Once all the necessary resources are gathered, the next step is to create 3D models of your products using the chosen software (or have the ARIMARS team do it). Depending on the platform you’re using, the steps may vary, but generally involve matching reference points on your product to a 3D coordinate system, creating a framework of basic polygons like triangles. Then, you can refine the basic framework by adding contours and colors that closely resemble your physical product.

Step 4: Add Final Touches to Your 3D-Rendered Product Images

Once your 3D model is complete, you can add final touches to make it more realistic or visually appealing. This may involve settings such as lighting, shadows, custom textures, and backgrounds. It’s important to check how your image looks from different angles to fully understand how it appears to potential customers. Also, ensure that the created visuals align with brand guidelines, including color, camera angles, logos, and fonts.

Step 5: Publish Your 3D Product Images

Once your 3D product is complete, the next step is to export it in a high-resolution format that you can use on an e-commerce website. The steps for exporting a 3D product can vary depending on the 3D modeling software used, but generally include:

• Selecting the desired 3D file format.
• Adjusting texture resolution and making optimizations (or having them done).
• Saving the image to the publishing directory.

To ensure that your 3D product visual works seamlessly on your e-commerce website, you’ll need to optimize and publish it correctly. If 3D product images are not optimized correctly, they can be too heavy for the web and may potentially not load. Don’t forget to ensure that the 3D viewer settings are in line with your brand guidelines (background, initial camera position, etc.). The final step is to embed and publish the optimized 3D product viewer on your business e-commerce website.

Now you’re ready to achieve higher conversion rates, enhance product interaction, and more!

CREATING AND VIEWING 3D PRODUCT IMAGES WITH ARIMARS’ NEXTAR VIRTUAL PLATFORM E-COMMERCE MODULE

In summary, creating 3D product images involves selecting the right software, gathering reference resources, creating 3D models, adding final touches, and publishing your visuals. To provide more realistic and engaging customer experiences and achieve higher sales conversions, you can start using 3D product images.

The easiest way to implement these steps and publish end-to-end 3D product images is to use the ARIMARS platform. We allow you to upload your existing 3D visuals or collaborate with our team to create 3D models. We offer the flexibility to display them either on your existing e-commerce site or within ARIMARS’ unique 3D virtual store. With augmented reality support, we enable products to be viewed in the user’s environment. We optimize your visual files for online sharing. Once your files are created, we make them ready for sharing on your website, e-commerce platform, social media profiles, or game engines. You can schedule a live demonstration with one of our experts for half an hour to see how you can quickly implement your 3D marketing strategy.