Intro
So, you're thinking about working with a 3D studio? :) Every studio has its own process, but here's a common sequence of events and some good-to-know info for each step, without any unnecessary BS.
Respect The Bottlenecks of 3D
This refers to specific creative decisions that can significantly extend rendering times. For instance, rendering elements like water, liquid, fire, and smoke is particularly challenging and time-intensive to achieve realistically. Additionally, using highly detailed or dense models, known as high-polygon models, requires more processing power because they involve a large amount of data—similar to how a high-resolution image takes longer to load compared to a lower-resolution one. Including these elements in your creative brief will undoubtedly enhance the final output, but it’s important to recognize that these choices may require additional time. Please be mindful of this if the studio requests more time to deliver the best results.
Pre-Production
It's crucial to ensure the studio receives all the assets they need to complete the work for you. This may include:
Fonts & Logotypes
Brand Guidelines
High-quality photos of your product (if you want it included in the animation). ATTENTION! Make sure all angles of the product are covered—yes, ALL of them.
If you already have the product as a 3D model, please send over the OBJ file.
Production
At this point, it's important to understand a few things as a client to trust the process and give the studio the freedom to do their job. Here's a good list:
First Pass
At this stage, you’ll be presented with rough animatics, which are essentially a very raw version of the film. There won’t be any lighting or textures yet—this is purely to confirm that the storyboard is being accurately followed. It’s important not to worry or expect the final look at this point; the animation is far from complete. While it’s tempting to want to see the polished product early on, it’s simply not possible at this stage. Instead, focus your feedback on how the scenes align with the storyboard, the movement of objects, and the camera angles. Patience and trust in the process are key.
Second Pass
The animatics will be closer to the final version here, but still not fully complete. You’ll now see the scenes with lighting and textures applied, and if your studio handles sound design, there will also be a rough outline of the sound. It’s important to keep in mind that adjustments to the movement of objects, camera angles, and similar elements can take time to implement. Therefore, it’s more appropriate to focus your feedback on the lighting and textures at this point. Ensure that you’re satisfied with the overall direction and feel of the piece at this stage, as major changes later on will be more difficult and time-consuming.
Final Delivery
You’ll receive the final, polished version of the project. Only minor tweaks should be made at this point, as it’s too late to request major changes. Significant revisions at this stage would be both time-consuming and costly for you.
Other thoughts
It’s crucial to be clear about your vision from the start and to communicate that effectively. If you're not entirely sure of what you want, it’s even more important to trust the studio and the artists you’re working with. Give them the creative freedom they need to bring your project to life. Remember, quality work takes time!
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