Three-dimensional animated images are produced through a digital method called 3D animation. Animators can generate digital things that appear to be 3D Product Animation services even though they are on a 2D surface thanks to the use of 3D software in the creation of these graphics. Animation professionals can make any object appear to be moving across three dimensions using visual effects and exact timing, from a character in a video game to an automobile in an advertisement.

A variety of sectors employ 3D product movies for advertising because they are now more readily available and more economical. It is employed by a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, to more clearly and appealingly describe their complex products (including medicines and medical equipment).

Because they can educate, amuse, and engage your audience, 3D animated product videos are a terrific method to increase sales.

You can show your product in a 3D environment through video using freelance 3D product animation. Considering all of its advantages, it has significantly improved recently.

The design, the number of 3D assets used, the turnaround time, the use of sounds and music in the animation, and, to some extent, the creator's location all have an impact on the overall cost. Costs vary based on the difficulty and the particulars of the project, such as its duration and its required resolution.

When establishing a price strategy, studios and artists both have things to take into account. They may set a base price for their fundamental design service and add fees for any additional production steps needed to finish the task. One studio may just charge $1,000 for an animation minute, but you can also choose the more expensive option, which costs about $30,000 every second. Between the lowest and highest price points, there is a significant difference in quality alone, not in price. For most reasons, such as marketing, teaching, and business presentations, most people will select a pricing point that falls somewhere in the middle. It should be far higher than the lowest end while remaining away from the top for acceptable quality.

A team of 3D animation products must consist of an animator/renderer, a 3D modeler/rigger, and a scriptwriter/storyboard artist. Building the narrative and 3D assets can only be done concurrently with scriptwriting and modeling. The animator's turn begins once the raw materials are prepared. In addition to experience level, geography affects the hourly wages of independent 3D animators. The estimated average rate for animators based in the United States is displayed in the table below.

Every frame of a 3D animated scene goes through a number of stages, creating a final image that is very similar to a 3D rendering service but with many more elements included. The output quality and all characteristics interact, necessitating meticulous attention to even the smallest detail throughout the entire process in order to avoid producing a subpar outcome.

Stage 1: Pre production.

The primary focus of this stage is the creation or preparation of the raw materials needed to construct the framework of the 3D animation:

Storyboard and script — The procedure is comparable to 2D animation. The storyline and script, if any, that the animation should express must be understood by the animators first. It provides a sense of the animation's visual movement and, as a result, the facial emotions and gestures that were made. If there is a screenplay, the animation will afterward need to be properly synced with the characters' mouth movements and speech for a genuine impact.

Every item in the scene is a 3D model or 3D asset. Some animators buy pre-made assets and edit them according to the project brief's descriptions. Animation professionals might need to start from scratch with 3D models if the project calls for the utilization of distinctive characters.

Bare-boned models are covered in layers that are textured and colored to provide the illusion of surface and dimension. The procedure involves superimposing 2D photos over 3D models. Some figures have complicated features, like an eye that both absorbs and reflects light. Typically, 3D models that are photorealistic representations of the physical product are used in product 3D animation services.

Stage 2: Production

The manipulation of 3D models is the next step. Models are given motions by animators in accordance with the plot and script. At this point, other visual components including lighting and visual effects are also constructed.

Animation - The rigging procedure determines the range of motion that is possible. The rigging of a 3D character animation service meant to resemble a person or an animal should mimic the character's actual skeletal structure. Giving the thing the widest possible range of motion while staying within its natural range of motion is the goal. However, if the plot demands it, animators can use excessive rigging.

Lighting: As was already established, rendering is just a more complex form of making a 3D animation. The fundamental idea still holds true in that realistic-looking animation requires adequate lighting as well. An animation requires one lighting configuration for each frame, whereas an image just requires a few, depending on the motion. For example, a moving cloud can half hide the sun for one second and then complete the next. Additionally, the shadow of a moving item differs from that of a stationary one.

Composite and visual effects To give the virtual world a realistic atmospheric feel, additional special effects are used, such as wind and rain. The scene is subsequently created through the compositing process, which involves combining two or more files from several sources.

Stage 3: Post production.

The animation's visual components are now ready for use. During the post production phase, some finishing touches and adjustments are made.

Music and sound files are superimposed over the animation as sound effects. If a character or object speaks, their facial expressions and words must match.

Review and Edit - Animators play through each scene in order to check for any potential errors. Changes of all sizes are done as necessary.

Render: The last phase entails gathering and transforming the animation files into a single, release-ready video format.

The top 7 animation software that every expert in freelance 3D Product Animation should be familiar with are listed below.

1. Autodesk Maya

Modeling, texturing, and rendering are all excellent uses of Maya's multifaceted functionality. Additionally, it features sophisticated texturing and realistic effect tools, enabling CG artists to make virtually any effect they require, including liquids, fog, explosions, hair, leather, and clothing. Autodesk Maya is one of the greatest 3D Product Animation programs available thanks to its broad toolkit. To deliver even the most complicated projects, Maya also enables CG animation artists to build their own scripts and plugins using Python and Maya's embedded language.

2. Cinema 4D

One of the best product animation programs ever created is Cinema 4D, another seasoned pro in the field of motion graphics. It offers papmall® for parametric, polygonal, and volume modeling as well as a variety of different plugins. To develop any kind of characters and 3D models for product design, Cinema 4D also provides sophisticated sculpting and texturing tools. Furthermore, it supports the rendering technologies Krakatoa, TurbulenceFD, and RealFlow, which offer incredibly accurate simulation effects for smoke, fire, water, fog, vapor, etc.

3. Blender

Blender is a free, robust 3D program with cutting-edge modeling and rendering toolsets. Before rendering and animating 3D models and sceneries, CG artists can design, sculpt, edit, and retopologize them. Additionally, it interacts with other animation programs like Cinema 4D, Moho, Collada, Stop Motion Studio, Flipbook, or Crazytalk Animator and has extensive simulation features. Additionally, Blender has great levels of customizability because it gives a Python API for scripting, allowing CG artists to improve functionality for every project.

4. Unity

The most popular developers' platform utilized by game creators is Unity. Its incredible simulation and lighting tools make it possible to create immersive experiences for video games, movies, VR and augmented reality. But 3D Product Animation designers can also benefit from it by creating locations and scenes for both architectural and interior design projects as well as product animation. What I love about Unity is that it allows CG experts to collaborate effectively and work more quickly by allowing them to work on the same project across many computers.

5. Houdini

Houdini is a 3D product animation program that gives CG artists a quick and practical workflow and enables them to collaborate with other experts. Its flexibility allows it to provide a wide range of modeling tools for the creation of intricate models, sceneries, and surroundings. Houdini is also built on render nodes. These distinct elements can be combined in a variety of ways to provide different rendering results. Houdini became one of the top VFX tools as a result, and CG artists are given unrestricted artistic licenses for all kinds of animation projects.

6.KeyShot

One of the best software programs for product animation is KeyShot. It allows CG professionals to import CAD models from the program and accurately and realistically animate them. This application contains excellent lighting tools in addition to more than 750 preset materials and textures. As a result, any furniture model may be recreated in 3D and animated in real-time. KeyShot supports more than 35 popular file formats, making it usable and compatible with a variety of CG specialists.

7.LightWave 3D

A 3D computer graphics program called LightWave is ideal for both animated and static Product Animation. In addition to easy modeling and animated sculpting, it offers state-of-the-art texturing, lighting, and rendering. Because it offers freelance 3D product animation platforms for rendering and animation, LightWave is regarded as one of the greatest 3D product animation programs. Because of this, CG experts can work on various areas of a project more quickly and effectively, which saves them time and energy. Additionally, it contains a VPR, or Virtual Preview Renderer, a tool that provides quick feedback and speeds up work even more.

With the use of 3D technology, 3D product animation figures that appear in two dimensions on a screen can be transformed into objects that not only appear three-dimensional but actually move in three dimensions. You might reach out expecting to touch a 3D object in a well-done animation, only to come face to face with a flat-screen. How is 3D animation made? An introduction to 3D animation for beginners is provided below. 

Step 1: Modeling

During the modeling stage, animators produce 3D objects that will be the foundation for the animation. A 3D product animation tool is used to create this type of animation. A simple object, known as a primitive, is used to create a 3D mesh, which is subsequently sculpted and refined to the desired figure. Then, the 3D models receive information like color and texture. After that, the animated character is given a skeleton that will allow it to move, a process called rigging.

Step 2: Design and animation

A 3D animator won't begin the animation process until the aforementioned procedures have been finished. At this moment, they have the ability to make a 3D object move. There are various approaches to accomplishing this, including employing motion capture data or keyframes to move the object frame-by-frame.

Step 3: Rendering

The animator can proceed to render once the animation, lighting, and camera angles are right. The designed graphic graphics are actually produced and exported throughout this phase. The 3D character's final rendering will be adjusted to account for light and shadows, reflections, transparency, and other characteristics.

You can position your products in the market, highlight your USPs, and encourage engagement from potential buyers with the help of freelance 3D product animation, all of which will boost your revenue and profitability.

Following are some justifications for including 3D product animation services in your marketing strategy:

• High ROI

A 3D product animation requires some commitment, but it pays off in the long run (ROI). Additionally, it is less expensive than renting a studio or hiring a full media crew to produce product films! By highlighting features of the product that other marketing strategies might be unable to address, you can promote things in the way you see fit. Additionally, 3D product animation allows you to set a budget and stay within it while still producing high-quality content.

• High-quality

3D product animations, which are generated at a level of quality above just any old video, present products in a professional manner. Additionally, you may reuse it in a variety of ways, making it a long-lasting investment that will continue to add value over time.

• Flexible

3D animators can use their programs to bring even the most intricate ideas to reality. 3D product animations can be changed to suit your marketing objectives. You may customize the storyboard, which makes it incredibly versatile. Additionally, its versatility makes it more changeable. You won't need to start again when shooting digital content, as opposed to shooting tangible things.

• Highlights Your Products

There are no restrictions on what you may create in a 3D product animation with the aid of a skilled 3D animator. It is helpful to break down the products and describe in depth each feature or function, especially for those whose inner workings can't be seen even by exhibiting the actual thing. Emphasizing your USPs and what sets you apart from the competition, makes your brand stand out. Transparency is also promoted via 3D product animations. Building trust with potential customers by demonstrating your product's features and functions will encourage them to interact and follow the appropriate call-to-action (CTA).

• Attractive Production

In comparison to traditional static marketing materials like photographs and text, you may better attract audiences using 3D product animations. Especially if you can create an original storyboard, the video more successfully grabs and holds their attention while assisting them in understanding the full picture.