3D rendering is one of the fastest growing industries. With that said, not many people fully understand what it is.
A 3D rendering is actually a 2D representation of a computer generated wireframe model. These wireframes are then given properties like texture, color, and material. In the simplest terms, a 3d rendering is a series of lines and boxes (wireframe) with added textures so as to appear photorealistic.
There’s a considerable difference between 3D and 2D rendering. A good example to illustrate the difference is lighting. In a 2D render, all corners are lit in the same way. However in a 3D render, the lighting acts in a more natural way.
For instance, light emitting from a window will start off bright in one corner and then fade as it moves further away. This small detail adds further contrast and depth to the render and results in a more realistic representation.
3D rendering can be quite a large financial undertaking. If you require the services of a 3D renderer you might be tempted to outsource the work rather than hiring someone in-house. Let’s explore the pros and cons associated with both.
Outsourcing
Pros
Costs: Time and Resources
Your company’s resource allocation is one the most important factors to consider when outsourcing 3D rendering work. A small company will typically lack the manpower and the ability to outsource the work is preferred.
While hiring a full time, salaried employee is a large financial undertaking, it’s also a large time investment. You need to filter a list of applications, interview them, and then hire them. A small company can’t afford either of these expenses.
Usage Requirements
Depending on the industry and clientele you’re involved with, how often you’ll need 3D renderings will vary. Rather than hiring someone with a narrow skill-set for 3D rendering, it may be more beneficial to hire someone more well rounded in various other mundane tasks.
Working With Experts
On the topic of narrow skill-sets, outsourcing to a company that specializes in 3D modeling and rendering could result in better output in a shorter period of time. The modern world is more connected than ever. Meaning, the company you’ve outsourced work to could allow the project to remain in a constant state of production. The ability to have your project completed in the next workday is entirely feasible.
Cons
Issues Associated with Confidentiality
Some companies might have sensitive details that can only be released after a predetermined time. Having a project handled by a third party increases the risk of these details leaking before their official release date. The lack of control is hard for some people/companies to come to terms with.
Making Quick Edits is Less Convenient
Despite your best efforts to provide a clear outline and briefing, it’s entirely likely that an outsourced 3D modeler/renderer may not understand your vision. By using a 3rd party you let go of creative control and rely on your ability to convey your goals and vision.
As a result you are also letting go of the convenience and flexibility in terms of editing and tweaking the project in accordance with what you want and need. With outsourcing, the likelihood of emailing the company and vice versa will increase in an attempt to get them execute your vision.
Time Zone Differences
Having the ability to get the project outsourced overseas is useful and convenient. However, there are also drawbacks associated with outsourcing to other parts of the globe. For instance, depending on where they live, there may be a difference in your working hours. This can sometimes have a negative impact on production time. For example, the “quick” edits we noted above.
Holidays are also different around the world which is something to take into consideration.
In-House
Pros
Full Project Control
In-house project work allows for complete control. To reiterate the above, confidentiality associated with outsourcing can be a problem. Working in-house offers more peace-of-mind that your project and files associated with it will stay within the company.
Quicker Edits
The ability to send a message or email and have an issue rectified immediately allows for better workflow and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Working with an in-house renderer allows you to better communicate your goals. They are also more apt to work in accordance with your style and preferences.
Cons
Time
Just like any business, time is highly valuable and is even quantified monetarily. Having a 3D render produced takes a lot of time and requires the necessary hardware and resources to speed up the lag time.
Technically, any computer with the right software could render images. However the ability to speed up the renders requires better computer hardware. The hardware bottleneck associated with rendering is the GPU or graphics processing unit. A lower-end GPU will result in a longer render or idle time which equates to money lost.
Requires Resources
Hiring an in-house 3D modeler or render can be an expensive undertaking. If you have the ability and resources associated with interviewing and hiring an employee then an in-house worker is a good fit.
As mentioned above, having a computer that’s able to perform these renders is a sizable expense. A good GPU for 3D rendering can cost an upwards of $1000+ and that doesn’t even consider the rest of the parts: hard drives, motherboard, CPU, etc. Smaller firms, especially start-ups, may not have the financial resources for the necessary computing equipment in order to do the job right. In this case, it makes more financial sense to get the project outsourced.
