Do Your Renders Need To Be Realistic?

Photorealism has long been a holy grail for many 3D artists. Creating reality from nothing is both challenging and rewarding. Over the past decade or two, getting to that level of realism has become much easier to achieve. Physically accurate rendering, faster computers, and better tools make the process fairly straightforward. But is realism truly the goal for a CG render or is it simply one of many effective results?

The images we create are usually meant to communicate information. Communicating that information may not be as simple as taking a photo or snapping off a render and calling it a day. You have to understand your audience and tailor the image to meet expectations. If you’re in architecture and working on a building, the contractor may simply need a line drawing with dimensions and technical information, while the client might need more subjective information – such as how lazy morning sunlight might set the mood at the restaurant of their proposed resort. 

Presenting a client with a photoreal image implies the final result will look exactly like the image. That certainly sets clear expectations for the client and leaves little room for misunderstanding. 

Conversely, a photoreal image may also set expectations too high, as it sets the bar for the rest of the project. There’s also the issue of speed and accuracy. For a large project, things are usually in flux and precise details are finalized later in the process. In those cases, creating photorealistic renders might not be possible simply because of time constraints. So, if the project is still being finalized, realism might not be wise. 

Because of that, it sometimes makes sense to step back from realistic rendering and head towards something more stylized. The concept of non-photorealistic rendering has become a lot more popular in the design community over the years. It takes basic 3D models and manipulates them in a 2D application such as Photoshop to create a more illustrated look. Non-photoreal rendering can take many forms. It can be stylistic and look like an illustration, such as a sketch or painting, or it can be more technical, such as a line drawing, cutaway or floorplan.  

This process can sometimes be better at communicating the mood and feel of a project without fully committing to precise details. It can also communicate some types of information more effectively. A cutaway of a building or an exploded view might be just image needed to finalize a project. 

Since lot of the process happens in Photoshop, non-photoreal rendering can be much faster. Something like a building does not need to be fully modeled, and most details are added in 2D. This allows for changes to happen quickly, which is often important in the early concept phases of a project. Faster image creation also lowers costs, which makes most clients happier.

Now, this is not a screed against photorealism. Photoreal images are terrific if that is what you need to communicate. There is a case to be made, however, for a larger palette of styles that can be employed when designing and creating a project. So, check out some of our courses on non-photoreal rendering to see if it will work for you.