What Is 3D Configuration? All the Terms You Need to Know
What are the core concepts when building a 3D experience?
What is 3D product configuration? It isn’t the 3D you remember from the 90’s and it is more than a buzzword for 2021. 3D configurators are quickly becoming a must have on marketers’ wish lists. With 88% of consumers looking for brands to quickly advance their digital initiatives and a demand for enhanced shopping experiences online, brands are on the hook to make their customer journey the best in the industry, and many are turning to 3D configuration to bring their products to life online and provide an interactive and value added experience.
But what is a 3D configurator? How do you add one to your website? What is the difference between a product visualizer and a 3D configurator? We’ve broken down all the terms you need to know before you add 3D configuration to your website.
What is a Product Visualizer?
A product visualizer uses interactive 3D models to display products in a digital environment, allowing users to view the item from all angles and zoom to see details, including textures.
What is a 3D Configurator?
A 3D configurator is an immersive 3D experience that allows users to view and select options and features available for a product. As with product visualization, users are able view the product in full 360 and zoom to evaluate the product with the options they have chosen.
What is the difference between a 3D visualizer and configurator?
The key differentiator between product visualization and 3D configuration is the ability to select and view options in real time. Product visualizers are built to show a product in a specific format, whether that be a select color, material, or collection of features. For products offered with only one configuration, product visualizers offer shoppers the ability to more effectively evaluate and explore a product in a digital setting.
3D configurators are designed to allow a consumer to customize a product to various degrees as offered by the brand. This can be as simple as choosing a color to as complex as building custom machinery.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience in which users can view and engage with a computer generated object in their current real world environment. AR is most commonly used by consumers with a smartphone or other mobile device.
How Does Augmented Reality Work With 3D Configuration?
Augmented Reality can be paired with 3D configuration or product visualization to allow users to view a specific product or a configured view of the product in their current environment. Home goods vendor, Wayfair, offers an AR experience for shoppers to view furniture and decor in their homes prior to purchase.
What Is 3D Rendering?
3D rendering is the process of inserting a 3D model into an environment where it can be viewed and interacted with, such as on an ecommerce product page.
What is WebGL?
WebGL is the JavaScript API that allows rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics within any compatible web browser without needing an additional plug-in. ATLATL Visual uses WebGL to bring clients’ products to life across a wide array of digital devices.
What is glTF?
glTF, short for the GL Transmission Format, is an open source, standard file format for 3D scenes and models. It has been designated as a key standard for augmented reality, and is used by major platforms such as Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and Adobe.
What Is the Best Product Visualization Software?
ATLATL Visual delivers high fidelity interactive 3D experiences without sacrificing speed or customer experience. Along with our in house art team, our visual experts are some of the most experienced experts in the field, bringing the skills and creativity to optimize your ecommerce experience for industry leading features and improved conversion rates.
Ready to see how 3D configuration and AR can be put to work for your brand? Check out our product visualization demos and meet our team of experts!
This post originally appeared on ATLATL.com
