Even though we always stress the importance of architectural visualizations, sometimes they are counterproductive. An unrealistic, oversimplistic, broken image will do more harm than good. Customers will think low of you because of bad rendering.

Therefore, we will be honest. Only good 3D models can benefit your design projects. So make sure to generate proper design images and avoid interior rendering defects.

What 3D rendering issues to be careful with? There are 9 key rendering mistakes to keep in mind. Check them out below.

1. Oversimplistic image is a sign of bad rendering

Ten years ago, all visualizations looked pretty simple. It wasn’t possible to show all the shadows, light bounces, and textures. They resembled sketches and just showed the location of furniture and main objects.

Well, what was normal back then, doesn’t work now. Viewers expect to see an image with realistic details.

Unless a customer wants a super simple image for any reason, minimum details mean bad rendering.

2. Uncontrolled reuse causes interior rendering defects

To speed up the process, many 3D artists use ready-made objects that are freely available online. This allows them to cut the time they would otherwise spend to craft the same element manually. Recycling is often used to add people, trees, and other universal objects.

The problem is that since these images are free, they are very common. As a result, the same elements can repeat in many visualizations. This makes images look cheap. You also shouldn’t add too many people and figures to one image. They can distract viewers from the architecture or interior intended to be in the spotlight.

To avoid such 3D rendering issues, don’t overuse the same elements. It’s also important to remember that not every image will benefit from additional objects. Figures of people are preferable for architectural visualizations, public spaces, and commercial visualizations.

Discover Commercial Interior Design: Do’s and Don’ts to Remember

3. Insufficient attention to input data

Today, realistic visualizations are a leading trend. Real estate owners, entrepreneurs, and other people who usually order 3D visualization prefer to see realistic images. Hence, you should always generate data-driven models and make them as close to the final design as possible. Don’t forget to collect and record all important details and specifications before starting 3D modeling.

Learn What Project Details are Necessary to Create Quality Visualizations

4. Reflection rendering issues

Every object reflects a certain amount of light, not only mirrors or glossy finishes. If you have to include details that reflect a lot of light, it would be difficult to show them properly. As a result, images may look unrealistic.

We know it’s a challenge, but we also know how to solve it. At Kucheriavi studio, we usually add some tiny imperfections, like scratches or dust, to images to make them more realistic. Such imperfections diffuse the light and contribute to more natural and quality visualizations.

An existing interior won’t be 100% perfect. So there is no need to create an ideal image.

5. Texture quality interior rendering defects

The quality of textures is a common mistake resulting in 3D rendering issues. Modern interior and architecture projects usually include tons of textures. They are combined within the same space to shape the experience of people.

When a 3D artist overlooks textures, bad rendering is inevitable.

Therefore, working on visualizations, you should always pick high-resolution and solid textures. Thanks to them, 3D models will look more realistic.

Besides, it’s important to know how to add textures to different objects. When you visualize fabrics, textures should create natural folds. To visualize wood, you have to align its grain with the elements of the furniture. As a rule, wood is cut along a trunk and, hence, grains must be parallel to the longer side of the object. Apart from this, remember about the scale. When wood texture has too large or small grain, it also looks bad.

6. Light issues in photorealistic renderings

Artists like skipping light bounces to save time. Although they think that no one will notice cheating, the lack of shadows affects the perception of visualizations.

Bounces are very effective to show indirect lighting. You can add several bounces to highlight a specific object, or, vice versa, remove them for darker shadows.

The wrong combination of natural and artificial light in an interior is another typical problem. Inexperienced 3D artists often make artificial light brighter than natural, even when they show an interior in the midst of the day. If it’s from 12 AM to 3 PM, daylight must be brighter than any light fixtures. In other cases, like when it’s a morning or evening interior, artificial light can be brighter. Another exception is when the sky is cloudy.

Also, be careful with the choice between warm and cold light. Ideally, an interior visualization should combine both. Then, the image looks realistic. To create the right balance between warm and cold light, you need to know its technical characteristics.

7. Wrong focus and perspectives

Not all visualizations need to showcase the room from multiple perspectives, give a bird’s-eye view, or create any other visual effect. Hence, to avoid 3D rendering issues, it's critical to know what to focus on.

If you want to allow viewers to see the scale of the project, use a bird’s-eye view. To feature standard interior designs, eye-level images from 1-3 angles are perfect (The eye level is 1400 mm). To create visualizations of products, you will need a close-up and an eye-level image.

Here are some additional tips to note:

• The camera must always be parallel to the horizon, otherwise, the visualization will be distorted.
  
• Creating an angular perspective includes 2 walls. If you add 3 walls, the image will have too many details and it would be difficult to set the focus.
  
• Combine angular and frontal images to give the full picture.
  
  

  8. Color differences make bad rendering

  Major differences in tones are serious 3D rendering issues. When a customer sees a 3D image, they expect the same effect in reality. Hence, it’s better to rely on color codes and warn your customers that colors may be distorted on some devices.
  
  Before you start working on visualizations, you must have exact specifications of all details, including colors. You should also keep in mind that the same color will vary depending on the type of material (e.g. fabrics vs. painted wall). That’s because the albedo, fraction, and IOR of the material affect the look of the color. A good 3D artist must know how to deal with this.
  
  

  9. Images don’t match customer needs

  When you create photorealistic renders, remember who is the end-user. A restaurant may need a 360 panoramic visualization, which is absolutely useless for someone who wants the design of their home.
  
  The lack of a customer-centric approach is among the strategic architectural rendering mistakes. Even a nice design will fail to satisfy customers’ needs if it doesn’t have the right format.
  
  The simplest way to fix such 3D Rendering issues is to communicate with customers. Make sure to analyze why they need visualizations and what option will be the most suitable.
  
  We know that to avoid these 3D rendering issues, you need a lot of experience and software skills. If you don’t have them, our 3D rendering services studio is ready to help. Contact us to discuss your project.