Crafting Realism in 3D: My Journey with Oakley’s Ski Helmets and Goggles
3D product visualization is a challenging yet rewarding process.
Achieving realism requires meticulous attention to detail, especially when it comes to materials, textures, and lighting. These elements are essential for making a product look lifelike in a digital space.
In 2024, I had the privilege of working with Oakley to create 3D product visualization and animations for their premium sky helmets and goggles.
A standout feature of these products is their world-renowned multi-colored lenses. These lenses are designed with a base gradient that dynamically shifts in color depending on how light interacts with the surface. Replicating this feature in 3D is particularly challenging, but through a detailed process, I was able to capture its essence
Below, I’ll share the steps I took to bring these products to life digitally with Maxon Cinema 4D.
Let’s have a look!
1. Study the Physical Product
While there’s no shortage of references like photos and existing 3D models, these often represent a filtered version of reality. To create truly high-quality renders, it’s essential to examine the actual product.
Observing the physical object helps you capture subtle nuances that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether it’s the texture of the material, the shape of the lens, or how light interacts with the surface, studying the product in person provides invaluable insights that digital references can’t always convey.
2. Gather Visual References
Collecting a variety of references is a critical step. This includes not only static images but also media that showcases how the product behaves in different lighting and environmental conditions.
Photos from advertisements, images on virtual stores, or real-life use cases all offer valuable context. Watching unboxing videos or footage of the product in action can also help you understand how the product reacts to light, movement, and its surroundings.
3. Leverage 3D Technology
One of the key benefits of 3D technology is the complete control it offers over every aspect of the scene. In the digital space, I had the freedom to create the perfect conditions to showcase the product, including controlling reflections, adjusting lighting and shadows, and highlighting specific details.
This allowed me to emphasize the intricate qualities of Oakley’s helmets and goggles, ensuring the final renders were as visually striking and realistic as possible.
4. Use Physically-Based 3D Shaders
To achieve the highest level of realism, I used physically-based shaders.
These shaders mimic how light interacts with real-world materials, ensuring the digital product behaves the same way as it would in reality.
When applied correctly, they reveal subtle color variations and texture details that add depth and realism to the final render.
5. Refine in Post-Production
Although much of the work is done within 3D software, the post-production phase allows for the final tweaks that perfect the image. Minor adjustments to gradients, brightness, and contrast ensure the final render looks as close to the physical product as possible.
This is the stage where small but essential details elevate the entire project to a higher level of realism.
Creating the Right Moodboard
For Oakley’s Google Line Miner goggles, I created a mood board and style frames to guide the creative process.
I experimented with both studio lighting and outdoor lighting setups, blending the two to create a studio environment subtly enhanced with reflections inspired by a snow-covered setting.
Final Thoughts about creating 3D product visualization
3D visualization combines creativity with technical precision, making it possible to transform products into vivid, lifelike representations.
By leveraging both artistic control and advanced 3D technology, I created detailed, realistic renders of Oakley’s sky helmets and goggles that bring the products to life in ways that would be impossible in the physical world.
