What makes premium 3D advertising special?

Why does one 3D video look more expensive than another? Some of our clients are surprised to learn just how different 3D modeling can be. It’s all about the transition that needs to happen to elevate from "simple" to premium. In this article, we’ll clearly show what sets these two approaches apart and how these details impact viewers' perception.

For some of our clients, it’s a real revelation to discover that 3D modeling can vary greatly.

We’re not talking about mistakes or shortcomings; it’s about the step required to transition from "simple" to premium quality.

We’ve prepared this article to illustrate these differences. We’ll compare specific examples and explain how such details affect the viewer's perception and how these effects can be achieved.

By the way, we write a lot about video marketing. For instance, if you’re curious about what it’s capable of and why it’s popular not only among game developers, you can read about it here.

So, you have two videos, but one feels more expensive. What makes the difference?

For this comparison, we’ve chosen two videos, which we’ll refer to as standard 3D (video link) and premium 3D (video link).

If you've ever tried drawing, you know how important shadows are. They add realism and create depth. Our brains are accustomed to perceiving objects lit by natural light, which is why a well-designed 3D model with proper lighting feels more realistic and convincing.

How to achieve this? Work on lighting settings in the scene.

Can you visually distinguish what an object is made of? Metal, rubber, wood, glass... Even if all these materials are painted in the same color, certain visual cues help you tell them apart. If this is true in reality, it will also make a difference in video.

Take a look at how much more convincing a mechanism looks when these details are refined:

How to achieve this? By adjusting the materials and textures of 3D objects.

Another advantage of rendering a 3D object is that the camera can move around it in creative ways, sometimes even in ways that are nearly impossible during real-life shooting. Movements along an arc or a circular path look particularly impressive. Unfortunately, these possibilities are often underutilized, with more traditional camera angles being chosen instead.

Example of complex camera movement:

How to achieve this? By adjusting camera settings.

Color can be just as expressive as lighting when used correctly. By thoughtfully placing color accents, you can highlight the important elements and give the image extra depth.

How to achieve this? Develop a specific color scenario and perform color correction.

We’ve all seen clouds of smoke or streams of steam, so it’s easy to imagine how flowing air should look. Accurately recreating this motion can be done with particle effects. When the flow is modeled realistically, it will also be perceived more authentically.

How to achieve this? It requires particle settings and animation.

Another aspect that creates an extraordinary feeling is smooth, seamless transitions between scenes. When the scenes flow into one another harmoniously, the entire video is perceived as a cohesive whole. This requires the expertise of a skilled editor.

How to achieve this? Expert editing work.

Sometimes it’s worth spending more. Stock footage is often used in video production to fill gaps in the budget or capabilities. 

For example, in this video, we created all the 3D inserts, while all the video clips were sourced from stock footage:

But if budget isn’t a concern, and quality is the priority, higher-end (and thus more complex and interesting) footage can be used, including materials from specialized 3D stock libraries.

How to achieve this? A higher budget for stock footage.

How can you maximize the focus on a product, presenting it in the best possible light and from all angles? Literally from all angles? A great option would be to create a separate product shot where the entire environment is designed to highlight and enhance the product.

How to achieve this? Model an additional scene.

Sharp edges, deep textures, rich colors. Do you know what all of the above has in common? Achieving such effects requires high computational power. The image looks more appealing but is more complex to process.

Luckily, this is not an issue anymore, as you can easily rent the necessary computational power.

Here’s an example from our practice, where additional power helped create a more convincing image:

How to achieve this? Rent a powerful render farm.

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10. Sound and Music

Our sense of reality is influenced not only by what we see but also by what we hear. Small sounds, such as wind, footsteps, or button clicks, can make the video more immersive and real. It’s also important to select music that fits organically with the visuals, enhancing the dynamics of the video.

Moreover, you don’t necessarily need to find the perfect track. Just like everything else, it can be edited and adapted so that the music’s highlights match the dynamic moments in the video.

How to achieve this? The work of a sound designer.

Perhaps, after reading this list, you didn’t find anything groundbreaking or discover anything new. And that’s perfectly understandable.

Each of these "details" could be seen as optional to some extent. But it’s precisely these small, high-quality elements that come together to create the overall impression.

Why doesn’t everyone do this? Mostly to save costs. Almost all of the above requires additional expenses—either for the work of specialists or for the resources needed to purchase tracks or video clips from stock services.

We hope you found this an interesting read. If you’d like to see how we apply these techniques in practice, feel free to contact us.

Lava Media – an agency specializing in creating and promoting video advertising content. For more exciting content, visit our portfolio page: https://www.lavamedia.us/portfolio