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3D / CGIDecember 18, 2024· 6 min read
Why we replaced half our photo shoots with 3D
Cycles + Geometry Nodes do in 4 hours on an M2 Max what a studio shoot used to do in 3 days. Lessons from two 2024 retail clients.
Creastra Digest
- −60% production cost at comparable quality
- ×4 iterations — material and angle changes in minutes
- AR Quick Look — partners also get .usdz at no extra cost
We used to commission a photo shoot for every seasonal look. Since December 2024 half our clients' catalogues are renders. It's not "better" — it's "differently efficient".
When 3D wins
- 50+ SKU catalogues with identical lighting
- Seasonal campaigns with fast material refreshes
- Landing demo scenes that need product spin
- iOS AR previews — the render is already a .usdz
When photo still wins
Human faces, fuzzy fabrics, products under transparent packaging. Here render slides into uncanny valley or eats a day on one detail — a shoot is cheaper and more honest.