FAQ

Product CGI, common questions

The questions that come up before a project starts, answered straight.

How much does a product CGI render cost?

There is no single price: it depends mostly on how complex the product is, how many images you need, and whether the model has to be built from scratch or a CAD file already exists. A simple shape with matte materials costs far less than one with glass, liquids or polished metal, because render and tuning time rise sharply. Other factors: still image or video, how many versions and formats you need, whether there is animation, and the deadline. Projects are normally quoted as a fixed price after seeing the product and the brief, not by the hour.

Product CGI or photography: which one fits?

Photography wins when the product already exists, is simple, and you only need a few clean shots. CGI wins when you need to repeat, vary or control. Once the 3D model exists you can generate endless colour, background, angle and format variations without rebuilding a set, and you can show what a camera cannot reach: cutaways, internals, mechanisms, liquids mid-motion. It also lets you work before any physical product exists. CGI usually costs more up front, but it pays off the moment you need the second batch of images.

Can you do CGI for a product that has not been manufactured yet?

Yes, and it is one of its strongest uses. With a CAD file, technical drawings, or even sketches plus material specs, the product can be built in 3D and used for campaign imagery before a single unit exists. It is common for launches, pre-order campaigns, and pitches to distributors or investors.

How long does a product CGI project take?

It depends on whether modelling is needed. With a clean CAD file already available, a set of product images can be ready in a little over a week. Building from scratch, texturing complex materials and animating pushes it to several weeks. Real timelines are set once the brief is clear: what stretches a project is rarely the render, it is revision rounds and changes of direction mid-way.

What do I need to provide to start a CGI project?

Ideally the product's CAD file, visual references for the look you want, and the material and finish spec. With no CAD, photos from several angles, dimensioned drawings or physical samples will do. It also helps to know from the start where the image will be used, because a piece for Instagram is not prepared the same way as one for a billboard.

How do I choose a CGI studio in Spain?

Look at three things before price. First, whether their portfolio includes products similar to yours in material difficulty, not just in category. Second, whether they understand direction and not only technique: a technically perfect render that is badly directed does not sell. Third, how revisions work, how many rounds are included, and what happens if you change direction. Always ask to see the studio's own work, not only projects they contributed to.

What is the difference between a CGI studio and a creative agency?

An agency handles strategy, concept and the full campaign, and usually subcontracts image production. A CGI studio produces that image. Many agencies work with outside studios when they have no CGI in house. If your concept is already clear, going straight to the studio removes a layer. If you need someone to define the campaign, start with the agency.

What is product visualisation and what is it for?

It is creating product imagery with 3D instead of photography. It is used for catalogues and ecommerce listings, launch campaigns, sales presentations, packaging and social content. Its main advantage is control: you can change colour, finish, background or framing without reshooting, and keep one consistent look across a whole range.