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3D Promotional Product

Real-time Virtual Proofing of Promotional Products

I just returned from an incredible week in Las Vegas at the PPAI Conference and Expo. This was our first time having a presence at this event, and I’m still processing everything I learned about this dynamic industry. It was a whirlwind experience!  Here is the video we brought with us.

At the conference, we had the opportunity to meet hundreds of industry professionals and gain real insight into how the promotional products world operates. Initially, we didn’t set out to develop our real-time virtual proofing solution as part of a grand product vision—it simply started as a solution for a few clients who needed it. Heading into the conference, we weren’t sure if similar solutions already existed in the market.

The Lay of the Land

The world of the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) has its own terminology, its own culture, and a massive ecosystem of four main organization types:

  • Suppliers or manufacturers, who create the base products;
  • Distributors, who sell these products to consumers, often customizing (or “decorating”) them;
  • Decorators, who personalize and configure products to meet consumer needs;
  • Third parties – these are coordinators or support entities that assist suppliers, distributors, and decorators in some way.

When I arrived at the conference, I wasn’t familiar with the industry’s lingo. Now, I know enough to be dangerous. So let me try to explain how it works, and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

What is a “Virtual Proof?”

Virtual Proof

In many cases, buyers request a physical proof—a one-off sample of a decorated product like a branded speaker.
But before reaching that stage, they typically iterate using digital previews, such as:

  • Static images of the final design, created based on the buyer’s submitted artwork.
  • Animated videos showing a 360-degree view of the product.
  • Interactive 3D models that allow the buyer to rotate and zoom in on the design.

Most decorators offer virtual proofing, often in response to a “request for virtual proof.” This can be as simple as some three-angle product shots, or something more advanced, offering the customer a visual representation before anything is physically decorated. More often than not, these are created offline, taking one or more days.

Why aren’t Virtual Proofs Real-time?

Creating virtual proofs for promotional products comes with several challenges:

  • 3D product models are not always available, and can take time to create.
  • 2D designs that will decorate the models have their own creation process which is quite subtle.
  • For decades, client-side computing power wasn’t strong enough to handle real-time 3D rendering.
  • Production processes can be quite sophisticated for some products: in some cases only a physical proof can accurately capture the final look and feel.

Manual virtual proofing has its advantages—it ensures accuracy and prevents costly mistakes. We deeply respect the skill and craftsmanship involved in creating these proofs manually, and we don’t expect this process to go away entirely. But we have a solution covering the majority of use cases that obviates the need for a manual approach.

The Solution

Technology has advanced significantly over the past decade, making real-time virtual proofing a game-changer. This approach not only saves hours of time but also enhances the design process by allowing users to explore multiple options instantly. Here’s how recent innovations address previous challenges:

  • 3D model creation has evolved rapidly in just the past 3 years. Now, AI and machine learning approaches make photorealistic models quick and (almost) easy.
  • 2D remains a very fine art, but software for 2D has quietly advanced as well.
  • Thanks to hardware advancements and standards like WebGL, real-time 3D rendering is now smooth and performant on most modern devices.
  • Slowly but surely, the edge cases are getting tackled. Already, a critical mass of promotional products can be visualized in real time. It gets better every day.

We’re excited to support more organizations in the promotional products industry by helping them harness real-time virtual proofing to streamline workflows and unlock greater creativity. With Silicon Designer users can configure and customize products directly through an intuitive online interface. Our solution provides a real-time, interactive, and photo-realistic preview that instantly reflects design choices—eliminating the need for manual requests or processing. What you see is what you get, instantly.

Interested in seeing it in action? Let us know and we’d be happy to show you how easily it can fit into your workflow.

Editor
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