Knowledge base · from our own projects
What does it cost to have 3D visualisation made?
The price of 3D visualisation is set by the model, not by the number of images. At THE REAL MAG. a simple product model starts at a few tens of euros, a complex product with many components costs half to one and a half working days. Once the model is standing, every extra image or extra variant is a fraction of that.
Where the price comes from
Most quotations for 3D visualisation are built around "an image", and that is exactly why they are so hard to compare. The costs are not in the image but in the model the image comes out of.
THE REAL MAG. works in studio days, a full working day of a 3D artist, including consultation and final checking. This is what the build-up looks like.
| Component | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple product model | from 50 euros | one shape, several colours or materials |
| Complex product model | ½ to 1½ studio days | many separate components, modules or variants |
| Scanning an existing product on site | ½ studio day | the model matches the real product one to one |
| Material or fabric group | ¼ studio day | one pattern with its colours, reusable |
| Extra image from an existing model | small | different viewpoint, different setting, different version |
The last row is the most important. Once the model is standing, an extra image costs a fraction of the first. That is the whole economic logic of 3D.
A worked example
A manufacturer wants to show eight products, each in six versions. That is 48 images.
Through photography those are 48 shots with set-up and post-production. Through 3D they are eight models and six material groups, after which all 48 images come out of that same source. The number of images is the same, the amount of work differs by a factor.
If you then want to add a seventh version, through photography that is eight new shots and through 3D it is one material group.
What really drives the price up
Not the number of images, and not the number of colours either. Three things.
The number of physically different components. A product in thirty colours is one model with thirty materials. A product in thirty sizes where each size has a different shape is thirty models. Anyone who orders their range that way before requesting quotations can bring the price down considerably without giving anything up.
Whether components have to be individually controllable. A machine you only show from the outside is considerably cheaper than the same machine where you have to be able to open the housing to show how it works.
The quality of your source data. CAD files make a big difference, because the dimensions and the construction are already right. Photographs and a dimensioned sketch alone means the model is built up from scratch.
How to assess a quotation
Four questions separate a comparable quotation from an incomparable one.
- What does the model cost, and what does an extra image from that model cost? As long as those
sit on one pile, you cannot compare anything.
- Who owns the 3D model after delivery, and do I get it in a usable format?
- What does a change cost a year from now, when the range changes?
- Will the model also be usable for a configurator or an animation later, or is it only
suitable for these images?
That fourth question is almost never asked and is financially the most important. A well-built model carries over to your next application. A model made only for these images is one you pay for again.
When you should wait before investing
When the product shape is not settled yet. Changing colours and materials is small work; changing the shape means going back to the model. In that case wait until the design is final, or start with one model as a trial rather than the whole range.
Wait too if your product data is not in order. Without clarity on which versions exist and what they are called, you get a set of images nobody can match to your range.
Frequently asked questions
What does one 3D product visualisation cost?
That depends almost entirely on whether the model already exists. If the model exists, an extra image is a small item. If the model still has to be built, that is where most of the cost sits.
Why does one model cost ten times as much as another?
Because of the number of separate components and whether components have to be individually controllable. A closed shape in ten colours is one model; a machine with moving parts that you have to be able to show opened up is a multiple of that.
Can I supply my CAD files to save costs?
Yes, that makes a considerable difference. CAD data contains the right dimensions and construction. Some work is always needed, because CAD is made to produce from and not to render from.
What does a change afterwards cost?
Changing a colour, a material or a camera position is small work. Changing the shape of the product means going back to the model. That is why it is wise to wait for the final product shape before the model is built.
Sources and accountability
- The build-up in studio days comes from our own quoting practice (June 2026). Client names and project-specific discounts have been left out; only the structure and the ratios have been carried over.
- The entry rate for simple models, from 10 euro each, is published at therealmag.eu/3d-configurator, consulted 26 July 2026.
- The worked examples are derived from those same rates, with the calculation set out.
- Several colour or material versions of the same product share the same geometry and fit into one file; this is laid down in the ratified Khronos extension KHR_materials_variants. Khronos Group, Streamlining 3D Commerce with Material Variant Support in glTF Assets, 11 November 2020, consulted 30 August 2026.
A specific question about your product?
In a 30 minute demo you will know what this costs and delivers for your product.
Plan een demo