How Much Interior Rendering Services Cost with 3D Visualization Firms

Interior rendering and visualization are the processes of converting three-dimensional models of an interior design into 3D animations, VR, or two-dimensional images using a variety of computer software. High-quality freelance rendering services are arguably the best possible tool for developers and sellers to showcase a project to investors and clients. They display a hyper-realistic visualization of design ideas filled with extensive details of the inner parts of a structure, including furniture pieces, floors, wall colors, lighting, as well as patterns and textures.

The primary purpose of an interior rendering is to give a glimpse of how the space will look and feel. Rendered images and videos give clients a glimpse into the overall atmosphere of the design, often before the construction phase even starts. In some cases, rendered images are based on already existing structures and used as marketing materials displayed on a billboard and web page. Private property owners in the process of selling their house can use professional rendering services to advertise their house as well.

Since renders are true-to-life depictions of physical objects, they’re entirely different from a photograph or video footage. They’re not as authentic as a still photo, but that is only because rendering has no limitations in terms of image manipulation. A 3D furniture rendering service can set up the viewing angle, lighting, and just about every detail in whatever way they choose. There is also the undeniable advantage of the flexibility that computer-generated imagery can be modified over and over again to change any element on screen. As a presentation and marketing tool, the possibilities are limitless. With all those advantages, interior rendering services do not come cheap.

The main cost components

The size of the project or the scope of the interior to render plays a massive factor in determining the total cost. Breaking it down further, the leading pricing components bound to affect your budget are as follows:

• Labor
• Modeling
• Texturing
• Lighting
• Post-production
• Image size
• Source materials supplied (reference images, briefs, files, etc.)
• Deadline

Every company sets its own pricing. Most companies also offer a service range for every budget. However, you can roughly estimate the cost of interior rendering as anywhere between $300–$750 for a residential building or private property and $400–$1500 for a commercial facility. Cost increases if the project requires 3D renderings of the exterior and a floor plan. Higher quality work calls for more intensive labor, as well.

Things to remember

As a rule of thumb, you must contact at least several different freelance photorealistic rendering services to compare prices and offerings. Affordability always is a huge factor when deciding to hire any particular company, yet there are few things to remember before you judge the price quoted:

• There is no such thing as standard pricing for 3D rendering services. Since each project is unique and with its own set of challenges, it’s almost impossible to set standard prices. Inexperienced companies will most likely charge less, but this does not always mean you get a good deal. Quality matters a lot.

• Prices are often negotiable, especially if you’re willing to provide as much source material as you can. As mentioned earlier, these materials may include reference images, files (the 3D models to render), and clear briefs. The expectation is that the company knows exactly what you want, minimizing the chances of revisions at a later time. Extensive source material can reduce much of the labor cost for research.

• Affordability is a good thing. Unfortunately, with harsh competition in the market, there are some rampant companies trying to sell decent-looking images at very low (almost impossible) prices, which can be either a great deal or a burning red flag. Cross question such companies and ask for previous records. A lot of 3D modeling services use stock images to mislead potential clients.

• A company with good communication skills comes highly recommended. While they do a lot of the hard work, you’re in charge of the project. For every milestone, the company must earn your approval. A professional will ask for and listen to your feedback.

More often than not, the quality of work between a $500 and $1,000 interior rendering may not be so obvious. As a client, you must take other factors like frequency of revisions, quality control, communication, and skill levels into account.

Still images vs. 3D animation

In addition to the size of the project, the type of rendering plays a significant factor too. All things equal, there is a big difference in cost between the rendering of a sunroom and kitchen.

Moreover, renderings in the static image format are almost always more affordable than VR let alone 3D animation. A static image is exactly that, and 3D animation as well as VR requires a lot of still renders to build a digital video.

Rendering resolution

Interior design rendering services can provide images of varying resolutions, depending on where the images will be used. Below is a list of typical resolutions needed for both web and print.

When rendering an image for a billboard, the process gets a tad more complicated. Say you want to use the rendering of an interior design as an advertisement piece and put it on a non-standard billboard size of 20 square inches. A 3D architectural service will usually start with a relatively high-resolution image for example 8000 x 8000 at 400 PPI for a 20 square inch billboard. Once the image is ready, it will be scaled down to just 40 PPI to reduce the size without significantly affecting visibility.

Details exposed

High-resolution images look better and usually contain more details. You have the freedom to ask a 3D interior rendering service to create an intensively detailed rendering of an interior to highlight the otherwise subtle components. You have to make it clear the first time so professionals can do the work in a more manageable manner, up to the tiniest details. Without clear instructions, the result is at the mercy of an artists’ imagination, as they don’t know your preferences and requirements.

Number of still images to render

For a larger order in which the artists have to produce more than several still images, you can probably expect a discount. No matter how enticing the quoted price is, try to negotiate it a little bit further. To showcase an interior design in its entirety, one image is not going to be enough. An image, no matter how detailed or high resolution it is, only allows for one viewing angle. With that in mind, one room may require a couple of images to give a glimpse of its atmosphere. Assuming there are multiple rooms involved, and each takes two or three images, then you have a sizable project ahead.

Deadline

Timing is another important factor that affects cost. A project run in no hurry and without a looming deadline should come with standard pricing, predetermined by the rendering artists themselves. An urgent order is a different story as far as cost is concerned, even more so when the company you hire has to either bring some more hands onto the team or work overtime. A larger CGI studio is capable of handling a large project on a tight deadline. There is no shortage of computing power and in-house professionals to expedite the work. Be prepared to spend a bigger budget than you would otherwise expect to pay if hiring, let’s say, an individual freelancer.

Post-production

Corrections and adjustments are integral parts of the interior rendering process. A perfect rendering doesn’t just happen—it takes a series of effort, which often involves the rendered images or animations going back and forth from the artist to the client for approval. Rendering artists usually offer certain limits of tolerable corrections, which if not exceeded, the initial price remains the same for example if rendered images take no more than 50% corrections compared to project size.

Pricing strategies

Some services use per-project pricing strategy, while others take per-image approach. The former is more suitable for larger project where multiple interior rendering images are required. You send the company details of the project, and the company replies with a customized quote based on the information. On the other hand, per-image pricing means a fixed-price for every rendered image. Despite such pricing strategy, CGI artists are willing to charge less for a client ordering two or more rendered images. It is not a discount; it is just that the initial setup for the first rendering process can be pretty intensive, but then it becomes more manageable afterward.