When a design studio takes on a project, they have a plan. They know what they can deliver. They envision the end product, the process they go through along the way and the tools it takes to achieve the needed results. RenderBox Studio knows exactly what it takes and the visuals they produce leave clients with gaping jaws, wanting more. KeyShot has been a crucial component in how they work with clients, bringing in real-time iterations and involving the client in the process. We spoke with them more about how they started and how KeyShot is helping them save time and improve quality.

Rich Stothard – Ryan Mason / RenderBox Studio

Modeling software used:
Maya / 3ds Max

RenderBox Studio is a design studio started by two kids who grew up together, friends since school. Having known each other for almost 10 years they shared similar interests and ideas, which helped shape RenderBox into what it has become today and is what enables them to work at the standard they do. At the end of their design degree, they were invited to take part at the New Designers show in London, one of the longest running graduate design shows in the UK. Rather than present themselves as individuals for the show, they launch RenderBox as a fully fledged 3D design and visualization studio, spending the months leading up to the show developing company identity and branding, along with launching their website. The result of all of this hard work and planning has enabled them to show a design-oriented audience exactly who RenderBox is.

What software do you use for 3D modeling?
RenderBox Studio originated with two designers, we brought two different methods and two pieces of software to the table. One Mac / Maya designer, and one PC / 3Ds Max user. After the initial “Macs are better than PC’s” and “3Ds Max is more powerful than Maya” which very maturely led onto “Your Momma” jokes, we embraced the differences between the software while utilising both unique skillsets. We evolved and expanded our unique design team into being multi-lingual in regards to software, with specialties in a variety of software. The bulk of the modeling work is done in either Autodesk’s 3Ds Max or Maya depending on the project at hand with dabbles of Zbrush and RealFlow, amongst others.

How is KeyShot helping?
Throughout our time in the industry we have used a variety of different renderers which usually resulted in huge headaches in terms of setup and then painfully slow render times. Welcome in KeyShot. We believe KeyShot is an example of what every renderer should strive to be and it baffles us as to why renderers don’t work in a similar way. Rather than being complicated and unintuitive like most, KeyShot is different. It is easy to pick up and using the preset material library, even with limited knowledge you can create beautiful renderers. This does not mean KeyShot is shallow in any way, it is one of those pieces of software that gives as much as you are willing to put into it. Once you spend some time to learn the ins and outs of how everything works, fine tune and customize your materials, those “beautiful renders” will quickly become amazing. When we say quickly we mean it too, KeyShot is mindblowingly fast. You don’t need NASA’s latest supercomputer, or have to wait hours on end for a single frame. Load your models, drag and drop the materials and there you go. In real time you see exactly what the final render is going to look like, and wow does it look good.

What are some projects KeyShot has been used on?
Rather than focusing on individual projects, the biggest thing for us is how it has changed the way we work with clients. With the help of KeyShot, gone are the days where you submit a piece of work to the client, where amendments are emailed back and forth. Now we can show our clients their modifications in real time, whether this be in person or over a Skype call. We can quickly change the composition of the scene, completely switch out the materials or even completely redesign the lighting, all while the client is there with us, and as such the client feels more involved, understands more about what it is we do and also get an end result that is much closer to what they wanted. This has allowed us to work very close with clients from the very start of a project, with our feedback aiding the products development, while seeing it through to completion and manufacturing.

What is one piece of advice you would pass along to someone interested in 3D visualization?
Take the next year off from your day job, lock you door, stockpile coffee & Cheetos/Wotsits and be prepared to say goodbye to your social life. In all seriousness, to become successful in the 3D design industry it is going to require a lot of time and dedication. Although if you enjoy what you are doing then this isn’t as hard as it sounds. You can’t expect to be amazing right off the bat, and it’s going to be hard, but with the help of KeyShot you can get better results quicker.