What is 3D rendering?

Moody Mattan • October 5, 2023

Have you ever marveled at the breathtaking graphics in a video game or the realistic architectural visualizations of a building not yet built? Behind those visual wonders lies the magic of 3D rendering. Dive in with me to explore this fascinating world.


Introduction to 3D Rendering


Imagine you're painting a scene, but instead of brushes and paints, you're using light, textures, and objects in a virtual space. That's 3D rendering in a nutshell. It's the process of turning 3D models into 2D images or animations, with a lifelike touch.

History of 3D Rendering


Ah, a trip down memory lane. From rudimentary pixel art to today's hyper-realistic scenes, 3D rendering has come a long way.

The dawn of computer graphics


In the early days, computer graphics were basic. Remember those old arcade games? They were pioneers, setting the stage for what was to come.



Evolution in the modern era


Then came the boom in graphic technology. With advancements in software and hardware, 3D rendering transformed, bringing cinematic experiences right to our living rooms.

How Does 3D Rendering Work?


It's like baking a cake – a blend of art and science!


The creation phase


First, you model the scene. This involves crafting the 3D objects, positioning them, and determining how they interact.



The simulation phase


Think of this as setting the stage. How's the lighting? The textures? The shadows? It's all about making it feel real.


The output phase


This is where magic meets reality. The computer calculates every pixel, producing a final image that pops right off the screen.

The Impact of 3D Rendering in Various Fields


It's not just about pretty pictures; 3D rendering touches our lives in profound ways.


Architecture and interior design


Ever seen a building before it's built? Thanks to 3D rendering, architects can showcase their visions in vivid detail.


Entertainment and gaming


From movies to games, rendering brings stories to life, taking us to worlds only limited by imagination.


Medicine and research


Visualizing complex biological processes or creating virtual surgeries? Yup, 3D rendering's got it covered.

Future of 3D Rendering


The horizon looks vibrant, with leaps in technology promising even more.


Immersive experiences and VR


Imagine stepping into a rendering. As VR evolves, this dream edges closer to reality.


AI-driven rendering techniques


With AI's touch, rendering gets smarter, faster, and even more breathtaking.

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Conclusion


So, next time you're engrossed in a game or admiring a digital artwork, take a moment to appreciate the marvel that is 3D rendering. It's reshaped industries, fueled innovations, and continues to redefine the boundaries of reality and imagination.


FAQs


  • What is the difference between 3D modeling and 3D rendering?
  • While modeling is about creating the 3D object, rendering is about producing the final 2D image from that object.
  • Why is 3D rendering important in architecture?
  • It allows architects to visualize and present their designs with lifelike accuracy, aiding in decision-making and client presentations.
  • How long does it take to render an image or scene?
  • It varies based on the complexity of the scene, hardware, and the level of detail required. It could range from minutes to days.
  • Can 3D rendering be used for animations?
  • Absolutely! Each frame of the animation is rendered, creating a fluid motion when played sequentially.
  • Is there a difference between real-time and offline rendering?
  • Yes. Real-time rendering is used in video games for immediate response, while offline rendering, used in movies, focuses on high detail and can take longer.

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By Moody Mattan April 1, 2025
Executive Summary Augmented Reality (AR) “smart mirrors” are emerging as transformative tools in beauty retail, allowing customers to virtually try on makeup in-store with lifelike realism. Leading beauty retailers and brands—including Sephora, L’Oréal, and Estée Lauder—have launched and expanded AR mirrors to enhance the in-store experience, resulting in significant increases in sales conversion, basket size, and customer engagement. In-store AR mirrors address key issues, such as hygiene concerns, limited trial time, and choice overload, by enabling touchless, rapid try-ons of multiple products. The results are notable: Sephora’s AR mirror trials led to an estimated 31% increase in sales , and AR try-on users demonstrate conversion rates up to 90% higher than those who do not engage. Estée Lauder reports that AR experiences yield 2.5 times higher conversion for lipstick purchases, and Clinique’s AI-driven AR mirror increased basket size by 30% while extending dwell time five-fold . Major U.S. beauty chains are adopting AR mirrors as a strategic tool to drive in-store sales and customer loyalty , with international retailers (e.g., Watsons in Asia) experiencing double-digit sales growth after implementing AR mirror experiences. This executive case study examines the business case for in-store AR mirrors, the technology and ecosystem (key providers and partners), and detailed case studies of Sephora, L’Oréal, and Estée Lauder implementations. It also presents key ROI metrics and practical considerations for retail leaders looking to adopt AR mirrors. The evidence indicates AR mirrors are evolving from novelty to an essential part of an omnichannel beauty strategy , merging the convenience of digital try-ons with the tangible services of physical retail to enhance both customer satisfaction and profitability. The Business Case for AR Mirrors For beauty retailers, the in-store AR mirror offers an innovative solution to a longstanding challenge: how to enable customers to confidently try and buy cosmetics with minimal friction. Traditional in-store sampling has limitations — applying and removing multiple products is time-consuming and raises hygiene concerns. AR mirrors address this issue by allowing shoppers to “try on” numerous shades virtually in seconds , without ever touching their face. This establishes a safe and sanitary try-on process , a priority heightened by the pandemic. When testers were removed from many stores in 2020, AR mirrors and virtual try-on tools became essential alternatives, significantly accelerating the adoption of the technology. From a business perspective, AR mirrors drive sales by enhancing customer confidence and encouraging exploration. By visibly “wearing” a new lip color or eyeshadow through AR, customers can discover products they might not have previously considered — effectively expanding their basket . Sephora found that AR experiences foster impulse purchases: its virtual mirror convinced shoppers to buy items they hadn’t initially planned on. The interactive and enjoyable nature of AR also keeps shoppers in the store longer, which generally correlates with higher spending. Industry reports indicate that immersive technology like AR can significantly increase dwell time in retail. In one instance, a beauty AR experience resulted in an average in-store dwell time of over 4 minutes , far exceeding typical engagements. Longer engagement provides more opportunities for associates to upsell and for customers to add items to their cart baskets. Critically, AR mirrors address the “try-before-you-buy” expectation of modern consumers. Over 50% of consumers desire augmented shopping experiences to assist in product selection. By meeting this demand, retailers boost sales in the short term and cultivate brand loyalty. Shoppers view the brand as innovative and customer-centric. The novelty factor of AR mirrors — essentially a magic mirror that instantly showcases new looks — also creates buzz and foot traffic. Executives observe that these tech-driven experiences result in memorable store visits that attract shoppers, despite the convenience of online options. From a financial ROI perspective, multiple data points highlight the business case. Shopify reported that products featuring AR content experienced a 94% higher conversion rate than those without. Perfect Corp (a leading AR provider) commissioned a study revealing that AR try-on use made shoppers 1.6× more likely to purchase and to spend 2.7× more on cosmetics . In other words, AR-driven trials lead to higher conversion rates and increased average order values. These gains can directly enhance same-store sales. Beauty giant L’Oréal estimates that augmented reality and AI initiatives contributed to its e-commerce and in-store sales growth (52% e-commerce growth in 2019) by facilitating more personalized, confident purchases at scale. In summary, AR mirrors align with core retail KPIs: increasing conversion, basket size, dwell time, and customer satisfaction, all of which ultimately drive revenue and profitability. Technology Overview AR mirrors combine augmented reality software, cameras, and display screens in a fixture resembling a vanity mirror or digital kiosk. At the core is real-time facial tracking and rendering technology: a camera captures the customer’s face, and AR software overlays ultra-realistic 3D images of makeup (lipstick, eyeshadow, foundation, etc.) onto the live video feed. Unlike simple 2D photo filters, advanced AR mirrors utilize 3D facial geometry and AI to simulate how products appear from different angles and under various lighting. For example, ModiFace, a pioneer in beauty AR, calibrates its rendering by analyzing how makeup looks on models of different skin tones and lighting conditions, yielding a highly lifelike result. The goal is a virtual application that is nearly indistinguishable from real makeup application. Early augmented reality (AR) mirrors were essentially large screens or tablets that ran AR try-on software. Sephora’s first installations between 2014 and 2016 featured 3D AR mirrors co-developed with ModiFace, which included a camera and screen housed in a vanity-like frame. Today’s implementations vary from full-length smart mirrors to iPad-based kiosks found at beauty counters. For example, the AR mirror launched by MAC Cosmetics in 2017 is a freestanding screen that maps the user’s face 30 times per second, realistically overlaying 30 different eye makeup looks. Other setups, such as Charlotte Tilbury’s “Magic Mirror,” utilize a mirror-shaped display with built-in lighting, evoking the ambiance of a glamorous vanity Crucially, the tech has evolved to require no learning curve from shoppers: no app download or menu navigation is needed . Users simply stand in front of the mirror and see themselves with virtual makeup; the interface often lets them change shades with a simple gesture or tap, or even automatically recommends a look. Keeping the experience seamless is key to encouraging engagement, as noted by AR developers who avoid complex UIs to make mirrors universally inviting . Behind the scenes, AR providers and tech partners create an ecosystem that enables these mirror experiences. In the beauty industry, several specialists stand out (see Table 1). ModiFace , acquired by L’Oréal in 2018, supplies AR and AI technology for makeup try-ons across many of L’Oréal’s 36 brands and has previously collaborated with Sephora and others. Perfect Corp. , the maker of the YouCam Makeup app, offers a turnkey AR mirror solution used by retailers such as Ulta and Watsons; it features patented AgileFace® tracking for high accuracy. Agencies like Holition develop custom AR mirror experiences for luxury brands (e.g., Charlotte Tilbury) with tailored hardware and content. Newer startups (e.g., BrandXR ) concentrate on pop-up AR installations for brands (as seen with Valentino Beauty and Makeup by Mario mirrors). These providers offer features ranging from virtual product try-ons to shade finders and integrated purchase functions (scanning a QR code from the mirror to add the product to the cart). Table 1 compares some leading AR mirror solutions and their notable brand deployments: Table 1. Leading In-Store AR Mirror Solution Providers and Deployments
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How AR Billboards Work AR billboards typically operate through one of several mechanisms: Marker-based AR : Using QR codes or visual triggers that, when scanned with an AR-enabled device, launch interactive experiences. Location-based AR : Utilizing GPS coordinates to display virtual content when users are in specific geographic locations. Surface detection : Leveraging camera technology to identify flat surfaces where virtual objects can be realistically placed. Web AR : Browser-based experiences that don't require dedicated app downloads, reducing friction in the user journey. Key Metrics for AR Billboard Campaigns To understand the true impact of AR billboard initiatives, marketers must track specific metrics that capture the unique aspects of augmented reality experiences. Based on the latest XR analytics frameworks, these metrics provide comprehensive insights into campaign performance. Awareness and Reach Metrics Impressions Impressions measure how many times your AR billboard content is displayed, regardless of interaction. For AR campaigns, impressions can be categorized as: Potential impressions : The number of people who pass by the physical trigger point AR trigger views : How many people saw the AR activation prompt App-based impressions : When using a dedicated app, how many times the AR feature was available to users Tracking impressions helps establish the top-of-funnel reach of your campaign and serves as the denominator for calculating engagement rates. Opens The "opens" metric represents the number of times users activate the AR experience, which typically requires deliberate action like scanning a QR code or tapping a button. This metric is crucial as it indicates the effectiveness of your call-to-action and the appeal of your AR concept. A high impressions-to-opens ratio suggests strong initial interest in your campaign. Engagement Metrics Average Session Length One of AR's most valuable metrics is session duration. While traditional billboards may capture attention for mere seconds, compelling AR experiences can engage users for minutes. Longer sessions indicate higher quality engagement and provide more opportunities for brand messaging to resonate. Industry benchmarks suggest that successful AR billboard campaigns achieve average session lengths of 45-75 seconds, significantly outperforming traditional digital advertising formats. Captures The "captures" metric tracks how many users save or capture content from the AR experience. This might include: Screenshots of the AR experience Videos recorded while using the AR feature 3D models or AR filters saved to the user's device Captures represent a deeper level of engagement than mere viewing and often signal content that users find valuable enough to preserve. Engagement Interactions Detailed interaction metrics provide insights into how users engage with specific elements of your AR experience: Tap/click events : How users interact with clickable elements Object manipulation : Tracking when users resize, rotate, or reposition AR elements Feature utilization : Which AR features receive the most attention Progression rates : How many users complete multi-step AR experiences These granular metrics help you identify which aspects of your AR billboard resonate most with audiences, which will inform future design decisions. Visual Attention Heatmaps Advanced AR analytics platforms can generate visual attention heatmaps showing precisely where users focus their attention during the AR experience. These heatmaps reveal: Which elements capture immediate attention How attention shifts throughout the experience Areas that receive minimal engagement Optimal placement for key messaging and calls-to-action Visual attention analysis helps optimize the design of AR experiences to ensure important brand messages receive maximum exposure. Social and Sharing Metrics Social Shares AR billboards have a natural advantage in shareability compared to traditional advertising. Tracking social shares provides insight into how many users find your AR experience compelling enough to share with their networks. This metric encompasses: Direct shares from the AR application Screenshots or recordings shared to social platforms Mentions and hashtags related to your AR campaign High share rates amplify your campaign's reach and serve as powerful social proof, potentially generating earned media beyond your paid advertising investment. Audience Insights Demographics AR platforms can collect rich demographic data about users who engage with your experiences, including: Age ranges Gender distribution Geographic location Device types Language preferences This demographic information helps refine audience targeting for future campaigns and provides valuable insights into which audience segments respond most positively to AR advertising. Conversion Metrics Brand Awareness Lift Measuring changes in brand awareness requires pre- and post-campaign surveys or brand tracking studies. Key indicators include: Brand recall improvements Changes in brand perception Increased brand consideration Message association AR experiences typically generate stronger brand recall than traditional media due to their interactive and immersive nature, with studies showing 70-80% message retention compared to 10-20% for standard advertising. Conversions The ultimate metric for many campaigns is conversion rate – the percentage of users who complete desired actions after engaging with your AR billboard. These actions might include: App downloads Newsletter signups Online purchases Store visits Coupon redemptions Product trial requests  AR campaigns excel at driving specific consumer behaviors when designed with clear conversion pathways and compelling calls-to-action.
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