Virtually staging a 3D environment contains a lot of complexities. Your team needs to be well-versed in common misconceptions about virtual staging to minimize the risk of killing your project before it’s even born. Pali baby furniture is a great example of the ways virtual staging has affected our lives. We’ll take a look at ten common misconceptions about virtual staging, and how to avoid them in order to guarantee your project’s success.
1. The content is the stage
In a nutshell, virtual staging is the process of simplifying 3D data and placing it in an interactive web format. Virtual Staging is sometimes confused with “virtual staging 360.” No matter how high resolution your renderings, or how realistic your model looks, if you have no interactivity, you’re missing out on what virtual staging has to give. If you’re mesmerized by data, but short on interactivity, then you are trying to build a house without a foundation. Data is only as good as its presence online: It must be accessible in an online format in order to be effective marketing material for your brand or industry.
2. Virtual stages should be interactive
Actually, many virtual stages have little or no interactivity. This can be a good thing if the 3D renderings are meant to explore multiple angles and viewpoints on a given product without the need for interaction. If you want to create a customer-friendly experience that encourages discovery, you’ll want some interactivity in your virtual stage. But again, having too much interactivity can kill usability by overwhelming your user. These days there’s a lot of play between static and interactive content. The best projects find the right balance between the two with ease and grace.
3. Virtual Staging is only for show
Some people think that virtual staging is only for product marketing. But in fact, it has much broader applications. For example, virtual staging can be a great way to study a 3D design before an actual build. It allows you to alter the design at any point before you start cutting wood and pouring concrete. If you are designing a large outdoor space, or a new layout for your living room and kitchen, then virtual staging can help you determine scale and color schemes without the high cost of an actual renovation or construction project.
4. There is only one way to create a virtual stage
In fact, there are multiple methods. These range from using a single mirror to creating an entirely virtual environment using 3D software. If you’re new to 3D modeling and have a small budget, then the mirror solution should work just fine. But if you want to develop an app or game, then the single mirror solution probably won’t cut it. In that case, you can use an HTML5 editor like Webgl Studio – which allows you to create stunning interactive experiences with ease!
5. 3D renders look good on a desktop, even if they suck in real life
This is one of the most common misconceptions about virtual staging. If your 3D vector renderings are too low resolution, then viewers will have difficulty “seeing” what’s there. Such images may be gorgeous to gaze at, but they’re certainly not going to inspire trust in a buyer. When stakeholders come from different disciplines, it’s important to make them feel comfortable by showing them the products you’ve done before. FPS tracking software allows you to add interactivity without the need for high-end hardware. Any Windows computer can be used and the software is cross-platform.
6. A good virtual staging experience must look like real life
This misconception is promoted by the fact that some people are using elements of an actual product in their virtual stages. That’s not realistic! A virtual stage should feel natural so that everyone doesn’t question if it’s a 3D rendering or a real product. It should appear as real as possible, but still maintain the essence of what is being sold. You want to make sure they have a personal connection with the product. This can be achieved by adding elements such as texture, lighting, and color schemes. But it should never look so realistic that people think it’s an actual product!
7. There’s one way to conclude a virtual staging project
Actually there are many ways you can design your virtual stage project. You can decide to create single renderings or a full scene, depending on what your goals are and how much work you want to do. You may want to create a virtual location that users can walk around in, or simply put the product in an environment with some nice background images. It all depends on your audience.
8. The virtual staging environment should be realistic
There’s nothing wrong with using surreal environments for some of your virtual staging projects. Many projects require “out-of-the-box” thinking, so don’t feel like you have to stick to realism if it doesn’t fit the bill. Consider creating something more abstract and surreal if that’s what is required for your project. After all, the goal of virtual staging is to get people to engage with and explore your product from different angles. If that means creating a surreal environment, then go for it!
9. A virtual staging project doesn’t need any sound
This is another misconception. Sound is a crucial element of virtual staging because it engages the audience’s emotions and senses. This should be especially true if you want to use your virtual stage as a marketing tool. By adding sounds that are associated with your product, you can trigger emotional responses and create deeper connections between the user and the product – which will increase their desire to buy!
10. Virtual staging is only for larger companies
Actually, virtual staging doesn’t have to be limited to large companies either. You can create virtual staging projects for local businesses or startups as well. The key is to be clear about your goals and target audience so that you can design a virtual stage that will appeal to them. You want to make sure it doesn’t look too professional, but still creates the impression of being a true 3D environment.
Your goal should be to turn your virtual stage into an engaging, easy-to-use tool with which your target audience can showcase their products and attract potential customers. Not all companies have the budget or manpower required to create such environments, so don’t feel like you need to put all of your eggs in one basket!
