The factors that affect the cost of architectural rendering have a wide range but one thing is certain: a high price does not equate to good quality, the same way a low price does not imply poor quality. In this article, we will attempt to help you accurately estimate architectural renderings. This will allow you to ensure that your investment pays off eventually. Some of the factors that can affect the cost include software choice, available rendering equipment, type of render, quality, pricing techniques, time invested, market, etc.
When compared to other pricing techniques, the per-image and the per-project techniques are the most common. However, the cheapest pricing technique is the per-image technique. This implies that the rendering is done on an already modeled 3D model from the client. So, the prices are based on the number of rendered images. On the other hand, the per-project technique implies that the artist completes the entire project from the modeling stage to the rendering, and of course, the price will be higher.
The market
The first thing we must note here is the fact that there is an immeasurable amount of amazing 3D artists all over the world, but usually, rendering artists from developing countries are considerably cheaper but not necessarily with poor quality. The economy of their country and other factors are responsible for this margin in price. One of the factors is the unauthorized use of 3D rendering software and this is the most disturbing factor. The use of unauthorized software limits the users to fewer options to work with as compared to the full licensed package hence the cheaper prices. Another reason for the cheap price is because most artists from developing regions are just venturing into the market and want to become well known. So they believe a higher turnover (number of projects rendered) will put them at a vantage point where they would be more visible. This mostly impacts their work negatively but because most people already have the mindset that price equates to value, it is easy to assume that the value of the work offered is of a low quality.
Quality or Quantity
There has always been a toggle between quality and quantity on which a 3D artist should focus on. Both have their advantages but if you’re looking to earn more, you should focus on the quality of work you’re putting out there. The misconception that more numbers mean more publicity and in turn, more returns have more negative effects than positive because in most cases, more quantity means less quality and that will more likely ruin your reputation than build it. Quality means investing time, equipment, personal skills, knowledge, and effort and that’s the price you must be willing to pay to earn more.
Rendering equipment
The result of render is directly proportional to the equipment used. In other words, to achieve the best results (hyper-realistic rendering) in good time, massive investment should be made in high-end computers, gadgets, tools, and equipment; these hyper-realistic renderings will in turn yield more in terms of price because most of this equipment is expensive.
Choice of Software
Choice of software is closely associated with the quality in terms of detail, time of production, and hyper-realism. To earn more as a 3D artist, it is better to make your choice based on the quality it can offer and it is better to buy licensed software because it affects the result. Renderings that are done with unauthorized software end up looking unprofessional and in some cases, tacky.
Post-production
Post-production is the distinction of skill and is the most outstanding difference between a render that will cost more. Another will cost less even if both were done with the same equipment and software using similar textures, materials, lighting, and camera settings. Post-production refers to the process of infusing the environment and scenery to the design, giving it a more realistic appearance.
Conclusion
There is no fixed cost for an architectural render. Its true cost is a combination of various factors, so whether as a rendering artist looking to place a price on your jobs or as an individual looking to hire the services of a rendering artist, systems should be put in place based on the aforementioned factors to ascertain the cost of an architectural render.
