3D imagery has developed enormously over the past thirty years and today 3D is now much more realistic. Hardware and software has also progressed enormously so that it is much easier to put together sophisticated imagery and animation.
File Size
It is very easy when creating 3D imagery to create enormous files so that up to date computer/consoles with large high quality central processing units are a necessity. This can make the cost of hardware very expensive for film animation and 3D Games creation.
Image quality and poly counts The higher the poly count the more detailed will be the image and the fluidity of animation. Each image is made up of a number of polygons and the number used is called the poly count. A very high poly count in a scene will mean enormously large files leading to slowness and the game crashing. When downloading on a computer a high poly count takes longer to download. Various strategies are used to lower the poly count.
- Mapping (Basically putting a detailed surface on an object) is used to reduce the poly count.
- With small or distant objects, where a detailed image is not required, a low poly image is used.
- Copying images to reduce overall size is also used.A balance has to be struck between size and quality.
There are many 3D programs available, some more suitable than others for specific tasks. In producing 3D imagery in films or games it is usual for several different graphic software programs to be used which demands a high skill level in the workforce and an expensive workforce.
Filed under: Limitations of 3D
