3D visualization glossary
Key terms of real estate 3D visualization: services, technologies and concepts explained simply.
Concepts
- 3D visualisation3D visualisation covers methods that turn geometric data and a brief into understandable still images, animations or interactive experiences.
- Property developmentProperty development covers operations through which an organisation coordinates the design, finance, construction and marketing of a real-estate scheme.
- Real-estate marketingProperty marketing coordinates the messages, assets and channels used to make a real-estate offer understandable and recognisable to its audiences.
- VEFAVEFA is the French off-plan sale contract under which a buyer purchases a property to be built or under construction and acquires ownership progressively.
Services
- 3D filmA 3D film is a sequence of images generated from a digital scene to present a building, a journey through it or a change over time.
- 3D floor planA 3D floor plan represents one building level in volume, usually from above, to clarify layout, furniture and proportions.
- 3D renderingA 3D perspective is an image calculated from a virtual camera to represent an architectural project before or after construction.
- BIM modellingBIM modelling creates and manages a structured digital representation of a built asset, combining geometry with information useful across its life cycle.
- Drone photo & videoA drone photograph is an aerial image captured by an unmanned aircraft under a defined flight scenario, operating area and set of safety rules.
- Orbital modelAn orbital 3D model is an interactive representation that users rotate around a building or development to inspect it from multiple angles.
- Virtual home stagingVirtual home staging digitally furnishes or restyles a photograph or model of a home to illustrate its potential without moving physical furniture.
- Virtual tourA virtual tour is a digital experience for exploring an existing or proposed place through connected panoramas or a navigable 3D environment.
Technologies
- 3ds Max3ds Max is Autodesk software for 3D modelling, animation and rendering. It is used to build scenes, organise materials, place cameras and prepare still images or animated sequences.
- LumionLumion is architectural visualisation software that imports models from design applications to produce images, panoramas and animations.
- RevitRevit is Autodesk BIM design and documentation software for architecture, engineering and construction disciplines.
- Unreal EngineUnreal Engine is Epic Games’ real-time 3D engine for building interactive experiences, visualisations and animated content.
- V-RayV-Ray is a family of rendering software developed by Chaos and integrated with several 3D applications to calculate light, materials and images.
Project types
- CommercialIn property, “commercial” describes premises intended for retail or service activity, such as shops, shopping centres, showrooms and ground-floor units.
- HospitalityA hotel project combines accommodation, reception, optional food and beverage, and shared spaces into a coherent guest experience governed by a market position and operating standards.
- ResidentialResidential property comprises buildings and spaces intended mainly as homes, from individual houses to apartment buildings.
Understanding the right real-estate visualisation formats
The vocabulary of real-estate 3D can vary between teams, agencies and the phases of a development. This glossary clarifies the terms used in a brief, a quote or a sales plan.
A 3D rendering shows a fixed viewpoint, a 3D floor plan explains a home’s volumes, an orbital model reveals the development from every angle and a virtual tour lets you move through a space. The right choice depends on the message to convey and the stage of the buyer’s journey.
A glossary to help scope your project
Use the definitions as a basis for discussion with your design, marketing and sales teams. Each term links, where relevant, to a detailed definition and to the related Vizion Studio services.
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