From 2D photography to 3D models of your products: introduction to photogrammetry

In an increasingly competitive online market, 3D visuals have become an essential strategic advantage. Discover how PackshotCreator supports you in this major technological transition.

Why adopt 3D models for your e-commerce?

In the dynamic world of e-commerce, every detail counts to captivate consumers. A recent study reveals that 63% of buyers want to look at a product from every angle before finalizing their purchase (Gartner, 2024). To meet this growing requirement, many companies are enriching their visual content by integrating 3D models.

While traditional 2D photos are still essential, they have some important limitations:

• Partial view : only 40 to 60% of the product is visible
• High costs : each new variant requires an expensive photo shoot, up to €150 per product
• Lack of flexibility : modifying a visual can be complex and time-consuming

On the other hand, 3D models offer significant advantages that transform the shopping experience:

• A complete view : the product can be explored from all angles
• Infinite flexibility : create variants without requiring new captures
• Multi-platform compatibility : usable on websites, applications, or in augmented reality

Technical specifications for creating excellent 3D models

Photogrammetry is now the preferred method for designing realistic 3D models. Here are the essential technical parameters to ensure professional results.

1. Capturing high quality images

For an optimal 3D model, respect these rigorous technical specifications:

• Minimum resolution : 45 MP (ideally with devices like Canon EOS R5 Mark II)
• Precise exposure settings :
  • Aperture: f/8 to f/11 for a suitable depth of field
  • Shutter speed: 1/125s to 1/2000s depending on the subject
  • ISO: 100-400 to minimize noise
• Professional lighting setup :
  • Consistent color temperature (5500K recommended)
  • CRI (Color Rendering Index) > 95 for faithful reproduction
  • 360° illumination with 56 controllable RGBW LEDs

Professional equipment like the Alphashot XL Pro V2 can capture between 144 and 300 images per product (24 azimuthal positions × 6 to 12 elevations) for a complete and detailed 3D reconstruction.

2. Precision 3D processing and reconstruction

When converting images into a 3D model, pay attention to these critical parameters that ensure a flawless result:

• Aligning photos : accuracy < 0.3 pixels with Agisoft Metashape Pro
• Point cloud density : > 50,000 dots/cm² for fine details
• Optimized mesh quality :
  • Initial mesh: 5 to 10 million polygons to capture details
  • Adaptive decimation: reduction to 100,000-200,000 polygons for the web
• High definition texture settings :
  • Resolution: 4K (4096×4096 pixels) minimum for premium e-commerce
  • Image format: PNG or JPG with 90% + quality compression
  • Additional maps: normal maps, roughness maps for photorealism

3. Web optimization and industry standards

For a smooth user experience, respect these essential technical standards:

• Optimal file size : 5-15 MB per model for fast loading
• Recommended export formats :
  • glTF 2.0/GLB for web browsers (WebGL standard)
  • USDZ for iOS/ARKit
  • FBX for integration into Unity/Unreal Engine
• Advanced compression settings :
  • Texture compression: Basis Universal or ASTC
  • Geometry compression: Draco to reduce model size by 90%
  • Level of detail (LOD): 3 levels recommended for adaptation to devices

Professional equipment that makes a difference

An automated studio like the Orbitvu Alphashot XL Pro V2 offers exceptional technical specifications:

High precision capture system

• Support for 5 Canon cameras synchronized via cable (delay < 1ms)
• Turntable with positioning accuracy of 0.01°
• Load capacity up to 25kg

Professional lighting system

• 56 full spectrum LEDs (CRI 98+)
• Intensity adjustable in 0.1% increments
• Integrated polarizing filters to reduce reflections

Integrated Orbitvu Station software

• Automatic clipping via iQ-mask (contour accuracy < 2px)
• 120+ predefined profiles per product category
• Automated export pipeline

Measured performances

• Full capture time: 73 seconds for 144 angles
• Daily flow: up to 300 products in an optimized workflow
• Colorimetric accuracy: Delta-E < 1.5 with calibration

Hardware requirements for efficient 3D processing

For a smooth workflow, your IT equipment must meet these technical minimums:

• CPU : Intel Core i9/AMD Ryzen 9 with 16+ cores
• RAM : 64GB minimum, 128GB recommended for complex models
• GPU : NVIDIA RTX 4070 or better with 12GB+ VRAM
• Storage : NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD (speed > 5000 MB/s) of at least 2TB
• Screen Calibration : IPS monitor calibrated for the sRGB color space

GPU processing accelerates 3D reconstruction by 40-60% compared to CPU-only configurations, reducing the time to build a complete model from 45 to 18 minutes.

Photogrammetry vs laser scanning: cost-benefit analysis

To help you choose the right technology for your needs, here is a complete comparison including the total cost of ownership (TCO) over 3 years:

Photogrammetry (5 device configuration)

• Initial investment : around €25,000
• Annual maintenance : €2,500
• TCO over 3 years : €32,500
• Capture speed : 2 min/product
• Color accuracy : 98% sRGB
• Training required : 3-5 days
• Weak point : reflective materials

Professional laser scanner

• Initial investment : €80,000
• Annual maintenance : 20,000 to 30,000€
• TCO over 3 years : 140,000 to 170,000€
• Capture speed : 8 min/product
• Color accuracy : 85% sRGB
• Training required : 2-3 weeks
• Strong point : all types of materials

Source: Benchmark Orbitvu Labs, 2024 and independent analyses

This comparison shows that photogrammetry offers a significantly higher quality-price ratio for most e-commerce applications, especially for non-transparent objects with detailed textures.

Lighting: crucial element for successful 3D models

Perfect lighting is essential to ensure sharp details and accurate textures. Without this, parts of the object could be rendered incorrectly or omitted during 3D reconstruction.

The consequences of poor image quality can be disastrous for the final 3D model. Photos that are blurry, poorly exposed, or taken at the wrong angle inevitably lead to incomplete or distorted 3D models. If part of your product is obscured due to poor lighting, it will be impossible for algorithms to reconstruct the missing details.

Automated photo studios: the professional solution

To meet these quality requirements, automated photo studios like those offered by PackshotCreator offer a professional approach to capturing product images, ideal for photogrammetry and creating 3D models.

Our turntables, combined with specialized software, make it easy to capture your products from all angles with extreme precision. This automation ensures consistency in image quality, while significantly reducing the time and effort required.

Complete software solutions

To maximize the results of your hardware investment, several specialized software programs are available:

Main solutions

• Agisoft Metashape Pro : Photogrammetry reference with alignment accuracy < 0.3 pixels
• RealityCapture : Alternative with optimized GPU processing (30-40% faster on some models)
• Meshroom : Open-source option for projects with a limited budget

Complementary software

• Blender : Manual editing and model optimization (free)
• Substance 3D : Advanced texturing and PBR materials
• Sketchfab : Platform for publishing and sharing 3D models

Technical challenges and practical solutions

Creating 3D models presents some challenges that we have learned to overcome:

Reflective surfaces

• Problem : Parasitic reflections on metals, glasses, jewelry...
• Solution : Combination of circular polarizers and diffuse lighting, reducing hotspots by 90%

Transparent objects

• Problem : Difficulties in reconstructing transparent surfaces
• Method : Use of specific color backgrounds and intelligent masking

Mobile parts

• Problem : Blurred on mobile elements (closures, chains...)
• Solution : Ultra-fast shutter speed (1/2000s) and high power LED lighting

Technical example: Nike Performance model

The 3D model of the Nike Performance shoe has these impressive technical characteristics:

• Geometric complexity : 113.7k triangles, 56.8k vertices
• Texture resolution : 4K (4096×4096) with normal maps and reflection maps
• File size : 8.2 MB in GLB format with Draco compression
• Available formats : glTF for web, USDZ for iOS, FBX for Unity
• Render performance : 60 FPS on an average smartphone (iPhone 12+, Samsung S20+)
• Average load time : < 3 seconds on standard 4G connection

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Return on investment: realistic data

An investment in 3D (starting at €35,000 for a complete studio) generates these measurable results:

• Reduced production costs : -78% compared to traditional shootings
• Impact on sales : +15-25% conversion rate (depending on sector of activity)
• Decrease in returns : -12% on average for products with 3D visualization
• Time to market : reduced from 3 weeks to 2 days
• Global ROI : amortization in 12-18 months depending on the intensity of use

Customer case: Omi uses our solutions

A concrete example of the effectiveness of our solutions is their adoption by various technology companies. As seen in their presentation videos, even innovative startups like Omi directly use PackshotCreator solutions for the crucial first step of creating 3D models.

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This adoption by tech players confirms that the initial quality of capture remains fundamental, even for the most innovative platforms. An important validation of our technical expertise and our methodological approach.

How do you start gently?

For a successful transition to 3D, we recommend this gradual approach:

1. Select some flagship products to familiarize yourself with the technique (5-10 representative references)
2. Train your team in photogrammetric workflows (2-3 days of training)
3. Analyze the results with accurate metrics:
   • Before/after conversion rate (via A/B testing)
   • Time spent on product sheets
   • Bounce rate
   • Customer feedback ratio
4. Scale up by standardizing profiles by product category

Extensive technology compatibility

The generated 3D models are compatible with:

• Navigators : Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (WebGL 2.0+)
• E-commerce platforms : Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, PrestaShop
• AR apps : ARKit (iOS), ARCore (Android)
• Metavers and virtual spaces : Unity, Unreal Engine, Spatial.io

It's time to go 3D

Thanks to proven technologies and optimized pipelines, the transition to 3D visuals now represents a strategic investment with a measurable return.

PackshotCreator puts its technical expertise at your service to support this evolution, with a constantly updated equipment park and teams trained in the latest innovations in the sector.

Contact us today for a demonstration