Rendering & visual enhancement
Graphic Communication · National 5 · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about rendering & visual enhancement, specifically to:
know
- the N5 CAD rendering techniques: materials, surface texture and light source
understand
- why rendered images are useful for non-specialist audiences
Success criteria WILF
- I can name the N5 CAD rendering techniques: materials, surface texture and light source
- I can explain why rendered images are useful for non-specialist audiences
CAD rendering at National 5 N5
The three techniques that make a CAD model look realistic are materials, surface texture and light source. A decal (an image, such as a logo, applied to a surface) is also credited. "Colour", "highlights" and "shadows" are not accepted: highlights and shadows are by-products of lighting and materials.
Design challenge: product render N5
The brief. A company wants a realistic CAD image of a new water bottle for its website.
- Describe how you would make the CAD model look realistic.
What a good answer includes
- Materials, surface texture and light source: the three credited techniques.
- A decal for the logo.
- Not "colour", "highlights" or "shadows" on their own.
Why use rendered images?
- Non-specialists, such as clients and customers, can understand them easily.
- They show colours, materials and textures realistically.
- They can be used for marketing before the product exists, saving the cost of prototypes and photography.
- Changes of colour or material can be shown quickly.
Physical models and 3D printing
A 3D-printed model gives a physical, tactile product. It can be held and tested, its proportions can be evaluated, and it can be shown to the target market. Unskilled users can produce accurate, complex models with little waste. "Cheap" and "quick" on their own don't score: say why or compared with what.
Key terms
| N5 CAD rendering techniques | Materials, surface texture and light source (decals accepted). |
|---|---|
| Is "colour" a rendering technique at N5? | No. Neither are highlights or shadows. |
| Decal | An image such as a logo applied to the surface of a 3D model. |
| Why render for a client? | Easy for non-specialists to understand; shows materials and colours realistically. |
Quick check
1. Which is an accepted N5 CAD rendering technique?
- Colour
- Highlights
- Light source
- Shadows
Show answer
2. Rendered images are most useful for…
- Non-specialist audiences
- Manufacturers needing sizes
- Hatching sections
- Showing hidden detail
Show answer
3. A logo applied to a curved surface of a model is a…
- Texture
- Decal
- Material
- Light source
Show answer
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.