A Brief History of 3D Rendering in 3D Visualization World

Additionally 3D rendering is one of the most fascinating technologies of our time in 3d visualization world. Giving everyone from architects and marketers to interior designers and media content creators the ability to create visually stimulating presentations, this technology promises to change the visualization as we know it.

What many visualization enthusiasts don’t realize, is that 3D rendering is not exactly a new technology. In fact, the first 3D modeling software was developed back in the ’70s.

The following brief history of 3D rendering is a demonstration of how the technology has evolved from its humble beginnings as a primitive tool for three-dimensional modeling of simple objects into a powerful visualization technology that has revolutionized the way things are done in many industries. Read on!

The ‘70s. How it all started

The history of 3D rendering begins in the early ’70s, when “the father of Computer Graphics” Ivan Sutherland invented Sketchpad – the first computer program designed for the creation of simple 3D models.

Sketchpad was a quite primitive software, and you could only create the most uncomplicated forms like cubes or prisms with it. However, this invention kickstarted the Computer Generated Visualisation as we know it.

In addition not long after Sketchpad’s invention, one of Sutherland’s students, Edwin Catmull, created a first realistic 3D animated model using Z Buffering. His 1972 student film “A Computer Animated Hand” was one of the earliest examples of animated CGI.

The film was later named one of the key pieces that transformed Hollywood as we know it and was even included in the National Film Registry.

The Most Important Teapot in the History of 3D Rendering

Basically another prominent person in the history of 3D rendering is Martin Newell. Along with his friend Tom Sancha, Newell was the first one to tackle the hidden-surface problem in 3D rendering.

To demonstrate the new ways to make 3D computer graphics look more realistic, Newell, needed to find a perfect reference object.

The researcher than made the mathematical data describing the teapot’s geometry available to the public. Soon 3D rendering enthusiasts from all over the globe started using the Utah teapot as a reference object in their CGI experiments.

This is how the Utah teapot became a beloved 3D Visualization staple.

3D Visualization in Architecture

In the mid-1980s, eminent computer graphist Jim Blinn introduced texture mapping concepts and blobby models, which changed the world of Architectural visualization forever.

Another even though 3D visualization software was not widely available to average users, some brightest minds of architecture noted the significance of this tool early on. One of the first architectural visualizations done with CGI was “The Peak” by Zaha Hadid.

In addition the ’90s marked the rapid development of 3D visualization software. Some of the programs like Autodesk 3D rendering software is still used successfully to this day.

The Present, the Future in 3D Visualization.

Another key point From architecture and interior design to marketing and filming industry, from furniture manufacturing to marketing – 3D visualization technology is widely used in all kinds of industries.

For example 3D rendering is also the spine behind Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology.

In fact, by the end of 2020, Virtual and Augmented Reality technology market is expected to be at $150 billion.

Significantly 3D rendering and 3D modeling will also dominate the advertising world. Much before the product is being developed, 3D rendering can help marketers with their branding and promotions needs.

What are your thoughts on the future of 3D technology? Let us know by commenting below!