Lufta Inflatable Furniture

Task Description

Lufta, a start-up specializing in inflatable furniture made from upcycled truck tarpaulin, needed a realistic rendering of their proof-of-concept three-legged stool. The stool was designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and sports lovers, and the goal was to create a photorealistic representation that would attract this target audience. I received CAD files of the stool, which required optimization for offline rendering. My task involved preparing the model, texturing, and lighting to make the product visually appealing while staying true to the physical prototype.

Thought Process

I began by importing the CAD files into Blender, where I optimized and cleaned up the meshes to make them suitable for detailed rendering. After UV unwrapping the model, I proceeded to texturing in Substance Painter, adding realistic details such as weathering and subtle material variations to closely match the reference of the physical prototype.

Once the textures were completed, I brought the model back into Blender for lighting and posing. I set up a virtual photo studio environment to capture the stool in a professional, yet natural, setting. My aim was to achieve the most realistic appearance possible while minimizing lens effects, creating the impression of a product photo taken with a high-end camera.

Challenges

One of the key challenges was showcasing the internal filaments that maintain the stool’s shape. To achieve this, I utilized Blender’s new Geometry Nodes system to generate procedural geometry, accurately representing the internal support structure in a clear and appealing manner. This added layer of detail helped highlight the stool’s innovative design.

Gallery

Tools Used

- Blender: Optimized the CAD model, prepared the UVs, created internal filaments with Geometry Nodes, and set up realistic lighting for rendering.
- Substance Painter: Textured the chair, adding weathering effects and realistic material details.
- Geometry Nodes: Used to procedurally generate the internal filaments for structural representation.