 You have been investigating 3D prototype software for your clothing business. The advantages to using 3D virtual samples look pretty appealing and you have identified some of the benefits. You may have even seen a couple presentations from software companies. Now you are wondering, what else do I need to ask? There are other issues to consider and include in a budget to implement the software.
Adding 3D software is a great advantage, but must be planned for as a process change. You are not simply adding a new software tool. Gaining full advantage of all the potential revenue generating and cost savings opportunities will require you to make changes to your product development process and have a plan in place to assist your staff in making the adjustment to 3D. Before diving into planning your 3D implementation, here is a reminder of the potential benefits. You can use this list to analyze and quantify the potential benefits to your particular organization. Revenue Generating or Savings Opportunities
Less Tangible Benefits
The benefits can be great! Now you need to consider the related processes that need to change and form a plan for implementation. Who will use the software and how? The individuals who actually operate the software need a particular set of skills. Most organizations use technical designers or pattern-makers because they already have much of the required knowledge. You also need to consider if you can afford to take those individuals away from their current responsibilities or will you need additional staff. Will the benefits such as a reduction in fit samples to review, eventually balance the workload? Skills needed to operate a 3D pattern-making software:
Do you want someone fully dedicated to using the software or will the current staff be expected to use the software as part of their daily tasks? Floating licenses are usually an option. Do you want to purchase ten licenses and share those among forty technical designers who will each use the software an hour a day? Or do you buy five licenses and have five fully dedicated virtual technical designers. Both approaches work, but you need to figure out which works best for your organization. Do not forget to calculate the time and cost for training. Regardless if someone uses the software all the time or a couple times per week, they will need full training. Will the design team directly use the software? Many of the 3D options now offer additional software or plug-ins to Adobe Illustrator, which allows design to utilize the software without learning all the functions. Do you need staff trained to use traditional 3D modeling or rendering software? Will you be using the 3D models for customer or client presentations? If so, the rendering capabilities of the apparel 3D software may need a boost by using a separate rendering software. Or if you use many custom trims you may need someone familiar with traditional 3D modeling to model trims. Am I removing steps in the development process? You are adding at least two steps; creating a 3D virtual sample and reviewing a 3D virtual sample. You will be able to review artwork scale, color variations, and style variations much faster in 3D. Your goal might be to replace some physical samples. Or you may review many more variations of a style because it is now faster in 3D. Make sure everyone is aware of your goal(s) and why you are implementing 3D. Plan the new steps into the development process. When you first start the 3D model will likely be a pilot alongside the normal process. As you prove the success of 3D you can phase into a more streamlined process, replacing physical samples with virtual samples. Do I have support from all the necessary departments and functions? Treat the implementation of 3D virtual samples as a broader process change. Make sure you have support from leadership of all the departments involved. Take the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits to each of the departments before rolling out the change. In addition to those using the software directly, many others will be involved in reviewing the virtual samples or providing supporting information. Design and merchandising must be comfortable reviewing 3D virtual samples in place of physical samples. Who will be involved:
Consider the software limitations Make sure everyone understands the software limitations. For instance, because a 3D pattern-making system utilizes the 2D pattern to make a model; sweaters cannot be modeled in 3D. Some of the software options are better than others at insulated garments, representing hard trims, and draped or tied pieces. Footwear and rigid accessories will need to be modeled in a different type of software. Make sure you educate all the stakeholders on the limitations of the software. You do not want to wait for a major meeting for someone to learn what cannot be modeled in 3D. What hardware or additional software do we need? Verify if your current workstations will support the 3D software. You may need to make upgrades or completely replace some workstations or laptops. If you will be presenting the 3D virtual samples in place of physical samples, make sure the presentation equipment is sufficient to showcase the virtual sample. How are you going to test materials to be sure they are accurately represented in the software system? Some software companies provide testing as a service. Others sell hardware packages to allow you to test your materials. Will you need to create specific rigid parts, such as zipper pulls or buckles? If so, does your company have an existing license for a 3D modeling software that can create those parts. If not, include one in your budget and do not forget to figure out who will be trained to use the software. If you are already using 3D modeling to develop footwear, can someone from that team handle creating apparel trims? If you plan to use the 3D virtual samples for marketing, you may want to investigate animating the clothing or the avatars. The 3D pattern-making software may have some animation capability, but you may want to invest in a program capable of more complex animation. Many of the 3D softwares used for apparel and sewn accessories now include photoreal rendering. If you plan to use the images to replace product images on your website, are you satisfied with the rendering ability or do you need further control? An additional rendering software may give you more control over camera and light positions. Some of the traditional 3D modeling software options have complex rendering engines built in. Examples of traditional 3D modeling / render tools: Photorealistic images are dependent upon accurate textures and shaders. Verify if the library within the software is sufficient or will you need to create and load your own textures? Existing libraries catering to 3D creators have focused on hard goods. Chances are you will need to capture some of your own fabric textures and create seamless images or shaders that can be uploaded to your 3D system. Depending on your planned end use for 3D, you may need a photo box, a scanner, or software. Don’t panic. Any of the above needs can also be outsourced. There are many freelancers available using traditional 3D modeling that can create hard trims. Vizoo, offers to scan and create seamless textures as a service in addition to selling hardware and software. But do not plan on finding a technical designer or pattern-maker who also has skills in traditional 3D modeling. Up until now, no one person has needed both of those skills! We want you to be successful Adding 3D sampling to your development process can have huge advantages if implemented successfully. There are companies experiencing these advantages. There are also those who bought software licenses which are now sitting idle due to lack of planning. An exciting opportunity should not become a struggle. Fireflyline offers 3D sampling as a service. We can help you test the process and generate excitement before fully adopting a new process. We can also help you plan for implementing 3D. I have a background in both technical design and project management. I can help you develop a pilot plan followed by a full implementation plan. Fireflyline uses Optitex but we have no obligation to a particular software company. 3D pattern-making and sampling will someday be an industry norm; a part of nearly every apparel product development organization. Before that day comes we want to make the process more accessible and ease the transition. We would love to hear from you if you have been contemplating adding 3D virtual samples to your development process.
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