If you wonder how the images and motion pictures are made, and have not really heard about 3d work before, the following will give you a brief description of what goes on "behind the scenes".
Before you can make a 3d image of an aircraft you have to draw the whole aircraft in a 3d program. Here at 3D-Aviation we are using "3D Studio Max". When the objective is to make an image that looks like a real aircraft we spend a lot of time studying hundreds of real pictures. We also use drawings from the aircraft's manuals to get the dimensions right.
After having completed the virtual frame of the aircraft, we start working on its livery. Depending on the use of the image, we prepare the texture to match a resolution that will fulfil the end result requirements. This means that logos, doors, text, windows etc. need to be drawn manually as vectors.
During this work much attention is paid to details, in order to make them look right. We spend hours comparing models to real world aircrafts to get everything as exact as possible. Finally, we also consider how close the aircraft will be viewed, since the closer you get, the more details need to be added!
When an aircraft model is finished, including the basic textures, we work on reflections in the different aircraft parts, skin structure, window opacity etc. When an image is rendered, careful attention must be paid to lighting, shadows, environment reflections and colours.
Motion pictures are an even greater challenge, as flight paths and aircraft movements must look realistic. The speed of the aircraft relative to the background is also an important factor at this stage.
The advantages of using these techniques are total control of weather conditions, lighting, background landscape etc. present in the image. Furthermore, you can get multiple aircrafts in a picture and with different painting, if that is what you are looking for. If you are into airline business you can probably imagine the logistic difficulties involved if e.g. Star Alliance would like an image of some of its carriers flying in formation.
