+ What model file types do you accept?

• MAX
• SKP
• FBX
• OBJ
• 3DS
• 3DM
• RVT
• STL
• DAE
• DWG

+ What should I do if I don't have a model?

If you cannot provide models, we will need floor plans, elevations, CAD files, or an accurate architectural drawing, in order to begin the modeling process.

+ What additional information do you need?

• Landscaping
• Lighting
• Textures
• Materials
• Mood

+ What software do you use?

• 3DS Max for renderings
• Lumion and/or After Effects for animations
• Unreal Engine for Virtual Reality
• Adobe Photoshop for edits

+ What should I do about the context?

• Gray Models - Massing of the buildings around without much detail - No Extra Cost
• Photo Matching - Using Google Earth or a high quality drone image and photoshopping with the render - No Extra Cost
• Modeling Context - using a model or pictures to create the context the same way we are creating focus point - Extra Cost Depending on Workload.

If you need more information please click here!

+ Where are you located?

Our office is located in New York, but our rendering team is located in China. Our New York office has representatives available to discuss any question or issue you may have during normal hours.

+ What is the typical turnaround time?

We deliver initial draft renders 24-48 hours after project is started. Subsequent rounds of review usually take about 24 hours.

For animations, initial drafts are delivered in 3-5 days. Typical animation projects take about a month from start to finish.

Our turn around time is 24-48 hours per draft, depending on how many renders there are and depending on the deadline of the project. On Average our projects of 1 render to 4 renders can be around 7-10 days, but we are always willing to discuss this time frame if a deadline if sooner.

+ Can you expedite an urgent project?

Yes! Tell us your deadline and we will prioritize to ensure we can meet it.

+ What is the general process?

1. After receiving the model, CAD, and other starting documents and the team will begin modeling.
2. The team will send you a round of model drafts, in which you can mark up the image for desired view and geometry.
3. Once the view is confirmed, the rendering in low resolution will begin to confirm lighting, material, color and general feeling of the rendering.
4. Multiple rounds will be provided for you to review the rendering. While in this resolution you can check; texture, materials, small lighting changes, and minor edits are at no additional cost. Please note: going back to change model geometry or the view angle at this stage could lead to a workload.
5. Final Render Draft and post work will be sent.
6. Confirmation of acceptance of the render will be required.
7. Final delivery without LIFANG watermark.

+ When will you receive the drafts?

In most American time zones, the drafts will be sent around your morning, and updates are generally sent 24-48 hours after receiving your comments. Our team has a great work ethic, so if you have any hard deadlines our team does their best to meet your needs working overtime in hours if required.

+ How many rounds of review are provided?

We do not limit the amount of reviews unless there are big design changes that leads to a lot of additional work, then we have to charge extra which we will inform you of prior to continuing work.

+ Payment Schedule

There is a 50% down payment required upon start of a project, and 50% around finalization of project.

+ What payment methods do you accept?

Payment can be made via credit card, wire transfer, check, or ACH transfer.

+ What’s the difference between modeling the surroundings and photo match?

In a rendering which includes the surrounding context, modeling those surroundings can be an expensive process. A more affordable option is to take a photo of the scene from the same view angle as the planned render and use it as background. If you have high resolution drone footage or would be okay using google maps images those work best. If you do not have these we can insert opaque grayish squares to surround the main concentration of your project.

+ Furniture Database

If you are working on an interior design that you would like to keep costs low on, or where the design is more focused on the architecture, we have a Furniture Model Database that you can select from which will help decrease workload and total cost of the render down.

+ Who owns the render after the project?

The render belongs to Lifang until the full payment has been received and we have provided the high resolution product without our watermark. The Materials used to create the render are fully the clients, but the model and other materials created from those original documents are creations of Lifang and will have costs to be released in ownership, to the client.

+ Credit

We would appreciate a mention of credit if the render is published somewhere outside of the client’s website or for other marketing purposes. Please do not sell rights of the render to outside photo sharing sites like Shutterstock etc.

+ Can I have the source files (PSD or 3DS Max Models)?

We occasionally provide PSD files at no additional cost. However we consider the model files to be part of our intellectual property, and as such they will be an additional cost.

+ What resolution are your renderings?

Our standard resolution for the final renders is roughly 4000x2000 (4k), but we can provide higher resolution for printing purposes if necessary.

+ Is your resolution high enough for printing large posters and displays?

Yes. A good rule of thumb is that the human visual system is about 8k across its field of view. Thus, for any size printout which is intended to be viewed in its entirety, our 8k high resolution offering should be sufficient. Larger printouts will simply require the viewer to stand further back in order to see the entire picture, while smaller printouts will allow the viewer to stand closer. A greater resolution should be necessary only if a poster is intended to be viewed in pieces, extending beyond the field of view of the viewer.

+ Would additional edits to models cost more?

If there are extensive enough edits being made to the model it will lead to a workload cost, but we do our best to minimize that charge.

+ Which is better, 360 Tours or “Real VR” ?

“Real VR” is built with the quality and mobility freedom of a video game, so running it requires specialized gaming hardware. It must render each scene as you perceive it, which means it will innately have a lower render quality due to there not being enough time to produce a high quality rendered views in the time your head can spin or as you walk. This impacts the visual quality of light, shadow, reflections, and the light. This product is difficult to produce because it is still new to the Technology market, which results in a more expensive product.

360 tours are made of panoramic renderings. Because of the controlled nature of this product, the views are created in extremely high quality on our rendering farm in the same manner as our Photo-realistic renders. This means you will get the beautiful quality with more realistic light, shadows, and textures. 360 Tours are also much more cost effective. These Tours are organized by Hot=spots (one panoramic per spot) which you can move to smoothly through a load screen. This means you are not allowed to walk through the space freely like “Real VR” allows, but instead restrict you to that pre-made render location.

In a Google Cardboard or related simple VR-headset this impacts the level of immersion of the experience relative to “Real Vr”, because side-to-side motions of your head do not change what you see.

We recommend you try the 360 Tours on our portfolio page to see if they work for you.

+ Should I use an overseas rendering company?

Overseas rendering companies have gained a bad reputation in some communities due to language barriers, time zone differences, and cultural differences. However, they provide much better value for the money and they have impressive work ethic.

We have worked to surpass these common problems in manners such as opening a physical NYC office, having native speakers available in that office ready to answer any of your questions, and the rendering team is also able to communicate with you during your normal working hours. Our NYC office has fluent English speakers who can ensure nothing is lost in translation with the team. We also have dedicated overseas project assistants who are trained English Speakers and are excellent at representing the Chinese team.

We hope you try our approach and see that we are different.