Digital Catalog for Shoe Products | Scans or Traditional 3D Modeling?

3 min read

Abdullah Al Baki
May 13, 2025
Blog

Last Updated on May 13, 2025 by Abdullah Al Baki

About The Case Study

The client:

A footwear manufacturer exploring new ways to build a large-scale digital catalog for over 2,000 products each year, primarily for Amazon and other eCommerce platforms.

Software Used:

Autodesk 3ds Max, Blender, Substance 3D Painter, RizomUV, Adobe Photoshop, Babylon.js Viewer

Services Included:

3D Product Modeling and Rendering Service

The Situation

Solanum Shoes was testing a photogrammetry system (PhotoRobot) that promised fast, automated 3D generation using photos. The idea was simple: take a series of photos of each shoe, let the software turn them into a 3D file (USDZ), make a few tweaks if needed, and use them on platforms like Amazon.

But after trying it out, they realized something: the results looked off. Some 3D files came out messy—blurry details, incorrect shapes, and surface issues. They didn’t have a 3D artist in-house, so they reached out to us to help fix the files and explore other options.

What They Needed Help With

Fixing USDZ files generated by PhotoRobot.
Creating GLB files suitable for Amazon listings.
Comparing quality between automated scans vs. manual 3D modeling.
Understanding the costs of 3D Rendering and turnaround time at scale.

Our Approach

We offered to test both options—fixing the scanned files and creating new 3D models from scratch using their product photos. This way, they could directly compare the results and decide what made more sense for their workflow.

We also kept everything flexible: sent files in both GLB (for Windows) and USDZ (for Mac), shared turnaround times, and built a transparent pricing model they could scale up later.

Fixing the Scanned Files

We tried multiple tools (even Blender), but cleaning up the scans took around 4–7 hours per shoe—and the results still didn’t look great. For certain shapes and materials, the automated system just couldn’t capture the needed precision.

Modeling from Photos

The manually created models were sharper, cleaner, and more detailed. Each took about 10–12 hours after process optimizations (initially 18–19). We only needed 5–6 casual product photos per style.

Making Edits Later

Color changes (same shoe): ~$10 and done in a few minutes.
Material swaps (like changing leather to canvas): ~$30 and takes up to an hour.
No need to rephotograph if the shape stays the same.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Task	Time per Shoe	Notes
New 3D Model from Photos	8–12 hours	Sharper quality, scalable for 2K+ units
Fixing USDZ (photogrammetry output)	4–7 hours	Less quality, more manual effort
Color Change (same geometry)	~5 mins	Simple recoloring
Material/Texture Change	30–60 mins	Includes realistic surface mapping

Client's Reaction

They liked the clarity of comparison and appreciated our transparency. While the scan-fix method seemed like a shortcut, the side-by-side results helped the team see why it’s not a viable long-term solution for their products.

Final Thoughts

Automated tools sound great on paper, but when you need consistent quality at scale, manual modeling still leads the way. For brands investing in visual presentation, especially on platforms like Amazon, clean and accurate 3D models make a difference. This project showed that taking the time to test both paths can lead to smarter decisions and better results.

If you would like to discuss your 3D Rendering project with us, please reach out to [email protected]. Take a look at our Portfolio to get inspired!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABDULLAH AL BAKI

FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Abdullah has been at the helm of 7cgi Limited since 2015. With a career as a 3D artist that began in 2008, he has positioned himself as an industry thought leader and serves as a mentor to numerous 3D artists today. You can connect with him on LinkedIn to gain from his extensive knowledge and experience.

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