C4D Packaging Mockups

As designers we often like to see what things will look like before manufacturing a project. The cost of a project often makes it impractical to create the product straight out. Having the ability to replicate the appearance of a product in 3D space is incredibly helpful and 3D mockups are used across multiple fields such as interior design and engineering.

The aim of this workshop was to create and brand a beer bottle and drink can and create professional virtual product shots.

The first thing we did was correctly set up the ruling system on 2 packaging profiles that were pre-made prior to the workshop. To ensure it transfers correctly into C4D you have to alter the ruling from the top left corner of the canvas to the central bottom of the object/lines. This allows you to import the profile from the center bottom of the product within C4D which is crutial for measurements. After I exported this in Illustrator 8, a format that is compatible with C4D.

 

Once in C4D got to File > Merge > Can shape. This brings up the same lines from Illustrator beforehand. There were two lines to represent the can side and the top of the can. We next added the Lathe nurb effect to each line. The lathe creates a 3D representation wrap around the lines its given, in this case creating a 3D can shape. Increainging the subdivision of these shapes creates smoother edges.

In terms of a backdrop we want it to be minimal and replicate the feeling of product shots taken with a shooting table or light box.  To do this we created a rolling backdrop that is seamless we did by creating a Floor then going into >tags>compositing > tick everything. This ensures whatever the floor material is will be consistent with the rest of the 3D space.

Next we had to create our material for our can. In order to do this we Create a new material > reflectance > reflectance ( legacy ). This gives a texture too shiny to use so we have to do more tweaking. I continued to use Layer Colour / Texture / Fresnel / Layer Fresnel / Dielectric / PET. Once the globals are halved, this gives a more matte and natural shine similar to that of aluminium can.

Next I needed to import my can graphics. In the same material Colour tab / Texture / add / (your packaging file). The material will usually be sat on the object incorrectly so you have to change the material projection to wrap around the cylindrical shape.

Using randomiser I duplicate the cans and order them to a more realistic composition for a finalised render.

As i wanted to create my own packaging I decided to make a parody based on the series 'Girls und panzer' character Katyusha drinking vodka. I decided to make a parody vodka can using the term "Cyka Blyat" a russian phrase often said and comedied in online first person shooter videogame culture. I used a strong black, red and white colour scheme to make emphasis on the parody theme of communist propaganda. The finish is intentionally matte to give a more cartoonish flat aesthetic and utilitarian style.