Production notes
The 3D exploded view.Show what is inside.
An exploded view pulls a product’s parts apart in space, in the order they fit together. It shows what a photo cannot: the inside.
In short: an exploded view shows components, build quality or hidden technology. It comes as a still, from €450 excl. VAT, or as an animation, €900–3,500 excl. VAT depending on length and complexity. Ideally, supply a CAD file with separate parts.
What I offer: exploded views as stills or animations, made in Cinema 4D and Octane Render from your CAD files, with previews to approve before the final render.
Still or animation
| Criterion | Still image | Animation |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Every part at once, in order | The move from closed product to open product |
| Typical use | Product page, manual, deck, trade show | Launch film, social media, homepage |
| Starting price | From €450 excl. VAT | €900–1,800 excl. VAT up to 15 s; €1,800–3,500 excl. VAT if complex |
| Delivery | High-res PNG, transparent background on request | MP4, PNG sequence |
What an exploded view is for
Show the components: what the customer pays for is often under the shell. The exploded view makes it visible.
Prove build quality: the thickness of a part, the number of layers, the precision of an assembly. Or explain an invisible technology, such as a chip, a sensor or a circuit.
Explain an assembly: the same image can serve as instructions, a sales aid or a product page visual. As an animation, it often becomes the key moment of a launch film.
Related approaches
The cutaway: the product is sliced open to show its inside without moving parts. Useful when the layout matters more than the part count.
See-through, or X-ray: the shell turns translucent and the components appear in place. The product keeps its silhouette, which suits objects whose shape is their identity.
The assembly: the reverse of the explosion. Parts arrive one by one and the product builds itself on screen.
What to supply
A CAD file with separate parts, ideally. If the model is merged into a single block, it has to be split or the inside remodeled, which adds time.
The bill of materials and the assembly order: they set which parts to show and which way they move apart. Add each part’s finish and any confidential parts to hide.
The final use: product page, film, trade show. It sets the format, the resolution and the length.
Pitfalls to avoid
Too many parts: every single screw makes it unreadable. Group small parts and keep the ones that tell a story.
Readability: each part must stand apart from the next through spacing, light or material. A poorly chosen angle stacks elements on top of each other.
Length: in an animation, the explosion must leave time to read. Too fast and nothing registers; too slow and viewers drift off.
What I offer
For LPC Studio, I made the CGI film of the Devialet Gemini II earbuds with Mathieu Fournier, as a subcontractor, with no direct commission from Devialet. It is not a strict exploded view: the components are revealed through transparency, beneath the white surfaces.
For Norma, a stainless steel disc, the packshot series includes an exploded view: the steel layers float apart, alongside the desk, close-up and stacked views.
I work in Cinema 4D and Octane Render. Stills from €450 excl. VAT; animations up to 15 s, €900–1,800 excl. VAT; complex animations, €1,800–3,500 excl. VAT. I can also work white-label for a studio or an agency.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make an exploded view without a CAD file?
Yes, from photos, drawings or a disassembled product, but the inside then has to be modeled. It takes longer, and the quote reflects that.
Exploded view or see-through: which one?
An exploded view shows each part on its own. See-through keeps the product’s shape and shows where the components sit. The choice depends on what you want to prove.
How long does it take?
A still can be delivered within a few days. A full CGI project takes 2 to 6 weeks on average, a detailed animation longer.
Do my CAD files stay confidential?
An NDA is possible depending on the contract. Parts that must not be shown can be hidden or simplified in the render.
