Laporte Products was expanding beyond boat covers with the CoolShade Umbrella—a modular shade system. They needed an interactive online builder to let customers visualize every possible configuration. The challenge? Generating 17,000 high-quality 3D rendered images efficiently and realistically.
Optimized 3D Models and Materials
I started with Rhino 8 CAD models of the umbrella. Since CAD files aren’t optimized for rendering, I used Retopoflow 3 in Blender to clean up the geometry. This made the models smoother and more efficient.
Next, I focused on materials. Using Quixel Mixer, I created realistic textures for Sunbrella fabric, polycarbonate tabletops, and aluminum frames. I carefully calibrated the lighting to keep colors consistent across all images.
Automation: Generating 17,000 Images Efficiently
Manually setting up each combination wasn’t an option. Instead, I built a Blender Geometry Node system to automate the process. This allowed me to cycle through riser styles, tables, bases, polycarbonate colors, and 23 fabric options with just a few clicks.
Blender Geometry Node tree for selecting the poly configuration and assigning a texture
Node tree for selecting the size, texture, and trim package for the canopy of the umbrella
Node tree for building and texturing the selector – specifically the Poly and Metallics
For a 360-degree rotation effect, I programmed the camera to capture 30 frames per configuration. Using Blender’s Command Line Renderer, I queued up all 17,000 images to process automatically. There were a few PowerShell crashes along the way, but the system ran mostly on its own.
Outcome: A Seamless Online Builder
After 47 hours of rendering and post-processing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, the final images were ready. We integrated them into Laporte’s custom JPG scroller, creating a real-time customization tool. The result? A fully interactive digital showroom that helped drive the CoolShade Umbrella’s successful launch.