What a 3D walkthrough shows
- The outside of the building and its surroundings.
- Rooms and halls, as a camera moves through them.
- Furniture, colours, floors and lighting.
- The way spaces connect, such as the lobby, the lifts and the garden.
Some walkthroughs are films. The camera follows a path that the maker has set. Others are interactive. The viewer chooses where to go. Ask which kind you are getting before you begin.
How a walkthrough is made
- Inputs: the architect's plans, the interior design, and the colours, materials and furniture you have chosen.
- Model: the artist builds the space on a computer.
- Look: surfaces, light and furniture are added.
- Camera path: the artist plans where the viewer will go. A storyboard can help here.
- Review: you check the film against your plans and ask for changes.
- Final film: the finished walkthrough is rendered and handed over.
Where it is used in India
Real estate is the main use. Builders show flats and clubhouses before the project is ready. Architects and interior designers show clients a design before work starts. Exhibition teams can show a stall layout. Factory and hotel teams can use one to plan a layout.
A made-up example
Say a builder in Hyderabad is launching a housing project. This is a made-up example. The builder asks for a two-minute walkthrough of the clubhouse and a sample flat. Before work starts, the team checks the brief.
- Do the rooms, sizes and fittings match the approved plan?
- Does the film show only what will be built?
- Is the project's registration number shown where the law asks for it?
The last two checks matter. Property ads must be honest and carry the registration number. See RERA advertising for the rules in plain words.
Common mistakes
- Showing something the builder will not build, such as a bigger garden or a view that is not there.
- Starting before the plans are final, so each change means rework.
- Making the film too long. Keep it short and focused on what the buyer wants to see.
- No call to action at the end, such as a phone number or a site visit.
- Not saying that the film is an artist's impression.
For a film that explains an idea, not a place, read about the explainer video.
Related terms
- Explainer video: a short film that explains what a product or idea is.
- Storyboard: sketches that plan a film scene by scene.
- RERA advertising: the rules for advertising real estate projects.
- Lead generation: getting enquiries from people who may buy.
To plan a walkthrough for a project, see our 3D walkthrough work.
