About Representations

A representation is the object associated with 3D models that can be placed in a virtual store.

This page discusses:

Attributes of a Representation

The attributes of a representation define the characteristics of each representation. They determine how it is described and generated. They also define its behavior when inserted in Store Studio.

The attributes of a representation are divided into three groups:

  • General attributes:
    • Title
    • Description.
  • 3D model attributes:
    • Dimensions (width and length)
    • Shape.
  • 3D model placement attributes:
    • Presentation
    • Insertion
    • Nature
    • Pegs.

Nature of a Representation

The nature of a representation defines which kind of objects is illustrated by the representation.

This attribute is used by Store Studio to look for the right type of objects before inserting them into a gondola or a store.

Nature of Representation Illustration Used for...
Product

A representation associated with any product. These product representations can be placed in a virtual store as they would be in a real store.
Point of Sales Material

Any signage element. For example, this type of representations is useful when you need to add a Sales sign in a virtual store.
Display

Shelf Tray



Several products placed in a box or on a display to populate the shelves more easily.
Store Layout

A store, walls, ceiling, and a floor.
Furniture

Any furniture, inside a store, that can either support products or not. For example, a clothes rack is considered as furniture.
Accessory Accessories such as hanger and padlock.

Levels of Details of a Representation

The 3D model of a representation is saved with up to four levels of details. The levels of details can vary according to what is required by 3D Merchandising, and the quality of the result you want to obtain. The levels of details are generated in four different files associated to each representation.

These files are saved in the representation with the following formats:

Level of Details Files format
High Resolution HighResolutionModel
Medium Resolution MediumResolutionModel
Low Resolution LowResolutionModel
Very Low Resolution VeryLowResolutionModel

Here is a sample of the levels of details generated by the Pack Manager in the case of Photo Modeling:

Level of Details Illustration Characteristics
High Resolution

Maximum number of triangles ≃ 2214

Texture Size: 1024x1024 or 2048x2048

Medium Resolution

Maximum number of triangles ≃ 630

Texture Size: 512x512

Low Resolution

Maximum number of triangles ≃ 630

Texture Size: 256x256

Very Low Resolution

Number of triangles: 2 for the plane mode and 12 for the box.

Texture Size: 128x128

Source of a Representation

You can use four different procedures to generate or import the 3D model of a representation. Each procedure is described by the Representation Source Value attribute.

Representation Source Value Efficient when... Procedure Generated by the Pack Manager Input Data Levels of Details
Box You want to quickly generate a simple 3D model. Define the dimensions and a color. Yes Dimensions and color.

Photo Modeling You want to generate a more complex 3D model. Associate pictures to the representation (at least a front image), define dimensions and a shape, and use Pack Manager to generate levels of details. Yes Dimensions and photos.

Import Initial You want to import an already existing 3D model in 3DXML or Collada (DAE) format. Import your model from your local disc or from 3DVIA.com, and generate levels of details with Pack Manager. Yes 3D model.

Import Details You want to create a store layout, furniture, or a representation of any nature. You can use ZAE, 3DXML, and mppack file formats for this representation. Manage directly the levels of details. No In this advanced mode, you can prepare 3D models, and add behavior if required. Then, you can upload manually the levels of details of the representation. N/A
Assembly You want to create an assembly that consists of multiple elements. Use Pack Manager to insert multiple existing representations into the assembly. Yes Existing 3D representations. N/A
Note: In Import Details, the dimension parameters of the representations are disconnected from the dimensions of the 3D model.

For a representation, there are two series of dimensions:

  • Height, width, depth are used as input data by Pack Manager to generate 3D models.
  • Output height, output width, output depth are used by Store Studio as bounding box for the insertion and stacking of 3D models. Pack Manager defines these dimensions.

With Import Details, you must specify the right output dimensions values to obtain the correct bounding box in Store Studio.

Presentation

The presentation attributes of a representation define how the product is displayed in stores.

Presentation Values Illustration Use Case
Exposed

The product corresponds to the display model, placed in a store to help the consumer's choice. You cannot usually purchase it.
Packaged

The product is presented in a package.
Not Packaged

The product is presented and sold without packaging.
Not Applicable N/A To be used for the representation of objects that are not products such as stores or displays.

Insertion

The insertion parameters of a representation define how the product is placed on a shelf.

Insertion Values Illustration Use Case
Shelf Only

The product is carried by a shelf only.
Peg Only

The product is hung on a peg.
ShelfAndPeg

The product can be carried or hung.
Not Applicable N/A To be used for the representation of objects that are not placed on a shelf or hung.

Multiple Representations of a Product

One or more representations can be associated to a product. You can select which representation you want to use when placing a product in a gondola.

Here are two examples of multiple representations:





Image Format and Orientation

The images you want to upload to build a 3D model from pictures must correspond to a particular format to be used in Pack Manager. The images must be of a particular orientation.

  • To be used in Pack Manager, your pictures must be saved either in .png or .jpeg format.
  • Your pictures must have a uniform background that makes the main shape easier to detect and crop. Perspective angles and inscriptions are not permitted.
  • The recommended resolution ranges from 256 to 2046 pixels.

Here is the Image Orientation scheme to adopt:

The conventions comply with ISO or ASME technical drafting view orientations.

Background Detection Mechanism

The background detection mechanism allows the software to determine which part of the image is the object and which part is the background. Providing right file format images ensures a good quality result for the corresponding representation. The object is separated from the background to build the most realistic 3D model to fully render reality.

To understand this mechanism, you need to consider three situations:

  • The image is assigned an alpha channel. An alpha channel determines the transparency or the opacity of the pixels in your picture. If there is an alpha channel, the algorithm assumes that the object of your image has already been separated from its background.

  • The color background of the image is plain. If it is not, the algorithm does not distinguish the object from the background.

  • The image is saved in .png or .jpeg format. The .jpeg format does not support alpha channels; the algorithm always applies. Whereas with the .png format, images can be assigned an alpha channel. In this situation, the algorithm does not distinguish the background from the object as they might have already been separated beforehand.

Below is described the process to detect and separate the picture background from the object:



Notes:
  • The background of a picture cannot be detected if it constitutes only a small part of the border of the image. The background needs to represent at least 35% of the border of the photo.
  • If the background of a picture is encircled by the main object, this part cannot be removed.

Shape of a 3D Model

The shape of a 3D model can vary with respect to the representation. Pack Manager provides you with a shape library to allow you to improve the model.

Here are the shapes available in Pack Manager:

Shape Recommendations
Oval Used for revolution-shaped objects such as juice bottles. The main shape is oval but the lid or the cap remains round.
Soft Rounded Box Used for objects with soft-rounded edges such as packaged diapers. It is a shape often used as default.
Rectangle Used for rectangular objects such as flat screens and rectangular tables. In this case, the table is rectangular and so are the feet.
Tube Used for objects such as cream tubes and toothpastes.
Box Used for box-shaped objects such as a pile of CDs and cardboard boxes.
Rounded Box Used for objects with rounded edges such as soaps and liquid gels. Even though the main shape is rectangular, the edges are extremely round.
Extrusion Used for objects that only have the front image to add depth to the model such as flat screens (without the head).
Elliptic Used for products with oval sections such as cookie boxes or tissue boxes.
Hexagonal Used for objects that do not have side images such as cleaning wipes and biscuit bags.
Clothes Used for thin pieces of clothing that are generally hung.
Blister Used for packages with blister such as batteries, padlocks, and packaged toys.