SOFTWARE: KEYSHOT

Dallas Gene, Birmingham

Paul Hatton replies

Simulating objects such as these weights saves time having to animate objects by hand

Being able to simulate objects in 3D is an incredibly useful ability. One of the primary benefits is that it provides the ability to animate objects interacting with each other. Something that would have taken ages to keyframe can suddenly be achieved in a matter of minutes. There’s something god-like in the ability to set something in motion and enjoy the simulated results moments later.

The other benefit of physics simulation is the ability to place objects into a scene in a natural way. I first remember seeing 3D visualisers do this when visualising food items on a chopping board. Rather than painstakingly positioning a variety of cut pepper pieces, why not drop them from above the chopping board and see them fall into a natural location? The same is true for fruit in a bowl, books in a pile, or flower petals on a table.