By Olivia Cahoon
Part three of three
Packaging layout and 3D visualization software offers print providers the essential tools to produce photorealistic packaging applications. The software offers designers and clients a visual of the actual product while providing proper composition and alignment.
In part one of this series, we discuss the importance of 3D visualization and layout tools. In part two, we spotlight successful use of this software. We conclude the series with another example of packaging success with 3D visualization tools.
Sonoco Trident
Founded in 1993 with five employees, Sonoco Trident builds strategic, long-term innovation partnerships with customers to protect the security and integrity of market-leading brands.
Sonoco Trident now employs over 600 people, supported by its parent company, Sonoco, a U.S. Fortune 500 global packaging company with sales of $4.5B. Sonoco Trident partners with Diageo, L’Oreal, P&G, , RB, and Unilever.
With operations in 22 locations worldwide, the company offers digital brand assets as a global capability. Sonoco Trident is headquartered in Hull, U.K., and has offices in Asia, Australia, Latin America, and North America.
“Trident is positioned as the most innovative and advanced integrated prepress provider in the world today. Delivering unrivalled business solutions designed to deliver key benefits including speed to market, cost reduction, and supply chain simplification while providing complete design-to-shelf brand consistency,” says Matthew Barrass, senior business development manager, Sonoco Trident.
The company produces ultra-high-quality images from simple carton to complex packaging structures. The company also produces interactive PDFs—allowing users to rotate and interact with onscreen products.
Evolving Packaging
For packaging layout and 3D visualization tools, Sonoco Trident uses Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, and MODO. The company implemented Adobe over 20 years ago, but MODO is its newest tool. “We have now been MODO users for 11 years so we are well accustomed with the software,” says Barrass.
Produced by The Foundry, MODO is a packaging software solution that creates product designs, advertising images, and film and video content. Its 3D modeling and sculpting tools include an advanced photorealistic viewport for concept and production models. MODO offers modeling, sculpting, painting, animation, and effects in one package.
MODO features MeshFusion Boolean tools to offer a flexible modeling tool set for freeform organic models and precision final production meshes. MeshFusion is designed to meet the challenges of complex Boolean operations and to produce high-quality models.
Barrass says the company chose MODO because it was one of the few pieces of 3D software for Macs that competed with Windows-based software. “As our company and industry is mainly Mac-based, it made sense to choose MODO. It also appeared very user friendly and consequently easier to learn. The MODO online community has also helped the team learn quickly, and made it an enjoyable experience,” he adds.
Barrass explains that MODO allows the company to move from a prepress and artwork company to one that delivers a full spectrum of services including 3D visualization, animation, creative production, and digital marketing.
“We can now take a customer’s artwork and not only manage their branding and print, ensuring consistency on shelf, but manage their digital images through every omni-channel solidifying universal brand consistency,” he adds.
Scottish Whiskey
Williams Grant & Sons, an independent, family-owned Scottish company that distills whiskey and spirits, approached Sonoco Trident to produce ecommerce images of new gift packaging for Hendrick’s Gin. The packaging included six sides with an open display on three sides to highlight the product and label.
To complete the job, Sonoco Trident used MODO for modeling, lighting, and rendering, Adobe Illustrator to create artwork, and Adobe Photoshop for color retouching. The 35-centiliter bottle included an embossed label while the package featured several Victorian illustrations.
The carton foils also included embossing. Barrass says it was an added challenge to make the embossing on the package look as photorealistic as possible.
To complete the job, Sonoco Trident used MODO for eight hours which included building the wireframe bottle and carton mesh, artwork and texture application, lighting, and rendering.
Overall, the distillery was pleased with the final gift packaging. “Hendricks Gin was one of the very first high-end bottle products that we created within our 3D team and we are very proud of it,” says Barrass. “The project is a few years old, our skills and expertise have come on leaps and bounds since, but the quality of this 3D still stands out in our team’s history,” says Barrass.
Sonoco Trident uses MODO for many of its custom packaging clients. “Hendricks Gin was the benchmark for all our 3Ds going forward, and its success is proven with recurring orders from William Grant & Sons,” adds Barrass.
Design to Carton
Packaging layout and 3D visualization tools offer structural designs to provide clients with photorealistic packaging. Packaging companies like Sonoco Trident use 3D visualization tools to keep clients satisfied.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Visions of Packaging
Mar2017, DPS Magazine
