3DBazar: F.A.Q

These are additional static photographs. They are used, for example, when you take a photo of a camera and it is necessary to show the box, components of the package, a close-up view of some ports, etc.

What is the preloader?

For example, you want to place on your website 10 models of 800 KB each. The preloader is meant to prevent downloading the entire page of 8 MB. This is a special Flash object of 10-70 KB. Thanks to it, the overall size of all the models appearing on the website will be 100-700 KB. When a user is interested in a particular model, he/she clicks it and only then this model is downloaded.

4 files are provided with the purchase of the model:

Flash object;

preloader;

HTML-code with an example of embedding;

Java file the use of which does not require initial activation of Flash object.

What is ‘start rotate after’?

This feature makes Flash object play automatically after a specified time-out interval.

‘Is it human’ – what is it for?

This option indicates that the scanned object is a person. You can take not only a full-length photograph of a person but a waist-high one, for example.

Are any special skills required?

No special skills are required, you just follow the instructions given in our video manual (provided on the home page).

Is it possible to simply purchase your programme?

No, it isn’t.

Is it required to adjust the objective lens so that the leading edge of the circle is visible?

No, it isn’t.

What is necessary to start working with you? What is the cooperation mechanism?

To start the work it is necessary to purchase any package suitable for you and to start using the technology. If required, we provide the agreement, reports for rendered services, and any other documentation.

What do I have to do? To take photographs, to process them, and then what? What do I charge money for? How will I earn?

The business model of OOO “STS” is the creation of a regional network of partners. Every partner is an independent person who will render services for 3D models making in his/her region. So, your task is to form your own client base and to increase your own profit. Let me explain how you will earn money. To start with, you make a primary base of potential clients (online shops: mobile phones, electronics, household appliances, etc., or any companies having business card websites exhibiting their products). To make such a base you need 30-40 minutes of working on the Internet. After that, you offer the clients your services for creating 3D models of their goods. All the recommendations relating to the manner of holding a conversation with a client are included in the start package, so now I will not explain in detail how to do it. As a result, you have a client who is ready to make an order. Using product samples and our technology (presented on the website www.3dbazar.com) you will make a 3D model. The suggested selling price of one model is about 700 roubles, part of which (250-350 roubles, depending on the functionality and the package selected) you pay us for processing and creation of a model by means of our technology presented on our website. So, the arithmetic is simple, i.e. your profit is from 350 to 450 roubles per a model. If you sell 10 models, you will get 4,500 roubles.

How are these models made nowadays (not using your technology) and how much is it? How much cheaper is it to use your technology?

Today services for creating 3D models are rendered by various design studios and some photostudios. Their principle is as follows:

They take photographs of an object all around.

They process each photograph manually, i.e. the background clearing.

They combine the photographs manually into a flash file.

Let me explain what are the results of such a ‘manual labour’. First of all, it takes at least 3 hours to create one model: processing of each photograph takes at least 5 minutes and, if the total number of photographs of one object is 40, the overall time of processing is 5*40 = 200 minutes. Secondly, a must-be requirement is to take photographs in a specially equipped photostudio, which makes it impossible to organize a photo session at a client’s place (which is often rather inconvenient). So, the PRICE FOR SUCH a model is at least 1,500 roubles, and it is possible to make just 3-5 models a day. As for advantages of our technology, as you can see, it is much cheaper.

Who is a potential client? Where to find them (for example, I've decided to engage in it, but there are no clients or they are difficult to find, etc.)?

Your clients are owners of all online shops because only few of them have such a technology implemented, and a good example of it is the website www.m-video.ru. All companies using their websites for advertising and sales of their own products are also your clients. Today all websites look quite similar, and the tool we offer at a moderate price is a unique opportunity to distinguish oneself among competitors, to make the user interface more convenient and, as a result, to increase the sales volume.

What do I do with the final flash file? Do I give it to clients so that they install it on their own?

We provide detailed instructions on embedding a flash file on the client's website. It is quite easy: a client needs to copy the flash files to the folder where the website is saved and to put a part of the code containing the flash file to the HTML-code. Any website admin knows it.

What is the demand for the models (from your experience)?

As a rule, the first order from a customer is quite small, 5-10 models, as a test that enables to see the final result. If a client likes it, he/she orders it for all the goods. The demand for the technology is quite high but, of course, depends on a region. Most orders are from Moscow and other big cities, and there are also customers from the USA, Latvia and Ireland.

Is there an example of the cost calculation of one 3D model?

In IT business it is very difficult to estimate the cost of a final product or service, as it deals mainly with the level of expenses that have been invested in the creation of the technology and are to be covered. A prime cost includes wage costs and other expenses of the company. I would like to note that pricing in our project (as well as in any IT project) is not based on a prime cost.

Is it possible to make models of large objects by means of your technology?

We have orders from furniture factories, there has also been a project of ‘scanning’ buildings. However, it is not a big market segment, and we decided not to focus our service on it. The thing is that the cost of such a model is going to be higher as there is still a need for manual processing of photographs. Besides, it is quite difficult to take a photograph of a large object evenly all around. However, for furniture shops we suggested the following solution: to make a big rotating stand (it costs about 10ths roubles) and to make a set of photographs by turning the furniture on it (according to the scanning technology presented on our website, so-called “teapot”), then following the same scenario to pack the photographs with our archiver and to upload them for processing to our website. Now our partner, VITRA furniture company, are launching the described pattern. As for a vacuum cleaner and a TV set, the only matter is to make a special rotating stand, the rest is according to the pattern. If necessary, we can send you drawings of such a rotating platform so that you make it in your region (we can recommend a person to address to).

Should the file uploaded for processing to the server be in its original version right from the digital camera (which is usually rather 'heavy') or should it be compressed?

The set of photographs of an object is processed by our archiver which is specially designed for photograph compression, and the size of 30 photos will be 5 MB or even less.

What is an approximate processing time of 1 file?

The processing time of 1 file is 2 minutes, but because of the internal verification procedure it will appear on your page in about 10 minutes.

What is an approximate size of a file after processing (on average) for further placing on a customer’s website?

An average flash object (400*400) is 700 KB.

Does the Internet connection speed (provider’s service) influence the file uploading/downloading?

Of course, the more the speed is, the faster the file is uploaded/downloaded.

What is a dealer’s scheme (number of representatives, for example) ?

It is possible to have several representatives in one city, that is a common dealer scheme. An exclusive right is provided if there is a certain constant amount to order.

What are the rights and obligations of regional partners? Are there any limitations on time frame, minimum sales, plans, etc.? Are there such privileges as exclusive rights in a certain regional market? Is a partner in your understanding a usual dealer who simply buys a package and does whatever he wants with it?

A partner of our Company is, first of all, a person with whom we are willing to establish long-term relations. As for the rights, it is the right to be an official representative of 3DBazar in your region, and the obligations include rendering of services to an end user (customer) in a quality manner. The structure of the partnership programme includes several types of partners: Partner, Authorized Partner, and Gold Partner (the two latter ones are to fulfill some requirements as to the volume of models made). Time frame and minimum sales volume differ for every type of Partners, they are specified in our “Description of the partnership programme” (file can be found on our website).

As for an exclusive, today we are making a list of requirements as to sales volume for certain regions. The fulfillment of the requirements can result in an exclusive right for the region.

Anyway, if you buy our start package, we will cooperate with you on promotion of our product. A full set of recommendations and advertising materials is provided for that. There has been organized a hot line for partners. All that will help you increase your profit.

Do you have any competitors? Aren’t there programmes and editors that can do the same?

As for competitors, it has been partly described above (Item 3 of the FAQ). And, of course, there are programmes for flash movie making out of photographs, but to estimate their performance and the difference from our technology you need to use them yourself. Firstly, our main advantage is a unique algorithm (patented) of clearing the background (none of the existing technologies enables to do it). Microsoft and Intel have been particularly interested in this algorithm, and now we are closely cooperating with them. The solutions offered by competitors are kind of semifinished products: they also offer to create a 3D model by joining a set of photographs into one flash movie. However, if you watch their examples, you will see dancing shadows and a light gradient on the background (even with ideal lighting), and some unnecessary objects in picture.