In a few weeks we’re going to start allowing larger preview images for 3D models. Currently, preview images at TurboSquid are displayed at 400×400. With the new feature, thumbnails at the new standard size of 600×600 will appear in the product preview. A new HD (high-definition) viewer will display higher-resolution images, with 1200×1200 as the HD standard.
Below is the new design for the standard preview, with thumbnails displayed across the top and a horizontal scroll bar. Preview images will also have left-right arrows for easy navigation through thumbnails in sequence.
All thumbnails will appear as 600×600 in the new standard preview, but a customer can click a hi-res thumbnail to open the HD viewer and see the thumbnail at its actual resolution.
You can prepare for the release of this new feature by uploading larger preview images now, even before this new feature is released. Any thumbnails over 400×400 that you upload now will work with both the current and new displays. We recommend that you create all new thumbnails at the HD standard size of 1200×1200 for the best customer experience. If you don’t upload new thumbnails, not to worry; we’ll be upsampling all the 400×400 thumbnails for compatibility.
This change will apply to 3D model previews only; textures, stock photos, and materials won’t be upsampled, and won’t have an HD viewer available.
Although many artists already include high-resolution images in the Previews section of their products, when we surveyed customers earlier this year, they asked us for larger images in the thumbnails section to give them an easier experience in viewing complex models.
The ultimate goal of these changes is higher sales for your 3D models. Even though existing thumbnail images will still show just fine in the new product preview, some artists are resisting this change, while others say it’s about time and look forward to showing off their stuff in more detail than ever. What do you think? Are you concerned that other artists will scoop your sales if you don’t upgrade to a higher resolution?