Website review
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What is CGI Studio?
CGI Studio here refers to CGI Studio, a UK-based 3D architectural visualisation studio that produces property CGI images and animations for architects, developers and the wider property sector. Its stated focus is planning visuals and marketing imagery used to support building-application approval, present prototype products to clients, or sell housing and commercial developments before completion.
What it offers
- Exterior and interior CGIs of proposed buildings and spaces.
- Animations alongside still visuals.
- Planning and marketing visuals, aimed at planners, clients and prospective buyers.
- Fixed-price quoting: plans are submitted and a quotation is returned, with the site claiming this often happens within 30 minutes.
- Stated pricing from £195 per image, conditional on a multi-image package and a minimum number of images.
Who it suits
The strongest fit is a developer or architect who needs a batch of consistent marketing or planning images on a tight schedule and wants a straightforward quote from submitted drawings. A single one-off image is a weaker fit, since the headline rate depends on a multi-image order. The page cites repeat and referral business and names clients including Taylor Wimpey and Bovis Homes, which suggests experience with volume housebuilding work.
Trade-offs to weigh
Package-based pricing rewards larger orders but makes per-image costs harder to compare against studios that quote individually. Fast quoting speeds up procurement, but the scope behind a fixed price (revisions, modelling complexity, animation length) still needs checking before committing. If animation is central to your campaign, confirm it is covered in the quote rather than assumed.
Next step: send a small sample set of plans first and ask for a fixed quote that itemises image count, revision rounds and any animation, then compare that against one alternative studio such as Website Name on the same brief.
How much does a 3D architectural visualisation image cost?
The site advertises a starting point of from £195 per image, with an asterisk noting that this rate applies when ordering as a multi-image package and that a minimum number of images is required. A single standalone image is therefore likely to cost more than the headline figure, and the exact price depends on the project. The site also offers a free fixed-price quote, often returned within about 30 minutes of sending plans.
What changes the price
- Number of images: the £195 rate is tied to a multi-image package, so bundling several views lowers the per-image cost.
- Image type: interiors, exteriors and other services are listed separately; interior scenes with detailed furnishings and lighting typically take longer than simple exterior massing views.
- Animation: the studio also produces animations, which are priced differently from still images and are not covered by the per-image figure.
- Level of detail and revisions: more complex geometry, landscaping or photorealistic finishes generally mean more work.
A practical next step
Gather your architectural plans, a short brief on how the images will be used (planning application, investor presentation or sales brochure) and the number of views you need. Requesting a fixed-price quote for a defined package lets you compare against other studios on a like-for-like basis rather than on headline rates. For context on how other visualisation studios present their pricing, see Example Studio if you already know a provider you trust; otherwise, ask two or three studios for quotes using the same brief.
How to judge value
A low per-image rate is only useful if the images serve their purpose: securing planning approval, impressing clients or helping sell an unbuilt development. Ask to see previous work in the same property type and check what is included—such as revisions, file formats and usage rights—before deciding.
How can 3D visuals help get planning permission approved?
3D visuals help planning permission by showing decision-makers and neighbours what a proposal will actually look like, rather than asking them to interpret floor plans and elevations. A clear exterior view can reduce uncertainty about scale, massing and materials, and a simple animation or before-and-after image can make the change to a street scene easier to grasp. The aim is not to make a scheme look better than it is, but to remove avoidable confusion during consultation and committee review.
CG Inspired's page describes its visuals as usable to "help secure a building application approval" and positions them for architects and developers preparing planning and marketing images. That is the studio's stated use case, not a guarantee of approval; consent still depends on policy, site constraints and consultee responses. Treat the images as communication tools that support a well-prepared application.
Practical ways to use them
- Context views: show the building from the street, neighbouring windows and public paths so scale and overlooking can be judged.
- Material and massing studies: test alternatives before submission and include the chosen option in the application.
- Before-and-after images: make the visual change to an existing site immediately legible.
- Short animations or fly-throughs: useful for larger or complex schemes where a single still cannot explain access, height or layout.
- Consultation boards: pair images with plans and a short caption stating viewpoint and date, so viewers know what they are seeing.
Matching the visual to the audience
| Audience | Most useful output | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Planning officers | Accurate, clearly labelled stills from agreed viewpoints | Less persuasive than polished marketing imagery, but easier to verify |
| Neighbours and community groups | Simple before-and-after views and context images | Needs plain captions; over-polished visuals can raise suspicion |
| Planning committee | A few strong context views plus one short animation | More production time and cost than stills alone |
| Investors or buyers | Marketing-quality interiors and exteriors | Should not be presented as a planning document |
For a householder or small scheme, start with two or three accurate exterior views from public viewpoints and a site-location plan. For a larger development, agree a set of viewpoints with your planning consultant before commissioning anything, then ask the visualiser to match those viewpoints exactly. The useful test is whether a planning officer can compare each image to the submitted drawings without guessing.
How long does it take to receive a fixed-price quote after sending plans?
CG Inspired states that it typically returns a fixed-price quotation "often within 30 minutes" of receiving your plans. That is the studio's own stated turnaround, not a guaranteed service level, so treat it as the expected speed for a straightforward enquiry rather than a contractual promise.
What to expect in practice
- Fast for clear briefs: A complete plan set with defined views, image count and output format is what makes a same-hour quote realistic.
- Slower for complex work: Animation, large multi-image packages or unresolved design details usually need more review before a firm price is possible.
- Package conditions matter: The advertised "from £195 per image" rate applies to multi-image packages with a minimum number of images, so the quote will depend on how many views you order.
How to get the quickest quote
Send plans, elevations and site context together, and state the number of exterior and interior images, whether you need animation, and your deadline. If you are comparing studios, ask each one for a fixed price against the same brief so the numbers are like for like. Studios such as CG Inspired emphasise speed and fixed pricing; others may take longer but include more revision rounds.
What file formats or plans do I need to provide to start a CGI project?
For a CGI project, the usual input is your architectural drawings plus any material or finish information you already have. The page itself doesn't specify required file formats: it simply says to "send us your plans" for a fixed-price quote, often within 30 minutes. So the practical answer is that plans are the starting point, and the exact format is best confirmed with the studio when you request the quote.
What typically helps at the start
- Floor plans and elevations: enough to establish layout, scale and massing.
- Site plan or location context: useful for exterior views and planning visuals.
- Section drawings: helpful where levels, roof form or interior volumes matter.
- Materials and finishes: specifications, schedules or reference images so surfaces read correctly.
- Reference imagery: examples of the look and mood you want, especially for marketing visuals.
- CAD or BIM files if available: native drawings reduce interpretation errors, though PDFs or scanned plans can often be worked from.
A practical next step
Before sending anything, decide what the image needs to achieve. A planning-approval visual needs accurate context and massing; a sales CGI needs convincing materials, lighting and lifestyle detail. That distinction tells the studio which drawings are essential and which are optional, and it shapes the quote.
If you only have early-stage sketches, say so upfront. A short conversation about what exists will prevent a round of questions later. For comparable UK studios, Example is not a suitable reference here, so rely on the studio's own quote process to confirm accepted formats.
Can 3D visuals be used to pre-sell a housing development before construction is complete?
Yes. Pre-selling a housing development is one of the main uses of architectural 3D visuals: they let buyers, agents and investors see a home, street or whole scheme before anything is built. CGI Studio states this directly, saying 3D visuals can "help sell a yet to be completed housing/commercial development," alongside uses such as supporting a planning application and showing prototype products.
Where visuals fit in a pre-sales campaign
- Off-plan buyer packs. Exterior and interior images show room layouts, finishes and how the home sits on its plot, which helps buyers commit without a physical show home.
- Sales suites and hoardings. Large stills and short animations give walk-in visitors a sense of the finished place.
- Agent and investor presentations. Consistent images across a brochure or website make a scheme easier to compare and discuss.
- Planning and stakeholder stages. The same visuals can support an application before sales even begin, so one asset set can serve several audiences.
Practical limits to plan for
Visuals sell the idea, not the legal reality. Buyers still need floor plans, specifications, dimensions and clear disclaimers that images are indicative. Keep a defined approval loop so marketing images stay aligned with the final drawings; changes late in the build are where mismatches between picture and product tend to appear.
For a concrete next step, gather your plans, site context and target buyer profile, then request a fixed quote and ask what the supplier needs to turn around a first exterior image. That single image is usually enough to test whether the style and level of detail suit your sales materials before commissioning a full package.
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