How Boatburner Used RAY.HDR Environments to Bring a Unique Offroad Vehicle to Life

The Challenge

Argo, a leading off-road vehicle company, was gearing up to launch its latest innovation - the Sasquatch.
The rugged and capable Sasquatch is designed to be an amphibious, off-road vehicle capable of traversing the most challenging terrains. This unique vehicle is targeted toward industries like oil and gas, forestry, and more, where tough conditions are the norm.
The challenge for Argo was presenting the Sasquatch in its "native habitat" - navigating the rugged and remote terrains it was designed for. Taking a prototype vehicle to these rugged and remote settings–along with a camera crew–would be cost prohibitive, though, and would cause unnecessary CO2 emissions.
To address these issues, Argo enlisted the help of Boatburner, a creative agency, to find a solution that would help them launch the Sasquatch without the constraints and complications of traditional on-location shoots.

The Solution

Boatburner turned to CGI.Backgrounds and our library of thousands of HDRi Maps captured in locations throughout the world. These maps offer photo-realistic, 360-degree environments perfect for creating compelling renders. 
Working under the creative direction of Boatburner and in conjunction with 3D Concept Designer and Artist Lee Rosario , the team selected and customized HDRi Maps to create the final interactive scenes for Argo.
Instead of physically going into the field, Boatburner used automotive rendering , our RAY.HDR Environments, and a 3D model to “transport” the Sasquatch to a remote, wooded location virtually. 
Boatburner’s virtual production techniques not only eliminated the need for Argo to obtain permits or physical transportation but also gave them the flexibility to choose from a variety of locales, finding the perfect location to showcase the Sasquatch.

The Results

With the help of CGI.Backgrounds, Boatburner was able to create a series of compelling renders of the Sasquatch navigating challenging terrain, bringing Argo's vision to life.
The final results were used as the centerpiece for the landing page on Argo's website dedicated to the Sasquatch, portraying it in action in its intended environment. The viewers could visualize how this amphibious, off-road vehicle could navigate through the most demanding terrains, all made possible through high-quality CGI rendering.
“Utilizing CGI.Backgrounds’ premium RAY.HDR Environments gave us the freedom to focus budget and resources on the client’s vision, instead of worrying about on-location production,” said Doug Mickschl of Boatburner. “The client was thrilled with the end result.”

Conclusion

By leveraging premium HDRi Maps, agencies can render vehicles in the most remote and challenging locations without ever leaving their offices.
Whether it's launching a new off-road vehicle like the Sasquatch or showcasing a product in an environment that would be otherwise unreachable CGI.Backgrounds provides an efficient, cost-effective solution.
Subscribe to a CGI.Backgrounds plan and let your creative vision roam free, no matter how remote or challenging the location may be. Render the impossible, with CGI.Backgrounds.

Author

  • Ben Chambers

    Partner

    Since 2004, Ben Chambers has leveraged his deep experience in the sales, marketing, and leadership space as a Co-Founder and Partner at CGI.Backgrounds. Chambers manages the company's relationships with enterprise clients, as well as partners and contributors.