Clay first: the pass that saves a week
Before colour, before materials, every shot I make is approved in grey. Here’s why clients end up liking it.
A clay render strips a shot down to form and light. If it works in grey, colour will only make it better. If it doesn’t, no amount of shader work will save it.
Why clients like it
It’s fast, so I can show five versions in a day. And it keeps the conversation on composition and timing, the two things that are expensive to change later.
Written by Ilka Vordahl
Motion & 3D designer, Oslo. Booking November 2026.
