A Look Into Radical Truck Renderings

Those in the custom automotive community are familiar with concept renderings used to showcase the final product of a build. Car manufacturers have used artist renderings to help design and create concept cars and parts since the beginning of the automobile. Thanks to current advances in technology, many OEMs render entire cars and parts and can set parameters to test engines, suspension and aerodynamics to see how everything works together before beginning to build.

When starting a custom truck project, having a clear vision of the end result helps during the build process. Knowing what modifications need to be made, which parts are necessary and how everything will come together before the first wrench hits a truck is an important part of the process. Employing an artist’s eye when designing a build is always a plus; proportions, lines, different finishes and custom touches are as important to the overall vehicle as the parts that will be installed.

Sometimes the owner or builder has a vision in mind and is able to plan and build to match it, but usually, especially when more radical modifications are planned or multiple shops or builders will work on the truck, everyone needs to be on the same page and an artistic rendering is a real help. Renderings are also often used to pitch the project to potential sponsors, giving them a visual of how their product(s) will look once the project is completed.

We sat down with a handful of the top rendering artists in the truck and car scene to see their work and showcase some of the more radical and innovative concept trucks that are in the works. Traditionally, artists have hand drawn and painted concept renderings. Since updates must be created as builds progress, computer illustrations or Photoshop images, which can be more easily changed and edited, are edging out more traditional hand renderings. These renderings use existing photos and parts to create images.

Recently, 3D renderings have found their way into the custom world, taking art to the next level. Carter Hickman is one of the pioneers in this field, especially with the recently introduced House of Kolor Digital Paintbooth 3D which allows owners and builders to customize a 3D vehicle themselves using a computer, with tons of options from trim to suspension to wheels and tires, making it easy to envision the end result.

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Here’s a prime example of what a rendering can accomplish. Brian Stupski of Problem Child Kustoms Studios (PCKS) created this image to showcase what a chopped crew cab C-10 would like. The truck was built from scratch with a slanted tailgate and other options. Various wheel options based on C-10 center caps are provided as well.

This month’s cover truck, a GMC Yukon Denali, was also rendered at PCKS. At the time of the rendering, the SUV had been finished aside from the paint scheme. A two-tone-based paint scheme was planned, but the color combination, accents and layout were undecided. A dozen options were penned before the final scheme was selected.

Creating vehicles or combinations that don’t already exist can be tough. Proportions, bodylines or the overall look and feel may be off. GM never made a crew cab dually in the ’60s, but Dino found a cab and that sparked this rendering and build, complete with custom dually fenders.

Often the base vehicle already exists but many body modifications can be planned out and brainstormed on paper before ever putting a grinder to metal. This dually features modified bodylines and brake vents molded into the fenders. The rear taillight section is a complete one-off design from the brain of PCKS.

A side from showcasing body modifications, renderings can be a great way to create certain build sections such as the high-tech-inspired LS engine bay of this square body C-10 from The Little Shop.

Mods can sometimes get pretty radical and only a rendering can show your vision to others. Chris Dunlop drew this roadster C-10 by hand. It features a flush front bumper and flared dually fenders out back.

When a brand-new, untouched truck model becomes available, chances are until you see one customized you may not be interested in it from the factory. Recently, the brand-new aluminum ’15 Ford F-150 was introduced. That same day Yarbrough Design body-dropped an F-150 over a set of Intro wheels to demonstrate the potential of the new body style. Renderings can be used to test out various wheel, bumper and grille designs. Since a few people have started to customize the new model, knowing what looks good and what doesn’t helps in the design and build process.

Not all builds and renderings have to be radical to be useful, take this C-10 rendering by KP Concepts. The fairly stock body features a custom set of wheels and a trick tri-tone paint scheme that is easy to layout on the computer and test different sections than it would be in the paint booth.

The same goes for this F-100 owned by Tyler Dale. Envisioning the end result of suspension, wheels, body mods and paint helps during the build process and provides a goal for the project.

Renderings are also used to lure new sponsors and update existing ones on a project build. This rendering of Mike Partyka’s Eccentric C-10 shows the body mods, wheels and paint scheme planned for the build, and it advertises current sponsors. It can be used to get other sponsors or media outlets onboard.

If you want to render your truck yourself but don’t have the skills needed to draw or use Photoshop, check out software is the ultimate custom car configurator! Choose from several popular vehicles and paint them digitally on your computer screen. You can change paint colors, generate fades, create two-tones or add pre-made graphics. The House of Kolor Digital Paintbooth 3D allows you to see the vehicle from all sides. You will also be able to turn on and off vehicle features like mirrors and emblems. You can virtually chop and lower the vehicle. The possibilities are endless. House of Kolor Digital Paintbooth 3D also offers the ability to change wheels. If you are trying to choose between a few different wheel styles, try them both out. You can control the wheel offsets, thread height, hoop colors and more. You can move the vehicle around in different environments to see every possible angle.

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SOURCES

KP CONCEPTS
Kpconcepts.com

PROBLEM CHILD KUSTOMS STUDIOS
Problemchildkustoms.com

SURFACE
Surface-dvd.com

YARBROUGH DESIGN
@yarbroughdesign

CARTER HICKMAN DESIGNS
Carterhickmandesigns.com

HOUSE OF KOLOR
Hokdigitalpaintbooth.com

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