One Product Shoot, Infinite Possibilities: Intro to Building a 3D Digital Twin Workflow

If your brand produces multiple designs of a single product, like cans, shoes, accessories, or - in this case - pickleball rackets, you’ve likely faced a costly challenge: how to create engaging, high-quality content for every SKU, for every marketing channel, without redoing the entire shoot each time.

That’s where digital twins come in.

With the right tools and process, one studio session can create a high-fidelity 3D model that powers e-commerce, AR, and dynamic video variations, all without re-shooting. To prove this, we teamed up with Voodoo Pickleball, a brand we love for their awesome designs and simple form factor, to create a proof-of-concept that’s as visually striking as it is technically efficient.

Why We Didn’t Use an iPhone

Yes, photogrammetry can be done with just a smartphone, and platforms like Polycam make that very easy. But when working for top brands, especially if they expect to use our content on multiple channels and for many years, at ProFor we aim to Make it Perfect. That means using the right tools to get the highest-quality results.

For this project, we used a Canon C400 cinema camera paired with a SISU C31 motion-control robot. Motion-control gave us precision: exact frame-by-frame consistency, repeatable camera paths, and total control over lighting and angles. The C400’s sensor gave us pristine detail—ideal for both photogrammetry and marketing-ready footage.

This is how we used them.

Step 1: Capture Setup with Motion-Control

Motion-Control Robot

We began by mounting a Voodoo paddle to a motion-control turntable surrounded by 180° soft lighting. The camera was side-mounted and placed level with the paddle on the robotic arm to maximize the resolution of the object in our frame. Using our robotic camera arm, we recorded the paddle at 60 frames per second, executing a clean 360° rotation from the side. Then, we craned the camera upward by 35° to get a full top-down rotation.

All of this took under 10 seconds per angle, but gave us thousands of high-resolution frames.

We brought that footage into DaVinci Resolve, applied a color grade, and exported the frames as an image sequence - our foundation for 3D reconstruction.

Step 2: 3D Model Generation via Photogrammetry and AI

From the exported stills, we selected a sample of about 300 images and fed them into Polycam, a photogrammetry tool that uses overlapping photos to create 3D geometry, producing a base mesh (often in the form of a clay-like model or wireframe) that accurately represented the object’s shape and surface detail.

3D Digital Twin

At the same time, we tested Meshy AI, which uses artificial intelligence to generate 3D meshes by inferring depth from image data. Combining both tools gave us an optimized, high-fidelity 3D mesh of the Voodoo paddle.

Try it!

These models were then cleaned and exported in OBJ format, along with accompanying MTL and texture files. From there, they can be converted into GLB and USDZ formats for use in web-based 3D product viewers and augmented reality (AR) experiences.

Step 3: Bonus Content with Motion-Control Cinematography

While our 3D data was processing, we took full advantage of the setup and kept rolling. This is where the value of a motion-control system truly shines. Because every movement is programmable and repeatable, we were able to shoot highly dynamic hero shots without needing to reset or re-block camera paths.

Using the SISU robot, we captured:

• A long, cinematic tracking shot with the paddle gliding through the frame

• A precise follow-cam move of a pickleball in motion, synchronized to spin

• Static, detail-driven beauty shots for modular editing

  
  

For the spinning pickleball, we engineered a custom bracket with a geared DC motor, giving us full control over rotational speed. We also built a custom mount to attach the paddle to the robot for clean, repeatable moves. These shots weren’t just flashy, they’re built for reuse in commercial edits, VFX-heavy breakdowns, or high-impact social cutdowns.

Step 4: Swapping Designs in Post

One of the biggest advantages of a digital twin workflow is flexibility in post-production. Rather than reshoot the paddle every time a new design drops, we can simply swap textures or overlays, saving both time and budget.

Using the Magic Mask tool in DaVinci Resolve, we quickly isolated the paddle and background, then replaced the graphics digitally. The key here is consistency: because every angle, shadow, and specular highlight matches perfectly between versions, the design swaps feel seamless.

From one original shoot, we were able to generate:

• Multiple design variants for the same paddle

• Clean, isolated shots for compositing across different backgrounds

• Marketing-ready content tailored to different campaigns, regions, or audiences

This is where the investment in lighting control and camera accuracy up front pays off in post.

Step 5: One Twin, Many Channels

With the paddle now digitized, cleaned, and rendered in 3D, we prepared the model for deployment. Our base export was in OBJ format, with linked MTL and texture files. These can then be converted into:

We used:

• GLB (.glb) for WebGL viewers and Android/Meta AR experiences

• USDZ (.usdz) for Apple Quick Look and ARKit-compatible applications

  
  

This gave Voodoo Pickleball a single asset they could use across:

• Product pages with 360° interactivity

• Mobile AR previews (“view in your space” experiences)

• In-store digital signage or immersive displays

• Dynamic video content where models can be swapped or animated on demand

In short, the same digital twin could flex to meet every marketing channel—without compromising quality or continuity.

Why This Matters for Brands and Marketers

Digital twins aren’t just a shiny new tool, they’re a smart, scalable solution to an increasingly complex content problem: how to deliver personalized, platform-specific product visuals without multiplying production time and cost.

For brands juggling dozens (or hundreds) of SKUs, limited-time releases, and global campaigns, traditional photo and video workflows just don’t scale. Every new design means a new shoot. Every new market requires custom content. And every new platform has its own formatting needs.

Digital twins change the equation. One well-captured 3D model becomes a versatile asset that can be repurposed across the entire marketing funnel—without a reshoot. Whether you’re swapping designs, adjusting colors, or creating dynamic visuals on the fly, a digital twin saves time, reduces cost, and future-proofs your content library.

This approach is especially valuable for:

• Marketing teams launching seasonal or regional product designs

• E-commerce teams who want interactive 3D product viewers

• Content teams tasked with feeding ads across platforms

• AR/VR teams looking to integrate real product data into immersive campaigns

And once the asset exists, it can scale across:

• Web (product pages, embedded 3D viewers)

• Mobile (AR previews, social experiences)

• AR filters (for Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok)

• Paid ads (that feature animated or interactive models)

• Influencer collabs (where assets can be customized on the fly)

• Virtual showrooms (for trade shows, retail, or B2B applications)

All with consistent lighting, framing, and fidelity—maintaining a polished, brand-safe look across every output.

What’s Next?

This was just the beginning. Voodoo’s diverse designs under a unique, simple shape made it a great foundation for exploring these workflows. Next, we’re applying this approach to more complex products with textures, curves, and modular components.

Got a product line with lots of visual variation? Let’s talk about building your digital twin—and creating content that works smarter, not harder.