Digital Material Parameters for Accurate 3D Design

Digital material parameters impact realistic simulation and fit.

Precise and consistent digital material parameters are the key to the successful use of 3D technologies for visualization and technical fit prototyping.

Digital material parameters affect all stages of simulation.

Simulation based on pattern and textile-physical parameters, not color or texture
"Sketch" to discuss style and color
Complete digital prototype, including color, texture and accessories

Zipped hoodies in three stages: simulation, sketch and prototype — Hohenstein Digital Fitting Lab services are available for each stage of 3D apparel design.

Brand/Supplier Material Libraries | Physical Swatch books with Digital Data | Universal Translator | Webcast

Lists of parameters and units for Vidya Assyst, Borzwear V-Stitcher and 3D Clo — Hohenstein studied and narrowed the different requirements then adjusted input values so that the digital twin is identical to the physical material, no matter what software is used.

Is there an industry standard for material digitization?

No, and this creates several challenges.

Each 3D program requires its own parameters and sample sizes, uses different names and units and recommends different testing kits and devices
Testing is time consuming and results are linked to a single software system
Without adjustment for the software's algorithm, materials look and behave differently in each program, even if all data is entered correctly
Manual testing without professional equipment leads to inconsistent visualization

Hohenstein has created a universal approach and is leading standardization efforts.

Digital Material Libraries and Swatchbooks

Digital Libraries
Swatchbooks

Digital Libraries

Create faster with a material data library.

Default libraries are limited in scope and tied to one system. Purchased digital libraries can be inconsistent and unreliable. Neither match the fabrics being used.

Animated gif of 26 digitally rendered fabrics in different colors and draping behavior — Giving designers access to accurate materials is important for visualization, technical product development and producing products that match the digital prototype.

Hohenstein works with brands, manufacturers and mills to digitize fabric collections based on tested data.

Designers access digitized materials that correlate exactly to the fabrics they have chosen. Suppliers reach digital designers while ensuring their fabric is represented accurately, no matter what platform the customer is using.

Correlate libraries to collections
Secure reproducible results between software systems and seasons
Get physical products that match digital designs
Trust data, even for complex fabrics

Swatchbooks

Add digital data to physical swatch books.

Combine the haptic experience with digital material parameters.

Including digital material parameters in swatch books is becoming as important as composition and weight.

Our swatch book data includes the inputs for specific platforms, allowing designers to see and feel the fabric samples they are using, then accurately design in 3D.

We can either create the data for your own swatch books or produce the books for you.

"We recognize the value in getting your hands on the material. Even if the process is digital, these products are still being designed by - and for - humans.”

- Simone Morlock, Head of Hohenstein’s Digital Fitting Lab

Hohenstein Universal Translator Approach

Goal: standardize material digitization for consistent results across platforms

Hohenstein Development
5 Parameters

Hohenstein Development

Hohenstein Research

We analyzed the different requirements, data formats, units and results of the various 3D systems. After narrowing the test parameters to five essential textile-physical tests, we formulated a conversion that ensures consistent visualization and behavior across the different systems.

5 Parameters

Top 5 Digital Fabric Parameters

Weight
Thickness
Bending
Elongation
Fold volume shape

Factsheet - Digital Material Parameterspdf

Hohenstein Fabric and Accessory Digitizing Process

1. Testing
Optional: Texture
2. Processing
3. Data Export

1. Testing

Textile-physical Testing

Weight (DIN EN 12172)
Thickness (DIN EN ISO 5084)
Bending (Cantilever Method - DIN 53362: 2003-10)
Elongation/Stretch in warp, weft and bias directions (DIN EN ISO 13934-1 or DIN 53835 T14)
Drapabaility - Fold volume & shape (DIN EN ISO 9073-9:2008)

Drapemeter result visualization from side and above — Hohenstein calculates the drape coefficient that is needed for the simulation algorithm of some 3D software systems.

Optional: Texture

Optional: Texture Scanning

(Common fabric texture software sytems include Substance Designer, Substance Alchemist, X-Tex, etc.)

Three fabric drape images with different textures and colors — Texture scanning is an optional part of Hohenstein's service because it can be done outside of a professional testing lab.

2. Processing

Test Result Processing

Convert the units
Create individual file formats
Generate draping images

Draped fabric images, one white and one textured gray — Drape images illustrate how a textile behaves in reality.

3. Data Export

Data Export for Digital Platforms

Examples of digitized materials for common systems:

Physical Parameters vs Texture

Physics vs Optics
Texture Maps

Physics vs Optics

Form and Function vs Appearance

Textile-physical parameters define the draping and influence the fit of a garment
Texture defines the optics and are required for photorealistic simulation

Texture Maps

Physics-Based Rendering (PBR)

Most important properties for texture simulation:

Color map of surface
Normal map of relief, dents and bumps of the surface
Roughness map of how strongly the surface reflects light
Height map of the digital mesh
Opacity map of transparency

texture scan renderings for color, material, roughness and height — Although they don't influence the fit of the garment, texture is important for realistic-looking simulations.

sequined and striped 3D material draped over a ball — Texture maps can show great detail in digitized materials.

Digital Fabric Physics

Hohenstein Academy Webcast

More from the Hohenstein Academy:

Academy registration and most content is free.

Digitized Materials
for Realistic 3D Visualization

Digital material parameters impact realistic simulation and fit.

Digital material parameters affect all stages of simulation.

Is there an industry standard for material digitization?

Digital Material Libraries and Swatchbooks

Digital Libraries

Swatchbooks

Create faster with a material data library.

Add digital data to physical swatch books.

"We recognize the value in getting your hands on the material. Even if the process is digital, these products are still being designed by - and for - humans.”

Hohenstein Universal Translator Approach

Hohenstein Development

5 Parameters

Hohenstein Research

Top 5 Digital Fabric Parameters

Hohenstein Fabric and Accessory Digitizing Process

1. Testing

Optional: Texture

3. Data Export

Textile-physical Testing

Optional: Texture Scanning

Test Result Processing

Data Export for Digital Platforms

Physical Parameters vs Texture

Physics vs Optics

Texture Maps

Form and Function vs Appearance

Physics-Based Rendering (PBR)

Digital Fabric Physics

Hohenstein Digital Fitting Lab

Fitting Complements

Apparel Innovation

Digitized Materials for Realistic 3D Visualization

Digital Libraries

Swatchbooks

Hohenstein Development

5 Parameters

1. Testing

Optional: Texture

3. Data Export

Physics vs Optics

Texture Maps

Digitized Materials
for Realistic 3D Visualization