Insight

Use Unreal Engine and KIRI Engine To Accelerate Product Storytelling

A proof of concept blending real-time readiness with ultra-detailed texturing for CGI

Zeno Bilucaglia · Sep 9, 2025

INTRODUCTION

A few weeks ago, I crossed paths with a potential client, a high-tech vegan shoe developer with a vision as sleek as their footwear. They were curious about 3D scanning their latest creation and intrigued by the idea of motion design breathing life into the scan. Naturally, I pitched the classic “scan first, wow later” approach with a proof of concept.

But then came the twist: the shoes. Not just any shoes, these were the boss level of scanning challenges. Shiny like a disco ball at a solar farm and textured like nanobots, weaved them with a flair for chaos. Most scanners would’ve wept. I didn’t flinch.

I built a semi-automated rig like a mad scientist in a garage, armed with KIRI Engine’s triple threat: 3DGS, AI, and Photogrammetry and RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture).

The setup looked like something between a Steampunk + sci-fi prop and a coffee machine that had seen things.

For the motion design, I dove into Unreal Engine 5.4, following a “product reveal” tutorial I found online. It promised cinematic glory. What it delivered was a rollercoaster of hiccups, crashes, and moments where I questioned reality itself. But hey, that’s showbiz.

So;

digital assets and Unreal Motion Designer (vieport below):

This proof of concept explores motion design by transforming a real-world object into a production-ready CGI asset for Unreal Engine 5.4, 5.5, or 5.6 (as of the time of writing, the latest version is 5.6).

The subject: a boot crafted from apple-shell vegan leather, developed by the forward-thinking footwear brand Green Laces.

These examples are not final products, but internal tests designed to explore possibilities for future commercial campaigns. The goal is to spark interest in using 3D digitization and tools like Unreal Engine and KIRI ENGINE to accelerate product storytelling.

By merging KIRI ENGINE’s rapid mesh generation with RealityCapture’s ultra-detailed textures, I created a motion-ready asset that performs smoothly in Unreal and maintains visual integrity under cinematic scrutiny.

Captured using 150–200 DSLR frames on a semi-automated rig, this test validates the speed and scalability of a product digitization pipeline when targeting commercial VFX, CGI, and interactive marketing.

PHASE 1 • FIRST IMPACT: MOTION DESIGN PREVIEW

A sequence rendered in Unreal Engine’s Motion Design interface.

This WIP preview showcases the boots animated with physics, dynamic lighting, and layered effects, similar to workflows in Blender or After Effects, but rendered in real-time.

No baking. No waiting. Just instant feedback and cinematic control. This is why Unreal Engine 5.4 and 5.6 were chosen for this proof of concept.

Here is a final product reveal rendered in Motion Design (tutorial; https://youtu.be/OuUKGFJ2VRo?si=E1I8z7kV6FBsl2UG), followed by the WIP:

This is the final render of the Brown model of the shoe with a cute Electric Cabin, scanned with the KIRI Engine Early App version

Here is the Cabin Model.

https://skfb.ly/pACDp

And the Enbedde script;

Below is the first test of Unreal Motion Design with a brown version of the same shoe:

The shoe?

Below is the original black and brown model (not a 3D model):

How did RealityCapture do?

Below are some renderings of the parts I believe are worth showing:

Nice, right? Well… don’t always believe what you see. Let’s type in some “Reality Check.”

Below is the link to a failed attempt to reconstruct it in RealityCapture:

https://skfb.ly/pzznA

Same problem here,

RealityCapture was unable to reconstruct the entire shoe.

Check the model with Diffuse/Albedo-only texture on Sketchfab:

https://skfb.ly/pzWYO

And how did KIRI Engine do?

Below is the KIRI Engine R&D test of 3DGS, Photogrammetry, and AI:

Below is the 3D scan result of the brown boot using KIRI Engine.

Check the model with Diffuse/Albedo-only texture on Sketchfab:

https://skfb.ly/pAnXp

Below is the 3D scan result of the black boot using KIRI Engine:

Check the model with Diffuse/Albedo-only texture on Sketchfab:

https://skfb.ly/pAnXU

Detailed pictures of the AutoRetopo 50% Standard Export:

SECTION 1 • CAPTURE SETUP

Turntable Rig: Texxiary semi-automated lift with tripod alignment
- Camera: Nikon D5300 with 50mm prime lens, ISO 100, ƒ/11, 1/60 s
- Lighting: Godox Wistro AR400 ring flash + linear polarizing film
- Orbits: 3 elevation passes (low, mid, high)
- Image Count: 150–200 RAW frames
- Post-processing: Basic exposure correction in Lightroom and JPEG export

Why it works: Efficient setup for texture neutrality, minimal glare, and consistent depth across the boot surface.

SECTION 2 • RAPID MESH GENERATION IN KIRI ENGINE

Upload JPEGs to KIRI ENGINE in 3DGS AI Photogrammetry mode
- One-click quad retopology export (target: 10–20k tris)
- Preview mesh in under 30 minutes with zero local hardware stress
- Designed for live use in Unreal 5.4 motion sequences

Result: Smooth performance and consistent form, optimized for animation and non-linear editing timelines.

SECTION 3 • TEXTURE DETAILING WITH REALITYCAPTURE

Import the full image set into RealityCapture
- Align using High Detail mode
- Reconstruct mesh (up to 20 million triangles)
- Bake 8K diffuse, normal, roughness maps
- Optional refinement in Substance Painter, Quixel Mixer, and Photoshop

Result: Hyper-realistic grain patterns, defined stitching, and natural displacement—ready for full-res commercial rendering.

SECTION 4 • UNREAL ENGINE 5.4 (5.6) INTEGRATION

Import the KIRI ENGINE mesh and RealityCapture texture maps
- Configure lighting for product hero views
- Execute a 60 FPS turntable animation with real-time shadows
- Previewed in UE 5.6 for forward compatibility

Proof of impact: Seamless playback, zero LOD issues, and photoreal surface behavior under motion—ideal for VFX, AR/VR, and digital ads.

SECTION 5 • TOOLCHAIN WORKFLOW for the final product (Not for the proof of concept)

ZBrush: sculpt detail and refine silhouette
- Blender: unwrap UVs and optimize topology
- ArmorPaint & Photoshop: clean masks and polish texture edges
- Lightroom: batch correct exposures and tones
- Substance Painter & Quixel Mixer: texture layering and final export

Purpose: Merge real-time and high-fidelity pipelines into one modular workflow adaptable to future models.

SECTION 6 • WORKFLOW COMPARISON

Conclusion: Use KIRI ENGINE for speed and real-time needs; RealityCapture when resolution is the top priority, merge the two when time is an issue.

CONCLUSION

This project demonstrates how sustainable materials like apple-shell vegan leather can be digitized and animated in Unreal Engine with minimal effort and maximum impact.

The assets shown are not final, but serve as a proof of concept for future commercial work. They highlight how fast, flexible, and visually compelling a real-time pipeline can be when combining KIRI ENGINE, RealityCapture, and Unreal Motion Design.

Speed is everything when pitching to a potential client. Being able to deliver a polished preview in hours, not days, can make the difference between interest and investment.

The future of product visualization is real-time, and it’s already here.

Zeno Bilucaglia

Owner of

Define Reality AB

Creative Studio

https://www.definereality.se/

info@definereality.se

define.reality.ab@gmail.com

ArtStation: https://zeno_bilucaglia.artstation.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenosart/

Linkedin Freelancer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeno-bilucaglia/

LinkedIn Define:https://www.linkedin.com/company/definereality