3D Product Configurator
Definition
A CE.SDK Starter Kit that extends the standard mockup experience into interactive, real-time 3D by integrating CE.SDK’s design capabilities with external 3D rendering libraries, producing photorealistic, rotatable product previews where design changes sync to the 3D model’s texture map in real time.
3D rendering is not built into CE.SDK itself. This Starter Kit demonstrates the integration pattern: CE.SDK handles the design canvas and all editing interactions, while an external 3D library (such as Three.js or similar) handles the model rendering. The texture bridge between the two is what makes live design-to-3D sync possible. The pattern currently supports business cards, apparel, and caps.
How the Integration Works
CE.SDK Manages the Design Canvas
All editing (text input, image placement, color selection, logo upload) happens on CE.SDK’s standard design canvas. The 3D preview is a read-only output surface, not an editable layer.
Texture Map Sync
As the user edits, CE.SDK exports a rendered texture at configurable intervals. The external 3D rendering library applies this texture to the product model’s UV map, updating the visible surface.
The sync frequency is configurable: updates can happen on every change event, on a debounced interval, or on explicit user action, depending on the performance characteristics of the 3D renderer in use.
3D Library Handles Rendering
Rotation, lighting, shadows, and camera controls are handled entirely by the external 3D library. CE.SDK has no dependency on any specific 3D renderer: the integration pattern works with any library that accepts a texture input.
Currently Supported Product Types
The Starter Kit ships with pre-configured 3D models and UV mapping for these product categories.
Business Cards
Design elements (typography, logos, color fills) map to the business card surface and update on the 3D model in real time as the user edits.
Apparel
T-shirts and similar garments show artwork on the fabric surface. Placement adjustments in the design canvas sync immediately to the rotatable 3D model.
Caps
Embroidery-style text and logo placement on cap surfaces, with real-time 3D preview showing how the design wraps around the curved form.
The integration pattern is not limited to these three product types. Any 3D model with a UV-mapped texture surface can be connected using the same approach. The Starter Kit demonstrates the pattern, not a closed set of products.
Typical Use Cases
Custom Merchandise Platforms
Customers see exactly how their design looks on the physical product before ordering: not a flat mockup, but a rotatable 3D object. The design canvas and the 3D preview are the same session, so there’s no export-and-reimport step between designing and evaluating the result.
Print-on-Demand with High-End Preview
Platforms competing on experience use 3D preview as a differentiator. A photorealistic, rotatable product view reduces purchase hesitation and post-order disappointment more effectively than a static image can.
Branded Merchandise Portals
Enterprises or sports teams offering employee or fan merchandise can show a 3D preview of the customized product, reinforcing quality and building confidence in the order before checkout.
Web (Vanilla JS/TS, React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, SvelteKit, Next.js, Nuxt.js).
Related Terms
Starter Kit
A pre-configured, production-ready CE.SDK setup for a specific use case, ready to embed, customize, and ship, providing …
Mockup Editor
A CE.SDK Starter Kit that maps a finished design onto photorealistic product surfaces in real time (covering apparel, bu…
Design Editor
CE.SDK's full-featured design creation Starter Kit, exposing the complete toolset: multi-page canvas, typography control…