Variants and colourways for every design

Why colourways matter

Shoppers want to see the exact version they are buying. A product page that shows a rose gold ring when the customer selects yellow gold creates doubt, and doubt lowers conversion. Photographing every combination is rarely practical, because it means making every version first. Rendering every combination is easy, because the geometry stays the same and only the materials change.

How variants work

A variant is a named set of material and scene choices for a model. Each model starts with a default variant. From there you can:

• Create a new variant, which copies the current setup so you only change what is different.
• Duplicate a variant to branch off a version, for example the same design with a different centre stone.
• Rename a variant with a double click, using names your team understands, such as Rose gold with morganite.
• Switch variants with one click on the variant bar above the viewport.
• Delete variants you no longer need, while the default stays in place.

The Save button stores the active variant's settings with the model in your account. The studio opens each model with a fresh default setup, so the smoothest routine is to build and export every colourway of a piece in one sitting.

Common colourway sets

A fast colourway workflow

1. Set up the default variant with your best metal, stone, lighting, background, ground and pose.
2. Export the angles you need for the default.
3. Create a new variant. It starts as a copy of the current setup.
4. Change only the metal or stone, then export the same angles.
5. Repeat for each version. Lighting, background and pose stay identical, so every colourway matches.

Because the camera and lighting do not change, your product page images line up perfectly when a shopper switches between options.

Pairing metals and stones

Some combinations need small lighting adjustments. White metals and colourless diamonds benefit from brighter, more contrasty light, while yellow gold with warm stones such as citrine or morganite often looks richer under softer light at a slightly lower intensity, set against a warm backdrop such as Warm Cream or Mocha. When you change a metal across variants, check the gem lighting too. A setup that flatters a diamond can make a dark sapphire look almost black. Our guides on metal colours in renders and gemstone colours go deeper.

Variants on your product pages

Most shop platforms let a product have options such as metal or stone, each with its own image. Export one main image per variant from the same pose, name the files with the SKU and option, and attach each to the matching option in your shop. When a shopper picks rose gold, the gallery switches to the rose gold render instantly, from the same angle and in the same light. That small detail makes a store feel premium and removes the most common pre-sale question, which is what the piece looks like in the option the customer actually wants.

For stone options with many colours, such as birthstones, a grid image showing all variants side by side also works well as the last image in the gallery.

Use variants beyond product pages

• Custom orders. Show a client three options side by side before they decide.
• Pre-launch tests. Post two colourways on social media and see which gets more saves before producing either.
• Wholesale line sheets. Present every available version without making samples.
• Personalised pieces. Preview birthstone or metal choices for a specific customer, as described in our guide to personalised jewelry previews.

Tips

1. Name variants by metal first, then stone, so lists sort sensibly.
2. Keep one variant per sellable SKU option, so images map cleanly to your shop.
3. Export all angles of one variant before moving to the next. It is faster than switching back and forth.