At Monolith Visuals, we offer a clear three-tier structure for our visuals. This helps clients tailor outputs according to the stage of their project, the intended use, and the level of visual detail required. Whether you're exploring an early concept or preparing marketing material, the tier system ensures you receive the right level of resolution, realism, and resource investment.

This journal post outlines what each tier involves, and how selecting the right one adds value to your project.

Tier 1: Early-Stage Clarity

Tier 1 is designed for concept development. It is light, efficient, and suited to early-phase presentations where the focus is on form, massing, or broad design ideas.

• Resolution: FHD (1920x1080px)

• Modelling: Simplified buildings with no interior detail

• Materials: Stock or placeholder textures (1–2K)

• People and Props: Clay renders or silhouettes

• Sky and Context: Plain gradient skies with minimal surroundings

This tier is ideal for easrly concept work, spacial planning, and feasibility studies.

Tier 2: Planning and Design Development

Tier 2 adds depth and detail. It suits planning visuals, client engagement, and more developed design phases where accuracy and visual legibility are important.

• Resolution: QHD (2560x1440px)

• Modelling: Medium-detail architecture with 2D interiors

• Materials: High-quality stock textures (2–4K) with 1–2 custom materials

• People and Props: 3D people and supporting items

• Sky and Context: Simulated skies and simplified background models or client-provided imagery

Use Tier 2 for feasibility studies, internal reviews, and design testing. 

Tier 3: Public-Facing and Marketing Quality

Tier 3 delivers the highest level of finish. This is our recommendation for visuals that will appear in public, such as brochures, websites, funding decks, or marketing campaigns.

• Resolution: UHD (3840x2160px)

• Modelling: Fully detailed 3D interiors and exteriors

• Materials: Ultra-high-resolution textures (4K and above), with 1–5 custom materials

• People and Props: Photoreal figures, high-detail vehicles and furnishings

• Sky and Context: Photographic HDR skies and background environments, or commissioned photomontage

Tier 3 is our most comprehensive service and reflects the level of care and quality needed to present a project externally, for local authority submissions, public consultation previews, or client approval workflows.

Applied Across All Project Types

The tier system applies consistently across aerial, exterior, and interior visuals. Each image type has specific differences in detail, resolution, and content depending on the chosen tier.

For example:

• A Tier 1 aerial may show simple blocks and tree massing

• A Tier 2 interior includes fitted furniture and basic materials

• A Tier 3 exterior may feature full landscaping, 3D-scanned foliage, and photomontage integration

Why the Tiers Matter

By offering this structured system, we help clients make informed decisions about where to invest resources. You avoid overproducing visuals that aren’t needed yet, and get more from your budget when polish and realism are critical.

We do not price according to the type of image. Instead, we price according to the level of finish. This means a Tier 1 aerial and a Tier 1 interior are treated equally from a production standpoint, allowing flexibility and fairness.

Let’s Talk

If you're unsure which tier fits your needs, we’re here to advise. Every project starts with a conversation, and we’ll help identify the most suitable route based on your timeline, budget, and goals.