Some of the best 3D art can look incredibly realistic, and we've seen lots of examples that made us do a double take. But some people are having a hard time believing that this image of an iPhone Pro isn't a photo – even after the artist who made it provided proof.
Believe it or not, the image below is a render created in the free 3D modelling software Blender. The artist posted it on social media to ask for feedback and suggestions on how to make it more realistic – but it's fooling some people already.
How close to achieving believable photorealism? from r/blender
Posted by a 3D artist going by the name of Unable_Coat_810 on Reddit, the render depicts what could an everyday scene on any creative's desk: an iPhone Pro thrown face down in front of a dual monitor setup. A Rubik's Cube for when creative block or procrastination strikes. There are even scuffs on the desk, perhaps from the creative eating lunch on the job or chucking down their keys.
Some people assumed that image posted was the original reference photo, but it's the actual 3D render, as shown in a work-in-progress image also shared.
"While scrolling I thought it was real, and next image would be the attempt to reconstruct, so it's very good already," one person says in the comments.
"The path reflections from the table are the chef's kiss. This could fool almost anyone," someone else writes.
Some people have suggested that the image quality looks too clean, but the artist has shared the original reference image, taken on the actual iPhone Pro, and it looks remarkably similar (well, it is one of the best camera phones).
I think the only thing that would give the game away for me on an initial glance is the lack of dusk on the monitor base – an impossibility in my office.
Others have suggested adding moiré to distort the monitor display, while some have recommended following VFX artist Lucas Piazzini's tutorial below on mixing shaders and roughness for glossy surfaces to achieve a less uniform reflection.
A while back, we featured the strikingly photoreal 3D scene below by Plea Ruffin. The artwork was based on a Marvelous Designer cloth sim, while the baseball hat is a scan of one of the artist's own using Polycam.
In the morning, I chose you pic.twitter.com/zFQHkla5mgAugust 6, 2025
Want to get started with 3D art in Blender? See our roundup of Blender tutorials for tips. We also have some suggestions for alternatives in our pick of the best free 3D apps.
